Editing Spy Game

{{Short description|2001 action thriller film directed by Tony Scott}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Spy Game
| image          = Spy Game poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Tony Scott]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Douglas Wick]]
* [[Marc Abraham]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* Michael Frost Beckner
* [[David Arata]]
}}
| story          = Michael Frost Beckner
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Robert Redford]]
* [[Brad Pitt]]
* [[Catherine McCormack]]
* [[Stephen Dillane]]
* [[Larry Bryggman]]
}}
| music          = [[Harry Gregson-Williams]]
| cinematography = [[Daniel Mindel|Dan Mindel]]
| editing        = [[Christian Wagner]]
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Beacon Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=62212|title=Spy Game|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Toho|Toho-Towa]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|title=Spy Game (2001)|website=British Film Institute (BFI)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805190742/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Metropolitan Filmexport]]<ref name="bfi"/>
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Universal Pictures]]<ref name=afi />
* Beacon Pictures<ref name=afi />
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2001|11|21}}
| runtime        = 126 minutes
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United States
* France
* Germany
* Japan}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $115 million
| gross          = $143 million
}}

'''''Spy Game''''' is a 2001 [[Action film|action]] [[Thriller film|thriller]] film directed by [[Tony Scott]] and written by Michael Frost Beckner and [[David Arata]]. The film stars [[Robert Redford]] and [[Brad Pitt]] as [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operatives entangled in a covert rescue mission during the final days of the [[Cold War]]. Set across multiple international locations, the narrative follows veteran intelligence officer Nathan Muir (Redford) as he attempts to orchestrate the release of his protégé Tom Bishop (Pitt), who has been captured in China during an unauthorized mission.

An American–French–German–Japanese co-production, the film was released theatrically in the United States on November 21, 2001, by [[Universal Pictures]]. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead performances and the film's brisk pacing, although some criticized its complex narrative structure. ''Spy Game'' grossed $62 million in the United States and $143 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $115 million.

==Plot==
In 1991, the United States is finalizing a major trade agreement with China, prompting heightened diplomatic sensitivities. Tom Bishop, a covert [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative, is captured during an unauthorized mission in [[Suzhou, Jiangsu|Suzhou]] and faces execution within 24 hours. Bishop's actions, unsanctioned by the agency, threaten to derail the impending U.S.-China deal. CIA executives summon Nathan Muir, a veteran case officer on the verge of retirement, to evaluate Bishop’s history and determine whether the agency should intervene.

As the officials conduct a [[Debriefing|debrief]] under the guise of an interview, Muir realizes they intend to distance the CIA from Bishop. He covertly initiates a counter-effort, leaking Bishop’s arrest to [[CNN]] through a British [[MI6]] contact, although the story is swiftly discredited by CIA interference. Through flashbacks, Muir recounts his history with Bishop: their first encounter in [[Vietnam]] in 1975, Bishop’s recruitment in [[West Berlin]] in 1976, and a tense mission in [[Beirut]] during the 1985 [[War of the Camps]].

During their Beirut assignment, Bishop meets and falls in love with Elizabeth Hadley, a [[Humanitarian aid|relief worker]] with a complex past, including ties to a bombing incident in the United Kingdom. Muir, viewing Hadley as a liability, orchestrates her capture by Chinese authorities in exchange for a U.S. diplomat. Feeling betrayed, Bishop cuts professional ties with Muir.

Back in the present, Muir deduces that Bishop was in China to rescue Hadley. Leveraging his remaining contacts, he forges a CIA directive and covertly initiates "Operation Dinner Out," a rescue mission originally devised by Bishop. Using personal funds and intelligence assets, Muir arranges for a power outage at the prison to enable a [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEAL]] team to extract both Bishop and Hadley.

As suspicions arise within the CIA, Muir evades detection by masking his actions under the guise of planning for retirement. The rescue succeeds, and Bishop realizes Muir was behind the operation upon hearing the code name. As the CIA scrambles to respond, Muir departs headquarters and drives into retirement, leaving behind a trail of misdirection and a successful extraction.

==Cast==
<!--- [[MOS:FILMCAST]] [[WP:NOTDATABASE]] - cast and order per Main Cast [[opening credits]], roles per [[closing credits]] scroll --->
{{Cast listing|
* [[Robert Redford]] as Nathan Muir
* [[Brad Pitt]] as Tom Bishop
* [[Catherine McCormack]] as Elizabeth Hadley
* [[Stephen Dillane]] as Charles Harker, [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations|CIA Deputy Director for Operations]]
* [[Larry Bryggman]] as Troy Folger, [[Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA Deputy Director]]
* [[Michael Paul Chan]] as Vincent Vy Ngo
* [[Marianne Jean-Baptiste]] as Gladys Jennip
* [[Ken Leung]] as Li
* [[David Hemmings]] as Harry Duncan, CIA Hong Kong office
}}

In addition, [[Garrick Hagon]] appears as [[Director of Central Intelligence|CIA Director]] Cy Wilson. [[Benedict Wong]] appears as Tran.

