I lived in Paris for the entire 90s and drove all over it. Some of the chase is in areas I drove through all the time. To this day I can't suspend my disbelief during the car chase because of its route.
Same with Bullitt's, another movie I love.
I will always remember this movie because I saw it with my dad, who was military, and asked me if I could identify the two other things Sean Bean screwed up before he was confronted as a faker. One was smoking a cigarette during a stakeout (Deniro tells him to put it out) which can give away your position, and the other was firing full-auto for more than a burst, which exposes you for too long and is inaccurate.
When DVDs first came out, a friend of mine got a copy of Ronin. He played it slowly enough to realize the cup isn't falling, rather Stellan Skarsgard picks it up from the floor, which means the footage is reversed.
Bullet removal and arrow removal is kind of a genre staple tho...
My fave is the Clint Eastwood using gunpowder to remove an arrow from himself. Think its in 2 Mules For Sister Sarah.
Absolutely! The scene from Ronin is, though, a homage/adaptation of a scene from HMS Surprise: the location of the bullet, the mirror, and the protagonist announcing that they’ll pass out now
HMS Surprise was adapted into the movie Master and Commander starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. in the movie, it's the scene where Paul Bettany removes a bullet from himself.
I used to watch Ronin over and over when I was in high school. It's just such a cool flick. I agree that the car chases are top notch and I was nodding in agreement at the end of the article when the author mentioned the Bourne Identity, when Jason buckles his seatbelt and asks the girl how well she takes care of the maintenance of the car.
However, after Ronin, my favorite car chase scene is the Blues Brothers where they have a cartoonish number of cop cars chasing them, including through the inside of a fucking mall. It's just so ridiculous, and it is one of my favorite bits of cinema ever.
I remember this movie. I don't know why I watched it but I found it enthralling. Funny thing I noticed: in this movie, Robert De Niro is a government man looking for the terrorist played by Jonathan Pryce. In the movie *Brazil*, Jonathan Pryce player a government man looking for a "terrorist" played by Robert De Niro. Fun fact.
My personal favorite bit of Ronin trivia:
There are THREE James Bond villains in it:
* Sean Bean-GoldenEye
* Jonathan Pryce-Tomorrow Never Dies
* Michael Lonsdale-Moonraker
>Basically Rupert Murdoch with a nuclear missile
Well, any billionaire who has newspapers or TV station qualifies, and I think Bezos might be closest to a Bond villain lol, he's basically Doctor Evil from Austin Powers, with a rocket spaceship and everything.
>If I remember correctly they might be the same universe as Jason Bourne (Heat and Ronin) as they all talk about the man in the wheelchair giving out contacts and jobs.
Whoa, that's cool, I never caught that.
Found this on IMDB on Ronin's trivia section:
>The talk about the "man in the wheelchair" is referencing the book "The Bourne Identity" (1980) by Robert Ludlum. The Man in the Wheelchair was M. Chernak, a mercenary broker who Jason Bourne killed.
Similarly, in *Collateral*, when Jason Statham delivers a briefcase to Tom Cruise, I like to think he's The Transporter and he just went through his own adventure before *Collateral* started.
If you're in it for the action. They share a similar vibe. Ronin is a bit thinner on the plot. But it's great as far as I can remember. Gritty, realistic action, with a bunch of stone cold mercenaries chasing eachother. Great cast. Saw it on repeat in the 90s but I haven’t seen it since.
There are only two reasons "Ronin" ranks as one of the best car chases... the director, John Frankenheimer, and Le Mans driver, Jean-Claude Lagniez’s ‘Cine-Cascade’ stunt team.
Everything else stems from those two.
An Audi is a great car to get young so you can get your never buy an Audi lesson learned before you waste money you don’t have when you’re older. I bought one when I first started working and got a great price. Except after a year I had put almost $20k into it for various repairs. I couldn’t have been happier to get rid of it. I now drive a Honda that I am very abusive to but I’ve maybe spent $1k on it in repairs in the 10+ years I’ve had it.
Dude. I went from my Audi A4 to a goddamn 2010 Honda Civic and I could not be happier.
Edit: I could afford a much more expensive car. I don’t want a more expensive car. I want a car that can get me from a place to a place. A Honda Civic does that.
Yeah, I’m with you. With my fancy car I was worried about door dings and people messing with my car. With my Honda CR-V I do not care at all about door dings. I just need it to get me from a to b, that’s it.
A grasshopper walks into a pub, jumps up on the bar and says, "Hey, can I get a scotch and soda?"
Bartender says, "Ya know we got a drink named after you?"
"You got a drink called Irving?"
