Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Ronin Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 23, 2023

John Frankenheimer's "Ronin" arrives on 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-A "locked".

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 expects 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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ronin arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a very beautiful 4K master that was prepared after the film was remastered in 4K. This 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray release offers a native 4K presentation of the 4K makeover as well.

I viewed the entire film in native 4K and after that tested numerous areas of the 1080p presentation. I upscaled the 1080p presentation to 4K and also sampled various areas projected.

I like how the 1080p presentation looks a lot. It produces very strong visuals that easily could be used as reference material. I checked several parts of the film with tricky darker areas. I think that darker nuances are handled very well, almost as well as the native 4K presentation does. Some daylight visuals do not have the outstanding dynamic range that is present on the native 4K presentation, but this is to be expected. I still think that they look very, very strong. Color balance is convincing and also comparable to that of the native 4K presentation. The wider color gamut of 4K produces slightly richer visuals -- with the most notable example again appearing during daylight footage -- but I think that the 1080p presentation is equally satisfying. To be honest, I would have been perfectly happy with the 1080p presentation. I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Ronin 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.

While comparing the 1080p and native 4K presentations of Ronin, I did not encounter any issues. The comments below were used in our review of the 4K Blu-ray release of Ronin.

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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 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 Blu-ray release of Ronin is sourced from a marvelous recent 4K master. However, there is also an outstanding 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack that makes it possible to view the remastered Ronin in native 4K. If you can play 4K Blu-ray discs, I suggest that you consider picking up the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.