At the beginning of Ronin, a ragtag band of former spies, secret agents, and terrorists gather in Paris. This is a wonderful piece of acting and setup. Robert De Niro, who plays Sam, stakes out the restaurant, pretending that he's merely a tourist. He's really making sure there's a way out, and that it's not a trap. The scene is easy-going, but there's a tension building that explodes soon enough.

This bunch, the titular Ronin (from a Japanese legend) are hired by an IRA agent, Dierdre (Natascha McElhone), to steal a briefcase. Seems easy. It isn't. Double-agents, traitors, car chases, explosions, double-crosses, double-double-crosses, more car chases and explosions, and general chaos ensue. All of this happens in exotic European locations, such as Paris, Rome, Cannes, Nice, etc.

Basically, the gang is supposed to steal the briefcase (what's in it? Who cares?). They do, but it's harder than it was supposed to be. Then, Gregor (Stellan Skarsgaard), the computer expert, steals it from the gang. Sam (Robert De Niro) and Vincent (Jean Reno) chase him, trying to figure out who he is, what he wants with it, whether or not they will have to kill each other, and how Dierdre fits in. Explosions, car chases, etc.

On a mental level, there's not much going on. The script is decent, but there's not much in the way of a recognizable plot. What carries the film is the style, which is fast, furious, and impeccably paced. There is never a dull moment. Watch this the next time you feel like watching some quality eye candy. This is the kind of casual whoring that David Mamet (who wrote this under the pseudonym of Richard Weisz) does so he can finance his own, much more intelligent films. I think the paycheck from this one financed his masterpiece, The Spanish Prisoner. At least he brought a little intelligence to this one.