Reel Critics

Peggy Rogers

Retiring CIA agent works against the clock to rescue a CIA assassin

from a prison in Bejing.

Robert Redford plays Nathan Muir, a 24/7 CIA agent owing his success

and survival to a resolute reliance on logic to successfully accomplish

his missions. Brad Pitt plays Tom Bishop, Nathan’s hand picked hit man,

driven and guided by his emotions and his love for living on the edge.

Together they compliment each other.

Directed by Tony Scott (“Enemy of the State,” “Crimson Tide”) “Spy

Game” explores yet another avenue of mentor-student relationships and the

ability to defy authority. In “Crimson Tide” the student exceeded the

master in skill. “Enemy of the State” examined a life or death

mentor-student relationship. “Spy Game” explores a working mentor-student

type relationship, taking care to down play the fact that Pitt’s Tom

Bishop is a talented killer. Scott has the ability to combine dramatic

action with visual action, requiring viewers to listen to the story as

well as watch the action unfold.

Nathan’s last day as an agent may well be Tom’s last day too.

Political concerns keep the CIA from intervening, besides this was a

rogue mission, Tom acted alone. Nathan’s attempts to call in favors and

work with his superiors fails and so Nathan in essence goes rogue as well

in his remaining hours as a company man.

Redford and Pitt first teamed up in “A River Runs Through It” and the

pairing works again in “Spy Game.”

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and documentaries.