From: Reviews and Criticism of Vietnam War Theatrical and Television Dramas (http://www.lasalle.edu/library/vietnam/FilmIndex/home.htm) compiled by John K. McAskill, La Salle University ([email protected])

S6990 SPY GAME (USA, 2001)

Credits: director, Tony Scott ; writers, Michael Frost Beckner, David Arata. Cast: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack Summary: Spy film set in various places from 1975 to the present. CIA operative Nathan Muir (Redford) is on the brink of retirement when he finds out that his protégé Tom Bishop (Pitt) has been arrested in China for espionage. No stranger to the machinations of the CIA’s top echelon, Muir applies all his skills and irreverent manner in order to find a way to free Bishop. As he embarks on his mission to free Bishop, Muir recalls how he recruited and trained the young rookie, at that time a sergeant in Vietnam, their turbulent times together as operatives and the woman who threatened their friendship.

A., F. (see under Convents, Guido) Andrews, Nigel. “Last of the charismatic good guys; Cinema: ‘Spy game’ is pure hokum but good fun, says Nigel Andrews – once he’s worked out its message” Financial times [London] (Nov 22, 2001), p. 18. Ansen, David. “Movies: The spies who loved us” Newsweek 138 (Nov 26, 2001), p. 75. Berend, Christopher. “Spy game” Esquire 136/4 (Oct 2001), p. 150. Bond, Jeff. “The final confrontation” Film score monthly 6/10 (2001), p. 14-18. Cakalic, Ales. “Vohunske spletke” Ekran 27/3-4 (2002), p. 39. Carr, Jay. “Movie review; Spy game” Boston globe (Nov 21, 2001), p. C1. Clark, Mike. “ ‘Spy game’ plays by cool-guy rules” USA today (Nov 21, 2001), p. 8D. Convents, Guido and FA. “El cine y la historia” SIGNIS media no. 1 (2002), p. 12. Curatolo, Marco. “Doppio gioco” Revista del cinematografo 21 (Dec 2001), p. 18+ [2 p.] De Bernardinis, Flavio. “Spy game” Segnocinema no. 114 (Mar/Apr 2002), p. 49-50. Distelmeyer, Jan. “Spy game” EPD Film 19 (Mar 2002), p. 49. Durham, J. Shawn. “Film’s stars aim to please: Redford, Pitt make the movie likeable, but the script is flat, the love story is goofy and genuine suspense is lacking” Herald sun [Durham, NC] (Nov 23, 2001), Preview, p. D12. Ellen, Barbara. “The hair apparent” The times [London] (Nov 22, 2001), p. ? Guthmann, Edward. “Redford’s ‘Game’; He has his best role in years as senior CIA man mentoring young spy” San Francisco chronicle (Nov 21, 2001), p. D1. Holcomb, Mark. “International men of history” Village voice 46 (Dec 4, 2001), p. 134. Honeycutt, Kirk. “Spy game” Hollywood reporter (Nov 19, 2001), p. 39. Horwitz, Jane. “Family filmgoer; Lawrence travels in time; Pitt, Redford play ‘Spy game’” Los Angeles times (Nov 22, 2001), Calendar, p. 20. Ivry, Bob. “Willing to risk the gold watch; Rough last day for a CIA agent” The record [Bergen County, NJ] (Nov 21, 2001), p. F5. Johnson, Malcolm. “A thought-provoking spy thriller” Hartford courant (Nov 21, 2001), p. D1. Johnston, Trevor. “Spy game” Time out (Nov 22, 2001), p. 89. Joy, Nick. “Spy game” Film score monthly 6/10 (2001), p. 24. Keogh, Jim. “‘Spy game’ a good thriller: Redford and Pitt deliver clever, engrossing tale” Telegram & gazette (Nov 23, 2001), p. C10. Lalanne, Jean-Marc. “Spy game” Cahiers du cinema no. 564 (Jan 2002), p. 90-91. Lally, Kevin. “In the game” Film journal 104 (Nov 2001), p. 10+ [2 p.] Longino, Bob. “Golden boys can’t spark empty ‘Spy’” Atlanta journal and constitution (Nov 21, 2001), p. 1D. McCarthy, Todd. “Redford back at the top of his ‘Game’ in thriller: Spy game” Variety 385 (Nov 19-25, 2001), p. 39, 44. Monk, Katherine. “Chick magnets can’t save spy flick” Vancouver sun (Nov 21, 2001), p. ? Neman, Daniel. “AKA ‘The never-end game’” Richmond times-dispatch (Nov 23, 2001), p. ? Norman-Culp, Sheila. “At the movies: ‘Spy game’” Associated Press (Nov 21, 2001), BC cycle. O’Hehir, Andrew. “Spy game” Sight and sound 12 (Feb 2002), p. 60+ [2 p.] Parks, Barry. “ ‘Spy game’ taut thriller despite complicated plot” Pittsburgh post- gazette (Nov 21, 2001), p. E4. Piccardi, Adriano. “Spy game” Cineforum 42/411 (Jan/Feb 2002), p. 80-81. Rodriguez, Hilario J. “Juguetes mecanios” Dirigido por no. 307 (Dec 2001), p. 22-3. Salisbury, Mark. “Robert Redford & Brad Pitt” Premiere 15 (Dec 2001), p. 72-3. Stone, Jay. “Style over substance” Calgary herald (Nov 21, 2001), p. ? Strickler, Jeff. “Back in the game; In the topical thriller ‘Spy game,’ Hollywood parallels real life – by showing that espionage can pay off” Star tribune [Minneapolis, MN] (Nov 21, 2001), p. 1E. Toumarkine, Doris. “Spy game” Film journal 104 (Dec 2001), p. 48. Tunison, Michael. “Spy game” Box office 138 (Feb 2002), p. 62. Turan, Kenneth. “Movie review; This cloak-and-dagger story is an overt operation” Los Angeles times (Nov 21, 2001), Calendar, p. 1. Verniere, James. “ ‘Spy’ gamy – Redford and Pitt can’t pull off this generic, contrived thriller” Boston herald (Nov 21, 2001), p. 49. Viviani, Christian. “Spy game” Positif no. 491 (Jan 2002), p. 52. Weinkauf, Gregory. “Chief, it’s chaos; Tony Scott, with Redford and Pitt, plays a mad but vigorous ‘Spy game’” New times Los Angeles (Nov 22, 2001), p. ? White, Dave. “Spy game” Soundtrack! The collector’s quarterly 21 (spring 2002), p. 37-8.

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