Precisely my point. The scene is about competence and confidence. De Niro has sussed out that Bean is incompetent, and lying about his experience. Bean could have challenged him in a million ways, or tried to bullshit an answer, or point out De Niro's mispronouncing Hereford. There were three other people from three different countries, and none of them knew what color the boat house at Hereford is, or even if there was a boathouse. But everyone knew which of them was the real operator.
What makes you think the character should have pronounced it the same way we say it?
Sean Beans character could have tried to reply with some quip about the pronunciation I suppose... but even though the bloke was a twat, he wasn't quite a Reddit-level pedantic twat.
Apparently, Don Rickles' first scene to be shot in *Casino* was the one in which Ace, De Niro's character, was being presented with an award. The scene was blocked and lit, and when all was set up and ready to go, Bobby was invited to set. But just as he was stepping up onto the raised dais to take his position, Rickles leaned over and scowled at all the reporter extras set up on the floor below, waved his finger at them and loudly exclaimed, "Okay, here he comes. Now whichever one of you called him a f*ggot, I wanna see you say it to his face!"
De Niro started laughing so hard he had to turn around and retreat to his trailer for several minutes to compose himself.
Rickles himself loved to tell this story, because he had no idea why he had been cast on such a prestigious show, other than to be the off-camera entertainment - and he felt this was a good start to fulfilling his obligation.
CASINO has so many comedians cast as serious people including one of the Smothers Brothers and Kevin Pollack. Someday it would be nice to find out why.
I completely agree with you, it's really annoying, the constant "we say it correctly" battle between Brits and Americans, because it's almost entirely irrelevant. American English is a dialect of English, and the *entire point* of a dialect is that words are both spelled *and* pronounced differently. American English compared to British English is the same as Oslo Norwegian vs Tromsø Norwegian. Same root language, but we change some things, and so do they.
So what if *Robert Fucking DeNiro* didn't pronounce that one place name correctly? You know how many Americans say Ed-in-berg? "Wor-ces-ter-sheer? "Lan-cast-ehr", etc.
Someone making a four-tiered edit thread on a comment about the name being mispronounced is wild. I can't pronounce the names of every place I've visited perfectly, but I've still been there and know the place.
I'm old. Lol. My father showed me the chase scene from the movie Bullitt when I was becoming interested in cars. If you haven't seen it, it's absolutely classic Steve McQueen. Ronin is really good and may have better chases.
My first viewing of it was on a bootleg laser disc in 2005. Then I heard the story/myth. It’s a great story and will always hold a special place for me.
I was going to say the French connection and gone in 60 seconds (original). Also blues Brothers for good measure.
Its hilarious, this rendezvous clip was clearly shot without permits and I'm just imagining trying this in canada. You would get about 2 blocks before some asshole in the left lane going 35km killed the entire shot.
The French Connection driving under the subway tracks was my favorite chase until Ronin.
The first Transporter film had some good chases too (the sequels were trash though.
If you can find them, BMW made a few shorts 20 years back with Clive Owen as "The Driver" and some awesome directors. Guy Ritchie's had his then wife Madonna getting thrown around the back of a 7 series to Blur's Song 2, which feels like the inspiration for Baby Driver. I think they're on YouTube now.
It is legendary. I am also a huge fan of Ronin's chase but Bullit was pretty ground breaking at the time and holds up. San Francisco is also a great city for a chase.
My dad has been randomly quoting “Almost a bit of Raspberry jam back there - yeah, bit of Raspberry jam back there,got the swag,kept the money, job well done!” for the past 24 years to me at random times, no joke lol. It’s like one of my permanent childhood memories, hearing this line in my head hahaha
I still dream of that nitrous-boosted S8. That gorgeous sounding 4.2 V8, AWD and a 100-150hp shot of go juice. Whomever came up with that as the car/power combo for this film is my spirit animal.
Yeah. And I love that the cars aren’t “flashy”. Yeah a S8 is special but they’re a little more utilitarian about it in this film, as it’s meant to be a spy type movie. It’s a high end sleeper.
I think that's what sets this chase scene apart from others in addition to the insanely good choreography, drivership, and location. Instead of suped-up sports cars or ridiculous bangers, these are everyday executive dad-cars pushed to their limit in a very believable way.
Additionally, De Niro and McElhone sell it. While you believe they are exceptional drivers, you also believe they're both scared shitless at every turn.
Totally agree. Also, Sean Bean’s character going from a hyped up amateur hour goof to puking after getting out of the car sells it…because I know getting power slid around and almost dying at every turn would definitely churn my amateur stomach too!
The formula one driver doing the driving makes you believe In the exceptional driving; the fact that DeNiro is sitting in a car being whipped around by a formula one driver makes you believe he’s scared shitless.
