Cast: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow
Tonight I gave up Murnau's Sunrise to get this film out of the way for TFM 110. I know, I know...I'm such a GREAT film student...
THE PLOT (from Wikipedia): Joe Turner (Robert Redford) is a CIA employee (Condor is his code name) who works in a clandestine office in New York City. He reads books, newspapers, and magazines from around the world, looking for hidden meanings and new ideas. As part of his duties, Turner files a report to CIA headquarters on a low-quality thriller novel his office has been reading, pointing out strange plot elements therein, and the unusual assortment of languages into which the book has been translated.
On the day in which Turner expects a response to his report, a group of armed men, led by an Alsatian assassin later identified as Joubert (Max von Sydow), executes the six people in the office. Turner escapes death because at the moment of the incursion, he was out of the office getting lunch. Realizing he is in danger, Turner calls the CIA New York headquarters, and is given instructions to meet some agents who will take care of him. The meeting, however, is a trap, and Turner escapes an attempt to kill him.
Needing a place to hide, Turner forces a woman he sees randomly in a ski shop, Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway), to take him to her apartment in Brooklyn Heights. He holds her prisoner while he attempts to figure out what's going on. However, his hiding place is discovered. A man, disguised as a postman, shows up at the apartment. Turner opens the door and a fight ensues. Turner kills the man.
Realizing that he cannot trust anyone within the CIA, Turner begins to play a cat-and-mouse game with Higgins (Cliff Robertson), the CIA deputy director of the New York division. With the help of Hale, Turner abducts Higgins, who reveals through questioning that the killer was a Frenchman named Joubert.
Higgins discovers that the postman who attacked Turner in Hale's apartment was a former US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and CIA operative who collaborated with Joubert on a previous operation. The mastermind of the operation, however, is discovered as Atwood (Addison Powell), Higgins' superior.
Informed by Higgins, Turner tracks down the renegade CIA director to his home and questions him. Turner learns that the Condor's report had uncovered a secret plan to take over middle east oilfields, and a plan was devised to kill all the members in Turner's section.
Joubert surprises them and unexpectedly kills Atwood. The contract has now changed; even though Atwood had hired Joubert to terminate Turner before, Atwood's superiors hired Joubert to now terminate Atwood. Turner is dumbfounded, realizing that Joubert and he are on the same side, working once again for the CIA. Joubert is disarmingly courteous, suggesting Turner leave the country, even become an assassin himself. Turner rejects the suggestions.
Turner goes back to New York and meets Higgins on a busy street. Higgins defends the oil-fields plan, claiming that there will be a day in which oil shortages will cause a major economic crisis for the country. And when that day comes, Americans will want the government to use any means necessary to obtain the oil. Turner says he has told the press "a story" (they are standing outside The New York Times office), but Higgins questions Turner's assurances that the story will be printed. After a brief dialogue, an anxious Turner glances at Higgins and the New York Times office, then hastily walks away. The final shot is a freeze frame of Turner passing behind a Salvation Army band singing Christmas carols while looking over his shoulder back at Higgins.
THE REVIEW: All right, let's get one thing out of the way: Robert Redford--bless his heart, I love him so-- CANNOT fight.
All in all, I thought this film was a great spy film. However, I thought the opening credit music was a bit too cheerful for a spy film, so that has to dock it a bit. 4 out of 5 stars.
Trailer:
No comments:
Post a Comment