Ronin (1998)
This film is more or less perfect within this style of heist action thriller. It literally wastes no time, just jump straight into things with no need for a long intro. I loved the group dynamics at play from the start, how every actor owned their roles from the very first seconds, and things just felt naturally from there. Things happen not because the script says it should, but for the actions made and their logical consequences. There is a sense of this taking place in the real world, in a way I really think is almost gone from movies today. It uses its many locations in a way that appears natural and real, not just for pretty set pieces. And car chases simply doesn’t get better than this. It is amazing to behold. Not just influential, but stands among the top today.
Rating: 4.5