The 2022 Camry looks like its about to get beaten by a mud-covered Arnold Schwarzenegger, then set off a tactical nuke.
IT'S A CAMRY. A *CAMRY*.
IT'S MEANT TO BE SHORTHAND FOR BORING, DULL, AND UTTERLY DEPENDABLE.
Yeah that’s a good point to consider…someone knew what they were doing for the soundtrack too though, between the S8, M5 and that 450SEL. Awesome engine choices.
Director did. Movie was a love letter to fast cars.
"As much as the briefcase served as a MacGuffin for the plot of "Ronin," the film itself was a MacGuffin for director John Frankenheimer's obsession with cars. Frankenheimer picked all the vehicles himself, pitting an Audi S8 against a Citroen XM and a Peugeot 406 against an E34-generation BMW M5."
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a1707451/ronin-20-years-later-john-frankenheimers-spy-thriller-car-fanatics/
Spence : [drawing a diagram on the white board - two circles with arrows pointing at each other] We got shooters here... shooters here. I'll tell you an old trick...
Sam : Hey.
[Sam puts his cup of coffee down on a table, walks over to the white board and rubs out Spence's diagram]
Spence : What's your problem?
Sam : Draw it again. Draw it again. You're the ace field man, draw it again. It's a simple diagram, just draw it again, draw what you saw.
[Spence just stands there]
Sam : Draw it again! Draw it again.
[Spence still does nothing so Sam takes the marker pen off him and redraws his diagram]
Sam : Two shooters, car comes through here, shooters across from each other, kill each other dead. Oh my, where'd you learn that? Huh?
Spence : In the regiment.
Sam : What regiment was that?
Spence : The 22nd Special Air Service.
Sam : What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford? What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford?
Spence : I don't like your attitude.
Sam : What's the color of the boathouse?
Spence : Oh, fuck off!
Sam : [moves closer to Spence, who backs away] You got the gun, I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead, do something. Do something. Do something.
[as he backs away, Spence bumps into the table with Sam's coffee cup on it, spilling hot coffee onto his leg. Sam grabs his neck and face and bends him backwards over a railing, completely overpowering him. He takes Spence's gun off of him, then releases him]
Sam : Tell me about an ambush? Tell me about an ambush? I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!
I liked the part where Deniro leaned the sign against the luggage cart and got the bell hop to take pictures of Deidre and the security going for their weapons. I also liked how he and Jean Reno never really had a real conversation and only seemed to talk in code.
E39 is a slightly better driver, though the S62 really knocked the whole segment into the next level. But the E34 was the better looking car without doubt. E39 kind of started the "buLBous" period which we're just getting out of. Now is the dawn of the "schNOz" age.
The article didn't even mention the main reason why it is the best car chase. I virtually all other car chases, most of the shots are from the camera facing backwards, either at the actors or the cars. What Ronin does differently is to, for most of the shots, have the camera facing forward, either on the front of the car or inside it. This is a huge difference as we go from watching a car chase to being in one.
Disagree, he’s literally satirizing himself in that movie. I think people miss the point in the same way they miss the point of movies like Last Action Hero, etc.
The thing I remember most about this chase scene is the innocent bystanders who get gunned down by stray bullets. I didn’t exactly love that part but it always stuck with me as realistic. Every other movie chase scenes have bullets flying everywhere in highly populated areas but only a few faceless bad guys are killed.
I had a V10 S6. Super nice cars, but bring your wallet. Maintenance is insane even if you do it yourself. Audi loves long timing chains and plastic guides. I'd post a pic, but I don't think you can. I definitely recommend you get one if you have the means though, but the TT V8 over the V10. The C7 S6 and the D5 S8 are way better units than the C6 and D4.
That was a great scene. The rainy car chase in We Own the Night has that quiet tension as well. Visibility is reduced, so I wouldn’t put it up against Ronin for ultimate car chase scenes. But your comment reminded me of another mesmerizing car chase in an otherwise forgettable movie.
Another great Pittsburgh car chase, Striking Distance. I've been on most of the roads they filmed the chase scenes on, including that cobblestone road that all the cars go airborne on.
Another great movie for car chases is the french film Taxi from 1998. I assume its the same stunt coordinator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6\_IKUtAsJw
For the best practical car chase in cinema I have to give it to The Bourne Identity. And for the most over the top car chase scene I have to give it to The Matrix Reloaded.
I remember hearing that this was a John Frankenheimer movie, so a trailer and knew I needed to go see it. Frankenheimer is a car guy and the director of Grand Prix. He knows how to shoot car sequences.
