Spy Game (2002, DVD)

I liked this film from beginning to end. There were some slowness in places involving Brad Pitt's love interest, but the interaction between Pitt and Redford is great. The Special Features are very informative. The behind the scenes of the CIA and "The Farm" were especially intriguing.

As someone who is generally wary of espionage film, as I have trouble following the twists and turns, the composition of this film was most refreshing.
The plot in a nutshell is so; Robert Redford is on his very last day as a CIA Agent before retirement. He discovers that a former field agent of his, played by Brat Pitt, has been arrested during a prison break in China. Redford's CIA superiors demand he explain Pitt's actions and background. The rest of the story is then told in a series of flashbacks as Redford relates the first time he met Pitt in Vietnam, his subsequent recruitment and training in Berlin and the his work in Lebanon.

Redford's performance is a masterpiece of experience and knowledge; he gives the audience almost no insights into his part's character yet manages to get them to empathise with him the whole way. It really is a joy to see such a master at work. Pitt pulls his weight and gives a good solid performance. The rest of the cast do their job well enough but there's no mistaking the director decided to make this a comparison of heartthrobs from yesteryear and the present day.

The plot and dialogue are a delight as well, there are some really funny gags and the relationship that builds up between Redford and Pitt is a pleasure. So much so in fact you can forgive the film its numerous holes and inaccuracies.

My only one criticism is that there is no effort made to "age" either Redford or Pitt during the whole film, and when you consider the passage of time is at least 25 years this was maybe something the filmmakers should have considered. I question also the way that Pitt manages to wear 90's fashion in 70's Berlin, but, hey, I suppose that's cool for you!