Good spy thrillers are a dying breed. The last one of any worth was Brian DePalma's Mission: Impossible. Much like that film, Ronin tends to be a bit too complex, and that, no doubt, will probably drive most audiences away.

Director John Frankenheimer (Manchurian Candidate and The Island of Dr. Moreau) calls the shots and gets help from a heavy duty cast headed by veteran actors Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno. Former James Bond villains Sean Bean (Goldeneye), Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies) and Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker) also put in an appearance.

DeNiro is surprisingly low key as a weapons expert whose part of a team hired to retrieve an all important aluminum case. As expected, the highlights of the film are the breathtaking car chases, even though they greatly resemble the sequences in two William Friedken pictures, The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A. It should also be noted that Frankenheimer directed The French Connection II. Apparently the Ronin crew demolished nearly eighty cars to capture the footage.

Surprisingly what Ronin lacks, car chases aside, is tension. You would think the undisclosed contents of the aluminum case would make for great mystery. The technique Frankenheimer uses is one made famous by Alfred Hitchcock and was much more effective in Pulp Fiction. With Ronin, it got to a point where I didn't care what was in the case.

Ronin boasts impressive cinematography and great stunt coordination. The acting is competent but not overwhelming. I must say, I expected much more from the heavy duty cast. At times, DeNiro just isn't given that much to do. His similar character in Heat was far superior.

When all is said and done, Ronin is Frankenheimer's show, and when he's letting the cars chase and the bullets fly, it's exciting entertainment. Otherwise, this is just a passable thriller.