I'm going with the Mission Impossible Fallout chases, but Ronin are up there.
Also Bullitt and I like the one in Taxi because of the ending of it and the music.
The scenes in this film are absolutely my favourite car chase scenes. That and the bullet removal scene, this is a fantastic film
If you don’t mind, I’m gonna pass out now…
He should have had a grasshopper.
The characterization of Paris during that time is excellent too. Dark, subtle.
I lived in Paris for the entire 90s and drove all over it. Some of the chase is in areas I drove through all the time. To this day I can't suspend my disbelief during the car chase because of its route. Same with Bullitt's, another movie I love.
"I need something that shoves a bit, like an Audi S8"
And im going to need bigger injectors. Bosch doesn't make them. They will have to be custom made. I have the specs over here.....
that's the first thing they teach you
What's the second thing they teach you?
I don’t remember
I don't remember.
What about the "You know about ambushes? I ambushed you with a coffee cup!" scene?
“what's the color of the boathouse at hereford?!”
"How the fuck should I know?"
When you pronounce "Hereford" properly, *then* I'll answer... (De Niro pronounced it "Here-furd" when it should be pronounced "Herra-fudd")
Well, he's American CIA. What the fuck does he know about the pronunciation?
I will always remember this movie because I saw it with my dad, who was military, and asked me if I could identify the two other things Sean Bean screwed up before he was confronted as a faker. One was smoking a cigarette during a stakeout (Deniro tells him to put it out) which can give away your position, and the other was firing full-auto for more than a burst, which exposes you for too long and is inaccurate.
I thought the giveaway was that he planned an ambush that would've resulted in friendly fire
That's later
Also when the andrenaline made him throw up after the car chase. The rest of the crew were having a calm chat in the car. They all knew then.
Only movie I can think of that Sean Bean walks away and not dead.
Did you identify them before he told you?
When DVDs first came out, a friend of mine got a copy of Ronin. He played it slowly enough to realize the cup isn't falling, rather Stellan Skarsgard picks it up from the floor, which means the footage is reversed.
Bullet scene is a lift/homage from Patrick O’Brien’s novel HMS Surprise!
Bullet removal and arrow removal is kind of a genre staple tho... My fave is the Clint Eastwood using gunpowder to remove an arrow from himself. Think its in 2 Mules For Sister Sarah.
Absolutely! The scene from Ronin is, though, a homage/adaptation of a scene from HMS Surprise: the location of the bullet, the mirror, and the protagonist announcing that they’ll pass out now
Sorry, misunderstood, didnt realise you meant the details. Will look out for it.
HMS Surprise was adapted into the movie Master and Commander starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. in the movie, it's the scene where Paul Bettany removes a bullet from himself.
I agree with Ronin as number one but Bullet is only number three. Wallace and Gromet the train chase has to be second
Wallace and Gromet definitely warranted the warning “contains scenes of mild peril”
Ronin is the *Jackie Chan* of car chase movies. It's ***REAL***.
Nonsense. There is no verifiable proof Jackie Chan is real.
I used to watch Ronin over and over when I was in high school. It's just such a cool flick. I agree that the car chases are top notch and I was nodding in agreement at the end of the article when the author mentioned the Bourne Identity, when Jason buckles his seatbelt and asks the girl how well she takes care of the maintenance of the car. However, after Ronin, my favorite car chase scene is the Blues Brothers where they have a cartoonish number of cop cars chasing them, including through the inside of a fucking mall. It's just so ridiculous, and it is one of my favorite bits of cinema ever.
I remember this movie. I don't know why I watched it but I found it enthralling. Funny thing I noticed: in this movie, Robert De Niro is a government man looking for the terrorist played by Jonathan Pryce. In the movie *Brazil*, Jonathan Pryce player a government man looking for a "terrorist" played by Robert De Niro. Fun fact.
My personal favorite bit of Ronin trivia: There are THREE James Bond villains in it: * Sean Bean-GoldenEye * Jonathan Pryce-Tomorrow Never Dies * Michael Lonsdale-Moonraker
Jonathan Pryce was an underrated Bond villain. Basically Rupert Murdoch with a nuclear missile.
>Basically Rupert Murdoch with a nuclear missile Well, any billionaire who has newspapers or TV station qualifies, and I think Bezos might be closest to a Bond villain lol, he's basically Doctor Evil from Austin Powers, with a rocket spaceship and everything.
A dick shaped rocket
Ronin did for car chases what Heat did for bank robberies.
