'90s Class: Sneakers (1992)

 After watching some bad Horror or Sci-Fi, how about something that's actually good?  This is 1992's Sneakers, a Film that is not about shoes.  Apparently there was some concern that people would think it was a Kid's Film, so they added some swearing.

Why not?

The Film is about a group of good guy Security Experts who do a job for the NSA.  When they find out what they stole and realize who they accidentally stole it for, plans change.

The Cast is full of Stars of the past and (in theory) the future.  You have Robert Redford, Sydney Poitier, Dan Akroyd, David Strathairn, Sir Ben Kingsley and Mary McDonnell.  Tragically, we also get River Phoenix at the tail end of his sadly-short career and life.

Having last seen this one in Theaters when I was a kid (do the Math!), will it be better or worse 30 years later?  Let's find out...

In 1969, two young College Students use phones to steal money from bad guys.  One of them- Redford- leaves to get food and escapes being capture.

Two things- 

1) Redford is 'de-aging himself' here for the Story (as Hippie during Vietnam makes sense narratively).  He was born in 1936.

2) With no CGI to digitally de-age him, they just cast an Actor who looks like him and slapped on a mustache.  Better or worse?  Discuss.

In the Present (of 1992) Martin (now going by the last name Bishop) works for a company that tests Security for Companies.

I can't wait for Stallone to 'borrow' this idea to make Escape Plan (and two subsequent DTV Sequels).

Some guys from the NSA hire them, which is a tempting offer when they reveal that they know about Martin's other name and past.

People who blackmail you for work- trustworthy!

They steal a device from a young Donal Logue (!!!) and prepare to give to the NSA, but they feel the need to test it.

As it turns out, it can hack into any U.S. System due to something something numbers and codes.  I don't know if this was accurate then or is now, but it makes a good MacGuffin.

When they find out the truth, the group is targeted.

Redford tries to get help from his friend at the Russian Consulate (as you do), but this backfires when he is killed and Redford is framed.

Too important to be a Poor Bastard- sorry.

It turns out that the mastermind is Redford's 'college-age' friend, who's now played by Sir Ben Kingsley.
FYI he was born in 1943, so he was also too old to be a (young) College Student.

He wants to destabilize the World Economy, which he somehow equates to when they would steal money from the Government to help the poor.  Sure...

In a pair of things that might seem familiar if you know a certain Tom Cruise Film, they have to manipulate a poor Office Drone (Stephen Tobolowsky) and put their young comrade in the Elevator Shaft to manipulate the Temperature Controls for the Heist.

It's just impossible to place where this was also used.

They manage to get the chip that's behind it all after some close calls and issues with the Heist.  My biggest issue- they have to send Redford to do all of the titular sneaking, as opposed to River Phoenix.

Ultimately, it comes down to Kingsley confronting his friend, but realizing that he can't shoot him.

In the aftermath, they give it over to the *real* NSA in exchange for material goods, a lady's phone number and 'world peace.'

They also steal money from the 1992 Republican Party, so a happy ending.

A good Film, even if it is a bit shallow.  It's a breezy Film starring good, name Actors.  It's got some serious elements, but leans more into Comedy by the end.

Sneakers has a serious Plot involving espionage, theft and bad guys killing people.  It's still less of a Thriller and more of a buddy Film thanks to the fun banter between our Stars.  It doesn't devalue the thrills though.  Make sense?

Being 30 years later, the technology could be dated and silly.  Thankfully, it's not.  There have obviously been many advances since then (for instance, cell phones are not a thing here), but it doesn't rely on stuff like floppy disks like Hackers does.

If you want a Heist Film about good guys, check it out.  It's not going to blow your mind or make a big statement, but it's good and fun.  Speaking of fun, Redford's car here would show up next year as Mike Meyer's Car in So I Married an Axe Murderer.  No joke.

Next time, another random film from the pile.  So many weird and random choices for you.  Stay tuned...