The best spy film ever. (non-Bond, of course)
hegottheboot
USAPosts: 327MI6 Agent
Simply what is the best spy film?
For me its The I.P.C.R.E.S.S. File hands down.
(Although I enjoy the Flint duology
)
For me its The I.P.C.R.E.S.S. File hands down.
(Although I enjoy the Flint duology
)
Comments
Anyway, I would probably opt for the Spy Who Came In from the Cold, which featured one of Richard Burton's best performances, and was a grimy realistic thriller. Among Bond films, only FRWL IMO compared to it in terms of its dirty realist character. Other than that, Hitchcock made some great spy films, with Notorious arguably being his best. Among modern day films, I was most impressed with De Niro's The Good Shepherd, which features IMO one of cinema's all-time great lines; "I remember a senator once asked me. When we talk about "CIA" why we never use the word "the" in front of it. And I asked him, do you put the word "the" in front of "God"?"
I tried to be as narrow as possible, however there are many other great films which would possibly qualify if I wasn't as narrow.
Just a classic. (But I love me some North By Northwest)
Also,spy game with pitt and redford,I like the recruitment of pitt,into the cia.
And lastly,The sum of all fears(?) If I may be so bold.
"It's not difficult to get a double 0 number if your prepared to kill people"
I got confused by Funeral in Berlin. ;%
Most surreal spy film: Billion Dollar Brain. It's Harry Palmer on acid at times.
Never really considered Hitch's films as real spy movies. N by NW fits into his wrong man category as does The 39 Steps. I guess Notorious can fall here, but that always seemed more of a romantic triangle story to me. The ones I can see as spy films are: Torn Curtain, Topaz, and Foreign Correspondent-but of course that was co-written by Richard Maibaum.
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is a great movie, but I feel much was lost from the book. The B&W cinematography really helps add to the grittiness though. (Thanks Criterion!)
The Bourne Identity is probably the best modern American spy film. It's better than the sequels and functions as a well crafted single film.
However, Ronin is what I usually turn to for a modern espionage film. Here is the worthy successor the the great spy films. Plus it is a John Frankenheimer film-what's not to love?
The Jack Ryan series is intriguing at times-the best still being Hunt for Red October. (Connery as a Soviet submarine commander!?!?) Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger are serviceable but not anything really special. The Sum of All Fear was surprisingly entertaining while it lasted but not that memorable.
The Saint movie actually was better than it's reputation, especially with the original ending.
Three Days of the Condor was too cheesy.
And of course, stay away from the Avengers movie at all costs!!
Good film, but not great IMO.
All what was missing is the neon backgrounds and we could have easily had a Joel Schumacher film.
I love the film's detail, dialogue (such as the line I quoted above), as well as De Niro's performance and the fact that he directed. Plus the film had the great Joe Pesci in his first role in eight years.
James Bond- Licence To Kill
Robert Young. Based on the Ashenden books by Somerset Maugham the young Gielgud was dashing, brave, gallant. The tense scenes on the mountain, the attack on the train the mutual dislike beteen John Gielgud and his leading lady, which eventually melts as they warm to each other is very Fleming-like before Fleming ever conceived of 007. Peter Lorre is incredibly creepy as the psychotic who gets his kicks by killing people and throwing them from mountain tops. A wonderfully made early 1930's piece of cinema.
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold comes in a close second. This film contains one of Richard Burton's finest performances and Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner and Bernard Lee all give very fine supporting performances. It is a piece of cinema that shows Cold war espionage for what it really was, a nasty, brutal, dirty job that took an incredible toll on the people who performed it.
In third place-- The Tailor of Panama with Perce Brosnan as a very un Bond-like British Secret Service Agent, Geoffrey Rush as the tailor with the overactive imagination and Jamie Lee Curtis as his incredibly patient and forgiving wife. The film has real humor, not slapstick comedy and the characters are engaging and fun. Avery well made film.
These are my picks. If you're going non-Bond go with one of these three, sit back and enjoy. -{
Honourary mention to "The Ipcress File", which is a beautiful constructed thriller, and the little remembered "Masquerade" with Cliff Robertson and Jack Hawkins
For fun value "True Lies," "North By Northwest" and "Fathom."
Does anyone remember that bizarre Hitchcock "Torn Curtain"? What was that all about???