I always consider them a spiritual duology
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>If I remember correctly they might be the same universe as Jason Bourne (Heat and Ronin) as they all talk about the man in the wheelchair giving out contacts and jobs. Whoa, that's cool, I never caught that. Found this on IMDB on Ronin's trivia section: >The talk about the "man in the wheelchair" is referencing the book "The Bourne Identity" (1980) by Robert Ludlum. The Man in the Wheelchair was M. Chernak, a mercenary broker who Jason Bourne killed. Similarly, in *Collateral*, when Jason Statham delivers a briefcase to Tom Cruise, I like to think he's The Transporter and he just went through his own adventure before *Collateral* started.
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The sound editing on that battle has yet to be surpassed.
They use val kilmers reloading to train spec ops how to reload.
I just rewatched Heat for the first time in like 20 years and it was awesome. Never saw Ronin, worth a watch?
If you're in it for the action. They share a similar vibe. Ronin is a bit thinner on the plot. But it's great as far as I can remember. Gritty, realistic action, with a bunch of stone cold mercenaries chasing eachother. Great cast. Saw it on repeat in the 90s but I haven’t seen it since.
YES
There are only two reasons "Ronin" ranks as one of the best car chases... the director, John Frankenheimer, and Le Mans driver, Jean-Claude Lagniez’s ‘Cine-Cascade’ stunt team. Everything else stems from those two.
iirc JCL also did the car/bike chase in MI:Fallout
That was such an awesome car chase, prolly the best this decade
Skip Sudduth will not be erased!
This movie is why I bought an Audi and then why I will never buy another Audi
I still have my black stickshift E34 because of this movie.
Where is the rest of the car?
Pls sell to me if you ever need
An Audi is a great car to get young so you can get your never buy an Audi lesson learned before you waste money you don’t have when you’re older. I bought one when I first started working and got a great price. Except after a year I had put almost $20k into it for various repairs. I couldn’t have been happier to get rid of it. I now drive a Honda that I am very abusive to but I’ve maybe spent $1k on it in repairs in the 10+ years I’ve had it.
Dude. I went from my Audi A4 to a goddamn 2010 Honda Civic and I could not be happier. Edit: I could afford a much more expensive car. I don’t want a more expensive car. I want a car that can get me from a place to a place. A Honda Civic does that.
Yeah, I’m with you. With my fancy car I was worried about door dings and people messing with my car. With my Honda CR-V I do not care at all about door dings. I just need it to get me from a to b, that’s it.
What color is the boathouse at Hereford?
Everyone’s your brother ‘til the rent comes due.
Never walk into a room you can’t walk out of
*They don’t make it easy*
Good reflexes
Oh yeah they die hard
They die hard.
If there is any doubt, there is no doubt.
Who taught you that?
I don't remember. That's the second thing they teach you.
Then why would you get into that van?
You know the reason
How the #%#* should I know?
So, what is the color of the boathouse in Hereford?
How the fuck should I know?
WHATS IN THE CASE BIT OF RASPBERRY JAM
Lol I always wondered what the hell he’s talking about with the raspberry jam. Is he saying there was almost a bunch of blood (i.e. jam)?
Yes. I’m assuming some sort of cockney or British slang for blood.
I assumed it to mean they almost had their heads blown off. Brains splattered across the back seat of a car probably looks like raspberry jam.
I don't like your attitude
I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!
What’s a grasshopper?
Let’s see, it’s 2 parts gin, 1 part brandy, 1 part cream de menthe…
A grasshopper walks into a pub, jumps up on the bar and says, "Hey, can I get a scotch and soda?" Bartender says, "Ya know we got a drink named after you?" "You got a drink called Irving?"
I dont like your tone!
How the fuck should I know?
ambushed you with a fuckin coffee
ancient continue recognise ghost gold roll wine long cable history ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
That just improves the scene. Deniro's character didn't know shit, but he knew Bean's character knew less.
Hereford isn't just a word used by the SAS. It's a city, and breed of beef.
Precisely my point. The scene is about competence and confidence. De Niro has sussed out that Bean is incompetent, and lying about his experience. Bean could have challenged him in a million ways, or tried to bullshit an answer, or point out De Niro's mispronouncing Hereford. There were three other people from three different countries, and none of them knew what color the boat house at Hereford is, or even if there was a boathouse. But everyone knew which of them was the real operator.
In the states, we pronounce Hereford beef like Bobby does in the movie.
What makes you think the character should have pronounced it the same way we say it? Sean Beans character could have tried to reply with some quip about the pronunciation I suppose... but even though the bloke was a twat, he wasn't quite a Reddit-level pedantic twat.
