Great Film overall

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This movie is indeed fun, bolstered by some really strong performances, that of Strathairn, the much lost Phoenix, and the much underused Poitier, while I did like Ackroyd's hairdo. Steered by not the strongest performer, though Redford had a very natural flair for the role, he plays a genius and still wanted hacker who becomes embroiled in the past, when he's called upon/forced to steal this black box, and deliver it to the CIA. Complications do arise for him and his impressive team of counterparts, when they make a second attempt, where Redford's first solo one fails. Definitely thrilling and intriguing, as far as the hacking angle goes, I'll give you that, but really, when it comes down to it, the film doesn't really add up to anything special sitting between good and ordinary. Kingsley is great as always as Redford's betrayed hacker friend, now a nemesis, while Macdonell, adds sexy appeal as the lone female co star.

When I first saw Sneakers I didn't get it. I didn't like it at all.But after the second viewing I loved it and still do. Much if made of Sneakers being a hacker movie, and it is central, but what is also central are the consequences of the fall of the Soviet Union and the affect it has on US-Russian relationships, more so relevant now.Another key theme of Sneakers is that the characters rely on their thinking skills to solve a problem, e.g. when one of the team work out where Martin (Robert Redford) was kidnapped thanks to him recalling the sounds when he was in the car boot. Also then they worked out where the box was.Interesting and historically, Sneakers is one of the few movies to refer to the Commonwealth of Independent States, which it's website reassures me still exists amidst all the Eastern European drama since the fall of the Soviet Union. This is in the scene where the Russian diplomat shows his business card and you see Commonwealth of Independent States.The team chemistry was appealing and a sequel would be fantastic, all these years later.James Horner's composition is also wonderful.

I think describing this as a comedy, which some do, in inaccurate...although the description I did like was a "lighthearted thriller". The makers of the film could have gone for a comedy...but that would have lost my interest almost immediately. And, they could have gone for a totally serious theme of a man going undercover to clear his own record (which, of course, has been done before). Instead, while it is (in my view) a drama, there were quite a few times I found myself smiling.The problem with this film can be summed up with one line about halfway through the movie -- "You won't know who to trust." And as you go through this film, you won't know who the good guys are or who the bad guys are...or who to trust. That makes it just a little confusing. And then, to make it all seem so high tech (which now, a decade later, doesn't seem so high tech at all), everything gets overly complicated...and all this high tech stuff is being done by actors who seem too old for all that stuff. Redford was 56 and Sidney Poitier was 65.However, this is a great cast! But, Robert Redford, playing a man who has been wanted for a federal crime most of his life, seems a bit too old for the plot, as does Sidney Poitier (who seems to have a lot of lines, but it hardly seems like acting...a shame considering what a fine actor he is. Ben Kingsley has a good role as the bad guy, but not a lot of screen time. David Strathairn has perhaps the most interesting and fun role as a high-techie who is blind...and has to drive a truck. Dan Aykroyd has a key -- but unmemorable -- role. Same for River Phoenix...thank goodness it was not the only role of his career. Mary McDonnell is fine as the woman drawn into the heist.To me, this is a very flawed film, but a watchable one with some fun. Recommended for one viewing.

In 1969 Marty Brice and his Friend Cosmo use their university computer to access various organisations bank accounts and give some of their money away; they thought they couldn't be traced but they were wrong; while Marty was out getting pizza Cosmo was arrested and sent to prison. In 1992 Marty is now known as Martin Bishop and he runs a security firm; they get hired by organisations to break in to test their systems. Everything is going fine until one day he is approached by two men claiming to be from the NSA; they want him to acquire a 'black box' from a mathematician whose speciality is cryptography. At first he declines saying he doesn't work for the government but when it becomes apparent that they know who he really is he has no choice as he is still wanted for his little prank all those years ago. They manage to get the box without too much difficulty; that is only the start of their problems though; they discover that is contains a chip that will enable them to bypass any encryption system; it is the sort of device that people and governments would kill for. Knowing this they are quite keen to pass it on to the NSA and forget all about it but once they hand it over it becomes apparent that the people who hired them weren't NSA and now they want to get rid of Martin. If he and his team want to live and not go to gaol they will have to find where the box is now and steal it for a second time... this time it will be much more dangerous though!This is a good light hearted thriller; the story has enough twists and turns without getting overly complex and there are sufficient tense moments as well as a decent number of laughs. The gadget itself is pure science fiction of course but that doesn't matter; it is just something they must get there hands on... twice. The twists aren't the most unexpected; I doubt many people will be surprised when it turns out the people who hired Martin weren't really from the NSA nor will it surprise many people to discover who is behind it all. There is a solid cast led by Robert Redford and featuring the likes of Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix, Dan Aykroyd and Ben Kingsley. Redford is good as Martin and Aykroyd provides most of the laughs as the conspiracy nut known as 'Mother'. This might not by the hardest hitting of thrillers but it is great if you want a good story to pass the time.