CIA operative Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) is on the brink of retirement from the field when he learns his protégé Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) has been arrested in China on a charge of espionage. No stranger to the machinations of the CIA's top echelon, Muir hones all his skills and irreverent manner in order to find a way to free Bishop. As he embarks on his mission, Muir recalls how he recruited and trained the young rookie, then a serving Sergeant in Vietnam, their turbulent times together as front-line operatives and the woman who ultimately threatened their friendship.
Special Agent Matti
The bumper boy's book of spies and secret agents.
Underneath that is the quasi-homosexual love pact between Nathan and Tom, the love that not only dare not speak its name (let alone asking or telling) but dare not even be thought about. Male bonding, especially male bonding under adversity and imminent threat of death, is sublimated into "mateship" because (these days) gay stuff is bad. Go back a couple of thousand years and the greatest army in the ancient world was a bunch of gay blokes who fought for each others' lives and honour. They were undefeated for a century, which is longer than any other military group. Nathan would be the older, experienced man who cares for, protects and educates Tom, his younger lover. In time, Tom would grow up and go on to take charge of another youth and teach him the ways of the world. The fact that Nathan goes to such incredible lengths to protect one more spy out of hundreds, even one whom he brought into the fold, shows a depth of feeling that goes beyond mere professionalism.
</rant>
What you get from Spy game is a rattling good tale of intrigue and double crosses, plots and ploys and plans within plans, backup plans and strategy on the run. It's a giant family size serving of action, adventure, thrills and spills. Brad is good as the determined young spy thinking with his guts and his cajones. Robert is good as the determined old spy thinking with his brain and his cajones.
Anyone with cajones will enjoy it.
M (Medium level violence, low level coarse language)
128 minutes (2:08 hours)
Film: 24 January 2002