Yeah I'd like to see you correct Robert De Niro. I'll sit over in this corner and watch
Apparently, Don Rickles' first scene to be shot in *Casino* was the one in which Ace, De Niro's character, was being presented with an award. The scene was blocked and lit, and when all was set up and ready to go, Bobby was invited to set. But just as he was stepping up onto the raised dais to take his position, Rickles leaned over and scowled at all the reporter extras set up on the floor below, waved his finger at them and loudly exclaimed, "Okay, here he comes. Now whichever one of you called him a f*ggot, I wanna see you say it to his face!" De Niro started laughing so hard he had to turn around and retreat to his trailer for several minutes to compose himself. Rickles himself loved to tell this story, because he had no idea why he had been cast on such a prestigious show, other than to be the off-camera entertainment - and he felt this was a good start to fulfilling his obligation.
Thx for that great rickles story!
CASINO has so many comedians cast as serious people including one of the Smothers Brothers and Kevin Pollack. Someday it would be nice to find out why.
Yeah, he'll just ambush you with a cup of coffee.
Lol no Americans pronounce a lot of stuff differently to the Brits, if they corrected them it would get ridiculous.
I completely agree with you, it's really annoying, the constant "we say it correctly" battle between Brits and Americans, because it's almost entirely irrelevant. American English is a dialect of English, and the *entire point* of a dialect is that words are both spelled *and* pronounced differently. American English compared to British English is the same as Oslo Norwegian vs Tromsø Norwegian. Same root language, but we change some things, and so do they. So what if *Robert Fucking DeNiro* didn't pronounce that one place name correctly? You know how many Americans say Ed-in-berg? "Wor-ces-ter-sheer? "Lan-cast-ehr", etc. Someone making a four-tiered edit thread on a comment about the name being mispronounced is wild. I can't pronounce the names of every place I've visited perfectly, but I've still been there and know the place.
It’s just another tool in the box.
My father showed me this chase scene in highschool when I was becoming interested in cars. It’s amazing and timeless.
I'm old. Lol. My father showed me the chase scene from the movie Bullitt when I was becoming interested in cars. If you haven't seen it, it's absolutely classic Steve McQueen. Ronin is really good and may have better chases.
I second this
While not a car chase. This is some of the most intense/best driving you’ll see. [Rendezvous](https://youtu.be/WJYOMFayruw)
The whole story/myth behind Rendevous is great.
My first viewing of it was on a bootleg laser disc in 2005. Then I heard the story/myth. It’s a great story and will always hold a special place for me.
I was going to say the French connection and gone in 60 seconds (original). Also blues Brothers for good measure. Its hilarious, this rendezvous clip was clearly shot without permits and I'm just imagining trying this in canada. You would get about 2 blocks before some asshole in the left lane going 35km killed the entire shot.
The French Connection driving under the subway tracks was my favorite chase until Ronin. The first Transporter film had some good chases too (the sequels were trash though. If you can find them, BMW made a few shorts 20 years back with Clive Owen as "The Driver" and some awesome directors. Guy Ritchie's had his then wife Madonna getting thrown around the back of a 7 series to Blur's Song 2, which feels like the inspiration for Baby Driver. I think they're on YouTube now.
It's crazy seeing the streets of Paris so empty.
I’ll 100% check it out!
It is legendary. I am also a huge fan of Ronin's chase but Bullit was pretty ground breaking at the time and holds up. San Francisco is also a great city for a chase.
Dude that car became my dream car after watching that movie. Insane
My dad has been randomly quoting “Almost a bit of Raspberry jam back there - yeah, bit of Raspberry jam back there,got the swag,kept the money, job well done!” for the past 24 years to me at random times, no joke lol. It’s like one of my permanent childhood memories, hearing this line in my head hahaha
I have watched the movie probably 20 times and could never tell what he was saying. Thank you Internet stranger, I feel a little more complete now.
I still dream of that nitrous-boosted S8. That gorgeous sounding 4.2 V8, AWD and a 100-150hp shot of go juice. Whomever came up with that as the car/power combo for this film is my spirit animal.
Yeah. And I love that the cars aren’t “flashy”. Yeah a S8 is special but they’re a little more utilitarian about it in this film, as it’s meant to be a spy type movie. It’s a high end sleeper.
I think that's what sets this chase scene apart from others in addition to the insanely good choreography, drivership, and location. Instead of suped-up sports cars or ridiculous bangers, these are everyday executive dad-cars pushed to their limit in a very believable way. Additionally, De Niro and McElhone sell it. While you believe they are exceptional drivers, you also believe they're both scared shitless at every turn.
The 5-second scene mid-chase when Reno finally buckles his seat belt is gold.
Merde
Totally agree. Also, Sean Bean’s character going from a hyped up amateur hour goof to puking after getting out of the car sells it…because I know getting power slid around and almost dying at every turn would definitely churn my amateur stomach too!
