Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Ronin 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 23, 2023

John Frankenheimer's "Ronin" arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include an archival audio commentary by the director; numerous archival programs with cast and crew interviews; recent program with cinematographer Robert Fraisse; alternate ending; and more. In English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Men for hire

A short description explains the difference between a samurai and a ronin. They are both skilled Japanese warriors. However, a samurai has a master, while a ronin does not.

In a secluded bistro somewhere in Paris, five men meet a woman, Deirdre (Natasha McElhone), who has hired them to do a job. The last one to arrive is Sam (Robert De Niro), an American, who seems like the most careful one. Vincent (Jean Reno), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), Larry (Skipp Sudduth), and Spence (Sean Bean) have already had a drink from the bar. After exchanging a few words, the group leaves.

Several setbacks complicate the job. During one of them, Spence reveals that he cannot handle pressure and is released, but Deirdre refuses to look for a replacement. Sam becomes frustrated with the lack of information about the exact nature of the job, or who is paying them to do it. All that Deirdre is willing to share is that they will be trying to steal a metal case from a heavily guarded man.

The group travels from Paris to Nice, where the man with the metal case is, and begins final preparations. On a beautiful summer day, the group then goes to work. After a wild car chase and several intense shootouts, the man with the metal case and the bodyguards protecting him are killed. However, during the chaos, Gregor steals the metal and attempts to get rid of his partners by detonating a bomb placed in an identical suitcase.

The betrayal splits the group but also reveals the parties trying to acquire the metal case -- the Irish, led by a prominent radical named Seamus (Jonathan Pryce), and the Russians, whose main negotiator appears to be a man (Feodor Atkine) obsessed with a figure skating superstar. The cheated members of the group begin tracking down Gregor but it quickly becomes obvious that among them there are other independent thinkers like him.

John Frankenheimer’s last great film, Ronin, is a throwback to the classic paranoid action thrillers from the 1970s. Despite being two hours long, it is super lean and moves very fast, often as if to make a point that speed is an essential quality for any great film.

But it is very important to underscore that this speed is multi-layered. In addition to the conventional fast-moving action material, which by the way features some genuinely astonishing racing footage from historic districts of Nice, there is just as much suspenseful material demanding that the mind quickly contemplates various scenarios revealing the true motives behind the actions of the main characters as well as the nature of the complex game they are engaged in. As a result, the fast-moving action material and the suspenseful material blend very well.

Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly given the above description, Ronin successfully builds an ambience that would have been perfect in a cinematic adaptation of a classic John Le Carre novel as well. Indeed, despite its contemporary appearance, the environment in which the drama unfolds very much reminds of the Cold War playgrounds Le Carre routinely recreated in his novels. In fact, De Niro’s character reads each new situation as a fragment of precisely that kind of Cold War playground where everything is theater controlled by semi-visible and invisible puppet masters.

The leads are outstanding but there are several terrific supporting actors as well. For example, Michael Lonsdale plays an eccentric loner living in an ancient mansion somewhere far away from the hustle and bustle of the city who can make things happen all across France. Atkine is incredibly convincing as a former KGB operative-turned-capitalist businessman as well.

Frankenheimer collaborated with cinematographer Robert Fraisse, who lensed several of erotic auteur Just Jaeckin’s most famous films, including The Story of O and Emmanuelle 2.

Ronin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Ronin is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-30 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #33-38 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

I viewed the entire film with Dolby Vision and thought that it looked terrific. Delineation, clarity, and depth were very impressive. Virtually all darker areas, of which there are many, looked fantastic, too. (I did make several comparisons with the 1080p presentation and think that darker areas there are handled just as well). Fluidity is terrific. Ronin is a film with a lot of fast-moving action footage, so the superiority of the native 4K content there becomes quite easy to appreciate. Color balance is fantastic. I did not encounter s single area where I thought that some meaningful improvements can be made. The primaries looked very healthy and appropriately lush, while the supporting nuances were just as healthy and impressively balanced. The surface of the visuals is immaculate. All in all, I feel very comfortable stating that this 4K Blu-ray release will remain the definitive home video release of Ronin.

Ronin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided. Automatic English subtitles appear for the exchanges in French.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I was quite impressed with its dynamic potency. While it is true that there is a lot of action footage that makes it easy for the track to accomplish great things, I think that it is mixed very well, too. Indeed, there is 'quieter' material where various dynamic nuances make an impression as well, so the strength of the audio track is revealed in different ways. All registers are very healthy. There are no audio dropouts, distortions, or other similar anomalies to report.

Ronin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director John Frankenheimer and has appeared on various other Blu-ray and DVD releases.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director John Frankenheimer and has appeared on various other Blu-ray and DVD releases.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Ronin. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Alternate Ending - a different, less convincing ending for Ronin. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Ronin: Filming in the Fast Lane - this archival program offers raw footage from the shooting of Ronin in France with clips from archival interviews with producer Frank Mancuso Jr., Natascha McElhone, Jean Reno, Robert De Niro, and John Frankenheimer, among others. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Venice Film Festival - presented here is archival footage from interviews that were conducted at the Venice Film Festival where Ronin was screened. Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, and Natascha McElhone discuss the nature of the project and John Frankenheimer's directing methods. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Through the Lens - in this archival program, cinematographer Robert Fraisse discusses his contribution to Ronin and explains how some of the most challenging material in it was shot. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• The Driving of Ronin - in this archival program, stunt-car coordinator Jean-Claude Lagniez discusses some of the dangerous work he did during the shooting of Ronin. In French, with English subtitles. (16 min).

• Composing the Ronin Score - in this archival program, composer Elia Cmiral discusses the unique qualities of the soundtrack he created for Ronin as well as some of the special ways in which it enhances the suspense throughout the film. Ronin was his first studio project. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• An Actor's Process - in this archival program, Natascha McElhone discusses the character she plays in Ronin and her interactions with John Frankenheimer and fellow cast members. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• In the Roning Cutting Room - in this archival program, editor Tony Gibbs discusses his work on Ronin. There are some interesting comments about John Frankenheimer's flexible vision of the film as well as his directing methods. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Close-Up - in this recent program, cinematographer Robert Fraisse discusses his background and career and involvement with Ronin. The program was produced by Arrow Video. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

Ronin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ronin is John Frankenheimer's last great film. It is a throwback to the classic paranoid action thrillers from the 1970s with a very impressive utilization of speed. Kino Lorber's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack offers a marvelous presentation of Ronin that will close its cycle on the home video market. If you reside on the other side of the Atlantic and wish to acquire it for your collection, please keep in mind that the 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free but the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked". HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.