Spy Game 2001

Critics score:
66 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News: Spy Game is an international thriller that actually thrills. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: Redford, who has played a long list of conscientious doubters and dissenters motivated by patriotism and justice, brings the perfect amount of baggage to the role. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: An engrossing, tough-minded drama about the slippery morality of espionage and the harrowing decisions agents must make to serve the greater good. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: I'll admit the main story is implausible, but the flashbacks were spectacular, and the cast is really good here. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Those flashbacks tend to dissipate tension and interest rather than increase it, making Spy Game play more like a haphazard short-story collection than an involving and cohesive novel. Read more

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News: Mr. Redford's strong turn, a pulse-pounding score, razor-sharp editing, and a provocative script give this location-driven thriller a keen edge. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: Spy Game is never boring and rarely predictable except in its broad, overall us-versus-them outline. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Has the pointless, thrilling kineticism of a sports car commercial. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Scott, who's made numerous big-star action movies, brings some unexpected humor and elegance to this otherwise predictable film. Read more

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: I spy something bland. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: The core of this story is so riveting and strong that not even Scott's misguided efforts to dress it up can completely ruin it. Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: Scott films every scene, no matter how routine, as if he's covering the launch of a nuclear missile. Read more

Steven Rosen, Denver Post: At times, it just seems like the movie is engaged in a game, itself, to keep us from noticing its faults. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Spy Game is absorbing enough for a night out, yet the film never pretends to be more than a lavishly downbeat popcorn thriller. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Enemies can bury the hatchet; journalists can bury the lead; but who would have thought that a screenwriter could bury the plot. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: A yawn, and the two glamour boys (who, by the way, look awful) are both snoring. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: An engrossing, if flawed, endeavor -- the kind of movie that represents an evening's solid diversion. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It's clever and shows great control of craft, but it doesn't care, and so it's hard for us to care about. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: This brisk thriller overcomes its slick style with exciting espionage -- even if Brad Pitt and Robert Redford are all wrong. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: Redford dazzles in his best role in decades. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: The performances are the biggest asset. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: If you can't find a copy of Condor, you can learn everything you probably need to know about espionage by pairing Spy Game with Spy Kids. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Read more

Mark Holcomb, Village Voice: Happily, beneath the film's nostalgic veneer and tooth-rattling visual and aural effects lies a mature ambiguity that's unusual for a holiday blockbuster. Read more