==Production==

=== Development ===
''Spy Game'' was initially set to be directed by [[Mike van Diem]] before the project transitioned to [[Tony Scott]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=21 May 2000 |title=Hasselhoff gets to just be himself in 'Dieter' |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |page=E35}}</ref> The screenplay, written by Michael Frost Beckner and [[David Arata]], attracted significant studio interest, with the film ultimately produced as an American–French–German–Japanese co-production.<ref name="afi" />

=== Casting ===
[[Brad Pitt]] was cast as Tom Bishop after declining the lead role in [[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|''The Bourne Identity'']] (2002) in favor of working on the film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2000 |title=Damon in Line to Play Bourne |work=[[Sun Sentinel]] |location=Fort Lauderdale |page=17 |agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> He was paired with [[Robert Redford]], who portrayed veteran CIA officer Nathan Muir. The film marked a second collaboration between Pitt and Redford, following [[A River Runs Through It (film)|''A River Runs Through It'']] (1992).

=== Filming ===
[[Principal photography]] began on November 5, 2000, and continued through March 19, 2001. The production was based largely in [[Morocco]], which doubled for multiple international locations in the narrative. Additional filming took place in [[Budapest]], [[Hungary]].<ref name=":0" /> The film had its world premiere at the Mann National Theatre in [[Los Angeles]] on November 19, 2001, shortly before its theatrical release in the United States.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Universal Pictures Celebrates World Premiere of 'Spy Game' - Update |date=November 13, 2001 |publisher=[[PR Newswire]] |url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011113/latu108_1.html |via=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011124000517/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011113/latu108_1.html |archive-date=November 24, 2001 |agency=[[Universal Pictures]]}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{main|Spy Game (soundtrack){{!}}''Spy Game'' (soundtrack)}}

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Spy Game'' grossed $62.4 million in the United States and Canada and $80.7 million in international markets, for a worldwide total of $143 million against a production budget of $115 million.<ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo|access-date=2024-11-30}}</ref> The film debuted at number three at the North American box office during its opening weekend and remained in the domestic top ten for five consecutive weeks.<ref name="BOMWeek">{{cite web |title=''Spy Game'' {{!}} Domestic Weekly |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2138277377/weekly/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On the [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 64% of 135 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site’s consensus reads: "The outcome of the kinetic ''Spy Game'' is never in doubt, but it is fun watching [[Robert Redford]] and [[Brad Pitt]] work."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spy Game {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spy_game |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film holds a score of 63 out of 100 based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spy Game Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spy-game/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Cinemascore |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' awarded the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, writing, "It is not a bad movie, mind you; it's clever and shows great control of craft, but it doesn't care, and so it's hard for us to care about."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=November 27, 2001 |title=Spy Game |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spy-game-2001 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |via=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of [[The Guardian|''The Guardian'']] described it as "a bang-bang spy thriller with moments of intelligence and nuance, but ultimately more style than substance."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spy Game {{!}} Reviews {{!}} guardian.co.uk Film |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,605511,00.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised [[Tony Scott]]’s direction, noting that he "orchestrates the action with visual flair, but the film’s multiple timelines and flashbacks occasionally hinder momentum."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=2001-11-17 |title=Spy Game |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/spy-game-3-1200552718/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

''[[IGN]]'' lauded the chemistry between the leads, calling the film "a sharp, well-acted thriller elevated by strong performances and polished visuals."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Glen |date=2001-11-21 |title=Review of Spy Game |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/21/review-of-spy-game |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> [[Common Sense Media|''Common Sense Media'']] highlighted its mature themes and complex plot, recommending it for older audiences interested in character-driven espionage stories.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=Spy Game Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/spy-game |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}}</ref> ''Plugged In'' offered a more cautious view, pointing to the film’s moral ambiguity and depiction of violence while acknowledging its slick production values.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spy Game |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/spygame/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Plugged In |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Home video==
''Spy Game'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios Home Video]] on April 9, 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rivero |first=Enrique |date=February 20, 2002 |title=UPDATE: Spy Game DVD Features Clandestine OPS |url=http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_id=2629 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020305135212/http://www.hive4media.com:80/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_id=2629 |archive-date=March 5, 2002 |access-date=September 10, 2019 |website=hive4media.com}}</ref>

==Novels==
In 2022, Michael Frost Beckner, co-screenwriter of ''Spy Game'', authored a trilogy of espionage novels inspired by the film’s characters. The series includes ''Muir’s Gambit'', ''Bishop’s Endgame'', and ''Aiken in Check''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Frost Beckner |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22483516.Michael_Frost_Beckner |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Spy Game}}
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Tony Scott}}

[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2001 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s political thriller films]]
[[Category:2000s spy action films]]
[[Category:2000s spy thriller films]]
[[Category:American action thriller films]]
[[Category:American political thriller films]]
[[Category:American spy action films]]
[[Category:American spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Beacon Pictures films]]
[[Category:Cold War spy films]]
[[Category:Films about capital punishment]]
[[Category:Films about the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:Films about prison escapes]]
[[Category:Films about security and surveillance]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tony Scott]]
[[Category:Films produced by Douglas Wick]]
[[Category:Films produced by Marc Abraham]]
[[Category:Films scored by Harry Gregson-Williams]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Films set in 1985]]
[[Category:Films set in 1991]]
[[Category:Films set in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Films set in Beirut]]
[[Category:Films set in East Germany]]
[[Category:Films set in Jiangsu]]
[[Category:Films set in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Films shot in Budapest]]
[[Category:Films shot in Casablanca]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ouarzazate]]
[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]]
[[Category:American political action films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Vietnam War films]]
[[Category:English-language action thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language spy thriller films]]