A very favorable conversation framing Ronin as a dialogue-driven, highly rewatchable 1990s action movie that feels old-school, location-specific, and unusually realistic. The hosts especially praise its car chases, Mamet-like dialogue, and DVD-era home-viewing value, while noting some awkward romance and a few implausibilities.
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01The dialogue rewards repeated viewing because the hosts enjoy the space between the lines and the rhythmic back-and-forth. Opening minutes
02The practical, location-based car chases feel immersive and even carsick-making on rewatch. Opening minutes
03The first wave of DVD features made the movie feel like a home-video breakthrough with widescreen, commentary, and alternate endings. Opening minutes
04The film changes form over time, shifting from mission thriller to spy/cat-and-mouse story. Opening minutes
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
moderateThe De Niro/Deirdre romance feels shoehorned in and underdeveloped. About 48 min
minorCable and pan-and-scan versions likely hurt the film's presentation. Opening minutes
minorSome stunt work is visibly dated or obvious. About 48 min
moderateFrench law enforcement and security seem implausibly absent given the amount of chaos. About 56 min
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
Favorite
Sean Bean's ambush and humiliation
Bean's team walks into an ambush, he panics, and De Niro humiliates him with 'draw it again.'
About 24 min Favorite
First major chase and shootout
The early action sequence in France introduces the practical, real-location style that the hosts love.
About 24 min Favorite
Playground confrontation
Gregor's child-shooting threat makes him fully villainous and escalates the stakes.
About 24 min Favorite
Second car chase
The wrong-way road chase with Natasha McElhone driving is the hosts' favorite set piece.
About 24 min positive
Katerina Witt skating sequence
They like the tension and spectacle of the skating-arena set piece but joke about its length and implausibility.
About 32 min positive
Final coffee-shop ending
The closing De Niro/Jean Reno coffee scene provides a cool, subdued finish after the plot is revealed as a MacGuffin.
About 48 min
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They agreed About 24 min
Which scene is the movie's best set piece
Bill Simmons
The second car chase is the clear best scene.
Chris Ryan
He agrees, though he also loves the early warehouse and banter scenes.
They partly agreed About 32 min
Whether the ending should use the alternate abduction cut
Bill Simmons
He prefers the alternate ending where Natasha McElhone is abducted by the IRA.
Chris Ryan
He discusses the theatrical ending and accepts the final coffee scene as cool, while noting the alternate ending existed.
They partly agreed About 48 min
Is the central briefcase MacGuffin effective
Bill Simmons
He is torn and thinks it felt too Pulp Fiction-adjacent at first.
Chris Ryan
He argues the final Seamus reveal justifies the MacGuffin structure.
They agreed About 48 min
Could the movie be remade as a TV series
Bill Simmons
He thinks a 10-episode Netflix version could work.
Chris Ryan
He also talks himself into the idea, mainly because the world and character network are expandable.
12 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
favorableNatasha McElhoneBill Simmons: They like her presence, especially in the chase scenes, though they question the romance around her character. About 24 min
