Spy Game

Dir: Tony Scott

2001

***

Spy Game came out during a strange time in modern history. It was released in 2001, just after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York which changed the original message of the film. Filmed in 2000, the film explored the repercussions of  unsuccessful CIA operations around the world and many of the cast and crew suggested that it might mean America had been the world's leading power for too long. However, after the 9/11 attacks, leading actor Brad Pitt was quoted as saying the movie indicated that CIA operatives were needed "now more than ever". Either way, I’m sure he regretted taking on his role here as CIA operative Tom Bishop instead of becoming Jason Bourne, even if he did get to star alongside Robert Redford. Timing aside, Spy Game is for me, perhaps Tony Scott best directed movie. It isn’t my favorite of his at all, but some of the shots featured in the film are among my favorite of all time. The scene involving the camera mounted on a helicopter is brilliant although no one had confidence in it to the point that Scott had to pay for it out of his own pocket. Reford, who is also a director, also questioned the shot but was blown away when he eventually saw it and apologised to Scott for doubting him. The story takes place in 1991, as the governments of the U.S. and China are on the verge of a major trade agreement, with the President due to visit China to seal the deal. The CIA learns that its asset Tom Bishop (Pitt) has been captured trying to free a Briton, Elizabeth Hadley (Catherine McCormack), from a People's Liberation Army prison in Suzhou. Bishop is being questioned under torture and will be executed in 24 hours unless the U.S. government claims him. If the CIA claims Bishop as an agent, they risk jeopardizing the trade agreement. Exacerbating Bishop's situation is the fact that he was operating without permission from the Agency. Attempting to deal quickly with the situation, CIA executives call in Nathan Muir (Robert Redford), an aging mid-level case officer on his last day before retirement and the man who recruited Bishop. Although they tell Muir they simply need him to act as a "stop gap" to fill in some holes in their background files, the officials are hoping he will give them the pretext they need to justify letting Bishop die. The CIA executives are unaware that Muir had been tipped off about Bishop's capture prior to arriving at CIA headquarters by fellow CIA veteran Harry Duncan (David Hemmings), for whom Bishop had been working an operation in Hong Kong. Muir first attempts to save Bishop by leaking the story to CNN through a contact in Hong Kong, believing that public pressure would force the CIA to rescue Bishop. The tactic only stalls them, however, and is stymied when a phone call to the FCC from CIA Deputy Director Charles Harker results in CNN retracting the story. During the debriefing, Muir describes how he recruited Bishop for an operation when Bishop was a Scout Sniper during the Vietnam War. Muir also discusses their 1976 tour of duty in Berlin, where Bishop was tasked with procuring assets in East Germany, as well as Bishop's spy work in Beirut in 1985 during the War of the Camps, the latter being the last time the two saw each other. During the mission in Lebanon, Bishop met Hadley, and the two began developing romantic feelings. However, it is revealed that Hadley was involved in a bombing of the Chinese embassy in Britain, causing her to flee the country. Fearing that Bishop's feelings for Hadley might compromise his cover and the mission, Muir tips off the Chinese to Hadley's location in return for freeing an arrested U.S. diplomat. Chinese agents kidnap Hadley, and Bishop cuts all ties to Muir when he discovers his involvement. After learning Hadley was the target of Bishop's rescue attempt, Muir finally realizes that he has greatly underestimated Bishop's feelings for her. Running out of time, Muir secretly creates a forged urgent operational directive from the CIA director to commence Operation Dinner Out, a rescue mission to be spearheaded by Commander Wiley's SEAL team, for which Bishop had laid the groundwork as a "Plan B" for his own rescue attempt. Using $282,000 of his life savings and a misappropriated file on Chinese coastline satellite imagery, Muir enlists Duncan's help in bribing a Chinese energy official to cut power to the prison for 30 minutes, during which time the SEAL rescue team retrieves Bishop and Hadley. Bishop, who is rescued 15 minutes before his scheduled execution, realizes Muir was behind his rescue when he recognizes the name of the plan to rescue him, Operation Dinner Out: a reference to a birthday gift that Bishop gave Muir while they were in Lebanon. When the CIA officials are belatedly informed of the rescue, Muir has already left the building and is seen driving off into the countryside. Tony Scott once suggested that the film was a companion piece to Robert Redford's Three Days of the Condor and I think the film is better once you see it as a sort of sequil. Brad Pitt is good, as is Catherine McCormack and the film features several great actors (some of whom have become far more successful since) including Benedict Wong, Charlotte Rampling, Larry Bryggman, Omid Djalili and the great David Hemmings but it is Robert Redford who steals the show – rather effortlessly I might add. The story is strong and I was intrigued and entertained throughout but it is the performances and eclectic cast that appealed to me most. There is a great story that when Omid Djalili was introduced to Robert Redford he joked "Mr. Redford, delighted to meet you - I loved you when you starred in Hawaii Five-O.” Without missing a beat Redford fired back "Well thanks, and I loved you in Doctor Zhivago, although you have let yourself go since then." It’s an average spy thriller made above average thanks to the lead performances but it isn’t a classic and has become something of a forgotten film to many.