‘Money’s most powerful ability is to allow bad people to continue doing bad things…’
Sometimes, when I watch a film, I’m dumbfounded that I haven’t seen it before. Sneakers was released in 1992, right in the middle of my nostalgia sweetspot. It is director Phil Alden Robinson’s follow-up to Field of Dreams, a film that I absolutely adore. The cast is incredible. The plot compelling. It was a huge box office success. Why the fuck haven’t I seen Sneakers up until now? Who is in charge here? For god’s sake, let’s dive in…
Martin Bishop (Robert Redford) leads a group of hackers into a heist that could change the world. The frankly unbelievable supporting cast includes Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Stephen Tobolowsky and many other wonderful ’90s character actors.
Sneakers is essentially Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s Eleven but almost a decade earlier and with hackers instead of thieves. Seeing this cast interact would be worth the entrance fee alone, but Robinson’s assured direction, coupled with a fine script from Lawrence Lasker (War Games) ensures that the incredibly talented cast is never wasted. Despite all the wisecracking and infighting, Sneakers is a serious film when it needs to be, but it also never loses sight of its raison d’être – namely, to entertain. Even at over two hours, Sneakers trots along at a pleasingly breathless pace until the incredibly satisfying conclusion. The film also boasts a James Horner score full of warmth and playfulness that is very much of the era but also serves as a reminder of how dull and atonal film scores have since become. It’s a shame.
This is ’70s style Hollywood filmmaking with a ’90s sensibility and one of the finest casts ever assembled. It deserves a more long-lasting reputation.