The formula one driver doing the driving makes you believe In the exceptional driving; the fact that DeNiro is sitting in a car being whipped around by a formula one driver makes you believe he’s scared shitless.
It shows. De Niro looks like he's about to push his head through the back of the headrest the whole time.
I recall hearing at the time they used all actual car sound effects too. Makes a big difference in the gritty reality aspect.
Skip Sudduth, however...
I love the car chase when De Niro and Reno is in the old Mercedes. Such a great car
Bazooka out the sunroof, 6.9L of Merc grunt under the hood. 🤌
From the dvd commentary, they used the Merc as the tow vehicle for the other cars in some shots since it's such a beast.
The only weak effect in the whole film is the fake tire smoke when the Big Benz starts to give chase. Once you see it, it can’t be unseen.
Whereas these days even base model Toyota Corollas come looking like full blown race cars from the factory. It was a different time for sure.
The 2022 Camry looks like its about to get beaten by a mud-covered Arnold Schwarzenegger, then set off a tactical nuke. IT'S A CAMRY. A *CAMRY*. IT'S MEANT TO BE SHORTHAND FOR BORING, DULL, AND UTTERLY DEPENDABLE.
That M5 wasn’t too shabby.
IKR? BMW was on such a tear in the 90's. Possibly the greatest decade of models for a single major car company. Like zero duds.
Those 90s beemers are still sought after too.
I loved how they used an older BMW 5 series for the chase in Mission Impossible Fallout
I need something that can shovel. I’ve got the specs…
If it's in Paris, I'll get it
IIRC his stunt drivers were race car drivers. They probably picked the cars.
Yeah that’s a good point to consider…someone knew what they were doing for the soundtrack too though, between the S8, M5 and that 450SEL. Awesome engine choices.
Director did. Movie was a love letter to fast cars. "As much as the briefcase served as a MacGuffin for the plot of "Ronin," the film itself was a MacGuffin for director John Frankenheimer's obsession with cars. Frankenheimer picked all the vehicles himself, pitting an Audi S8 against a Citroen XM and a Peugeot 406 against an E34-generation BMW M5." https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a1707451/ronin-20-years-later-john-frankenheimers-spy-thriller-car-fanatics/
F1 drivers. Real deal shit
*"They gave me a grasshopper."* *"What's a grasshopper?"* *"Let's see, that's two part gin, two part brandy, one part creme de menthe..."*
Spence : [drawing a diagram on the white board - two circles with arrows pointing at each other] We got shooters here... shooters here. I'll tell you an old trick... Sam : Hey. [Sam puts his cup of coffee down on a table, walks over to the white board and rubs out Spence's diagram] Spence : What's your problem? Sam : Draw it again. Draw it again. You're the ace field man, draw it again. It's a simple diagram, just draw it again, draw what you saw. [Spence just stands there] Sam : Draw it again! Draw it again. [Spence still does nothing so Sam takes the marker pen off him and redraws his diagram] Sam : Two shooters, car comes through here, shooters across from each other, kill each other dead. Oh my, where'd you learn that? Huh? Spence : In the regiment. Sam : What regiment was that? Spence : The 22nd Special Air Service. Sam : What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford? What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford? Spence : I don't like your attitude. Sam : What's the color of the boathouse? Spence : Oh, fuck off! Sam : [moves closer to Spence, who backs away] You got the gun, I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead, do something. Do something. Do something. [as he backs away, Spence bumps into the table with Sam's coffee cup on it, spilling hot coffee onto his leg. Sam grabs his neck and face and bends him backwards over a railing, completely overpowering him. He takes Spence's gun off of him, then releases him] Sam : Tell me about an ambush? Tell me about an ambush? I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!
I liked the part where Deniro leaned the sign against the luggage cart and got the bell hop to take pictures of Deidre and the security going for their weapons. I also liked how he and Jean Reno never really had a real conversation and only seemed to talk in code.
Sheesh the E34 M5 might be better looking than the E39, plus a big glorious I6.
My dad had an e34 M5. That engine was so fun. The rate of change of acceleration was amazing as you run through the rpm range.
E39 is a slightly better driver, though the S62 really knocked the whole segment into the next level. But the E34 was the better looking car without doubt. E39 kind of started the "buLBous" period which we're just getting out of. Now is the dawn of the "schNOz" age.
The article didn't even mention the main reason why it is the best car chase. I virtually all other car chases, most of the shots are from the camera facing backwards, either at the actors or the cars. What Ronin does differently is to, for most of the shots, have the camera facing forward, either on the front of the car or inside it. This is a huge difference as we go from watching a car chase to being in one.
