Spy Game

Name: Spy Game
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: November 21, 2001
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Brad Pitt, Robert Redford

2001

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	Your Score
7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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SPY GAME

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 21, 2001

Starring: Brad Pitt, Robert Redford

Summary: On the brink of retirement, a veteran CIA agent (Redford) takes on his most dangerous and personal mission ever when he must organize the rescue of his one-time protégé (Pitt) who has been captured by the Chinese while on a rogue mission.

Director: Tony Scott

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 126 min

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Awards & Rankings

82	#82 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
83	#83 Most Shared Movie of 2001

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Washington Post - Rita Kempley

The movie is sleek and shiny as a new bullet, reflecting Scott's patented surplus of style. Read full review

Village Voice - Mark Holcomb

Happily, beneath the film's nostalgic veneer and tooth-rattling visual and aural effects lies a mature ambiguity that's unusual for a holiday blockbuster -- and all but unheard of in a Tony Scott movie. Read full review

Chicago Tribune - Mark Caro

If you like Redford, Spy Game will be a real treat: a fast electric thriller full of the old Sundance charm and pizzazz. Read full review

Newsweek - David Ansen

Entertaining but farfetched, Spy Game might have looked less meretricious a few months back. But the real world has sabotaged its pretense of authenticity. Enjoy it for what it is, a fleet, handsome fantasy of globe-hopping blond demigods.

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Fans of swooping helicopter shots, alleys filled with backlit geysers of steam, and jump-cut editing that makes MTV look like Ingmar Bergman will relish the intercontinental intrigue and huggermugger that is Spy Game. Read full review

New Times (L.A.) - Gregory Weinkauf

A mess, but it's a rousing mess, with ample humor and action to satisfy the discerning dullard within. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marc Savlov

A dead-chamber misfire, a hollowpoint dud. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tarek

Dec 25, 2011

A masterpiece. Redford's performance was outstanding. Redford showed that how strong the nerves can be of a person who is in espionage. Awesome realistic performance from Redford and Pitt supported him well.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Paulystan

Apr 28, 2016

I think this film is one of the best films to come out of the USA. It is clever, has a very solid script, very few monologue cliches, very well acted, perfect settings, good cinematography and combines both the darker and lighter side of humanity in a way that most other films just fail at.I think this film is one of the best films to come out of the USA. It is clever, has a very solid script, very few monologue cliches, very well acted, perfect settings, good cinematography and combines both the darker and lighter side of humanity in a way that most other films just fail at. Have watched 4 times, I will watch it again in a few years I would think.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NBFC

Jan 9, 2018

This underrated spy thriller by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire) follows retiring CIA agent Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) as he recalls his training of Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) while working against agency politics to release him from his Chinese captors. Not high on action but never lackingThis underrated spy thriller by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire) follows retiring CIA agent Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) as he recalls his training of Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) while working against agency politics to release him from his Chinese captors. Not high on action but never lacking in tension thanks to Scott’s ever-tight direction. This is a movie about mind-games and sharp dialogue with both Redford and Pitt delivering knockout performances. Worth checking out if you are a fan of more realistic spy movies that dwell on the moral ambiguities involved with espionage.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MichaelL.

Feb 26, 2008

Excellent taut thriller with new-millennium A-list star Brad Pitt teaming with 70's A-lister Robert Redford (smartly casted in a 'Buddy picture' after Pitt took direction from Redford in his memorable yet under-appreciated "A River Runs Through it" from 1994) in an Excellent taut thriller with new-millennium A-list star Brad Pitt teaming with 70's A-lister Robert Redford (smartly casted in a 'Buddy picture' after Pitt took direction from Redford in his memorable yet under-appreciated "A River Runs Through it" from 1994) in an entertaining spy film directed by action-obsessed Tony Scott which will have you at times on the edge of your seat. Scott rewards his action hungry audience in calculated doses as the picture is laced with lots of intrigue, and second guessing including a clever use of flashback sequences for additional suspense to this international thriller. Catherine McCormack is appealing as the love interest for Pitt's character which goes beyond obligatory since the joining of the two conflicts with his mentor's guidelines for espionage survival. The chemistry of all the players along with Scott's exciting action input make this an above average Pitt/Redford 'Buddy flick'.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

pgmark

Dec 16, 2010

Wahoo score! I liked this movie a lot even though not perfect. The flashback to Nam scenes were a little hard to believe even with the attempt to make RR look somewhat younger. Some dialogue was poor.. " Why do you think they keep dumping him" Great story idea though and loved the cat andWahoo score! I liked this movie a lot even though not perfect. The flashback to Nam scenes were a little hard to believe even with the attempt to make RR look somewhat younger. Some dialogue was poor.. " Why do you think they keep dumping him" Great story idea though and loved the cat and mouse. RR is back in this one with a role i really liked and Brad P did a nice job. Duncan was cast well as well as the director of CIA. One weak link was the opponent to RR from CIA.. can't remember his name now lol.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tokyochuchu

Jul 8, 2012

Although far from Tony Scott's best work, Spy Game makes for an entertaining movie. It gets too convoluted at times and also stretches it's timeline a bit too thin for any sustained emotional impact. On the plus side, seeing Robert Redford slinking his way around the CIA HQ, covertly givingAlthough far from Tony Scott's best work, Spy Game makes for an entertaining movie. It gets too convoluted at times and also stretches it's timeline a bit too thin for any sustained emotional impact. On the plus side, seeing Robert Redford slinking his way around the CIA HQ, covertly giving his superiors the finger is a very amusing prospect indeed. Fun but inessential viewing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Feb 2, 2019

A Bit Louder Than Anticipated.

Spy Game Scott's game among spies is more thrilling as a desk job than it is on field. Split into two bits, the Redford part undeniably steals the show with a large margin, whilst Pitt's sequences, no matter how hungry for blazing guns or breathtaking chaseA Bit Louder Than Anticipated.

Spy Game

Scott's game among spies is more thrilling as a desk job than it is on field. Split into two bits, the Redford part undeniably steals the show with a large margin, whilst Pitt's sequences, no matter how hungry for blazing guns or breathtaking chase sequences or big explosions, feels like empty punches. The dull execution is to be blamed along with a cheesy script that has managed to snatch in every good trick from such genre films; and it is people-pleasing, but there is not an inch of art in this commercial cinema. With cheap camera work that notions its existence of a B grade quality with A grade cast, that are totally misused.

Aforementioned, the ticking clock behind Redford and his tactics that never fails to surprise us along with his every posture on the narration, the writers have chiseled him in every step to be an impenetrable stature that is both easily absorbing and lethal, he lives up to his game. The performance of Redford is quite convincing, if not anything extraordinary, his body language and eye does up the ante along with his sarcastic arguments that has a way out of every door. Pitt, on the other hand, has all the physical work to do, in fact, he never shines on screen on his own merit, not only on performance but in character as well.

He barely supports Redford, he is often manipulated, he is a hot head with no character development that comes off as a pawn staged to ooze sexiness on screen; even though Redford overcomes that limitation, a Porsche does boost him though. Spy Game has petty rules that is equally entertaining as it is incongruent, even its last aspect of getting two stars on screen with an incredible chemistry fails poorly; the sunglasses won't be enough.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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