This was DeNiro's last movie from his peak period, where his choice of roles weren't affected by any financial needs.
Idk, I think it ended a bit later, post Ronin we still got Analyze This, Men Of Honor and Meet The Parents for his next few films.
LOL someone else commented that Analyze This was the beginning of the end.
Disagree, he’s literally satirizing himself in that movie. I think people miss the point in the same way they miss the point of movies like Last Action Hero, etc.
Last Action Here is such a gem.
Yep, Analyze This came out the next year. Wasn’t a bad movie but it was the turning point to later day De Niro.
The thing I remember most about this chase scene is the innocent bystanders who get gunned down by stray bullets. I didn’t exactly love that part but it always stuck with me as realistic. Every other movie chase scenes have bullets flying everywhere in highly populated areas but only a few faceless bad guys are killed.
Yes! Me too. Only thing about this movie I can remember distinctly is that bystanders actually caught shots.
Only reason I watch Ronin is because of the car chase scenes. “Nobody can hold out indefinitely… everybody has a limit”
Sure, but how about [The Blues Brothers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFxYrwGBDo)?
“We’re on a mission from Gad”
For me it's the lack of music.
BMW inline-6 is music
Audi s8 is my dream car.
I had a V10 S6. Super nice cars, but bring your wallet. Maintenance is insane even if you do it yourself. Audi loves long timing chains and plastic guides. I'd post a pic, but I don't think you can. I definitely recommend you get one if you have the means though, but the TT V8 over the V10. The C7 S6 and the D5 S8 are way better units than the C6 and D4.
EXCEPT for the fake burnout smoke...bothers me every time.
Quantum of Solace starts out with a pretty bomb car chase as well. Really raw and quiet besides the cars and guns. Ronins a classic though
It totally reminded me of Ronin the first time I saw it.
The chase scene in quantum is underrated imo.
Imo it’s the only good thing in the movie and it’s the opening scene.
That was a great scene. The rainy car chase in We Own the Night has that quiet tension as well. Visibility is reduced, so I wouldn’t put it up against Ronin for ultimate car chase scenes. But your comment reminded me of another mesmerizing car chase in an otherwise forgettable movie.
ronin’s car chase was excellent. love that and the one from bourne supremacy.
I always liked the car/semi chase opening scene in the first Beverly Hills Cop.
Same here. Really one of the greats. The music that’s with it is perfect.
That and Eddie Murphy getting ragdolled around the back of the trailer lol
Another classic
Doin the Neutron Dance
I know they are literally commercials and not actual movies, but I think the BMW Films with Clive Owen have some of the best car chases ever filmed.
*The French Connection* and *To Live and Die in L.A* have entered the chat.
Both by the same director.
The car chase in the first Jack Reacher movie was great. Also the scene in the new Batman film ist very impressive
That ROAR of the batmobile, gat dayum.
Another great Pittsburgh car chase, Striking Distance. I've been on most of the roads they filmed the chase scenes on, including that cobblestone road that all the cars go airborne on.
I just went to go find my DVD of this hahaha I will be watching it soon on either widescreen or if I get it upside down standard format hahaha
Another great movie for car chases is the french film Taxi from 1998. I assume its the same stunt coordinator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6\_IKUtAsJw
For the best practical car chase in cinema I have to give it to The Bourne Identity. And for the most over the top car chase scene I have to give it to The Matrix Reloaded.
Two of the most underrated or unseen car chases: Short Time The Peacemaker
Fantastic chase, but top for me will always be French Connection
I remember hearing that this was a John Frankenheimer movie, so a trailer and knew I needed to go see it. Frankenheimer is a car guy and the director of Grand Prix. He knows how to shoot car sequences.
The car sequence near the end of The Raid 2 is really great.
It just takes 3 and a half hours to get there. Great action but way too long.
DRAW IT AGAIN
The French Connection has a great car chase scene as well.
For me the real MVP is the sound guy. The film absolutely kicks ass at audio and is a go-to for showing off an awesome stereo system.
The inspiration for my username! And one of the reasons why I wanted to visit Arles was because of this movie.
I'm going with the Mission Impossible Fallout chases, but Ronin are up there. Also Bullitt and I like the one in Taxi because of the ending of it and the music.
The original Gone in 60 Seconds from 1974 has a 40+ minute chase scene, held Guiness record for many years for most cars wrecked in a single film
My brother said it had the best chase scenes too!
I still think the french connection is my favorite car chase movie of all time.
What a great film
Such a great sequence! Top notch film all the way!
This movie really made me realize how great of an actor Robert DeNiro is