Sneakers: the cult ‘feelgood heist film' with a hefty cast and a byzantine plot
Picture this. It's 1969. Two young hackers, Martin and Cosmo, have broken into a government facility. They're cocky little idealists but they're principled, too; they are using a computer to redistribute wealth from evil to worthwhile causes. But they're feeling peckish. Martin ducks out for pizza but as he comes back the police arrive … so he runs, leaving Cosmo to his fate.
We then jump forward several decades. Martin (Robert Redford) has changed his name and now works as a specialist helping corporations test their readiness against security breaches, having turned his law-breaking habits into a viable career. He's also assembled a crack squad of intelligence industry leftovers and lawbreaking ne'er-do-wells. And, within minutes, this group of misfits is thrust into a conspiracy bigger than they ever dreamed was possible.
Sneakers has developed a justifiable cult following since its release in 1992. Those who love it speak of it less as a film and more as a place – somewhere they visit whenever they need an escapist pick-me-up.
It has a hefty cast: Redford's old-school Hollywood cool works so well for Martin, a roguish, haunted do-gooder. (He's not dissimilar to Redford's Bob Woodward, with a dash of Danny Ocean thrown in.) Sidney Poitier plays Donald Crease, an ex-CIA operative and wary foil to Martin's swashbuckling tendencies. Dan Aykroyd plays Mother, a conspiracy nut who excels at electronics. River Phoenix sings as Carl, a young, brash hacking savant, and David Strathairn (in a career-beating performance) is Whistler, their blind sound guy.
Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more likable ensemble. They strike the perfect point between believability and likability; we're so in love with them as people that we can't help buying into Sneakers' byzantine plot. There are secret passwords, hidden clues, disguises – and none of it seems ridiculous, because the cast and characters all take it seriously enough while having fun every step of the way.
The plot gives our heroes somewhere magical to play. Once we've met the crew, Martin is approached by two National Security Agency officers, who promptly inform him the jig is up. After decades of anonymity, he's been sprung: they know about the 1969 job. They know his true identity. And they'll keep it a secret … provided he and his team undertake a job for them: stealing a black box, developed by a mathematics genius. This box is dangerous, and it's going to help the Russians, the spooks say – and they won't say much more.
Sign up to Saved for Later
Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips
after newsletter promotion
With that, we're off. Phil Alden Robinson, who also directed Field of Dreams, helps keep the tone of Sneakers perfectly in check. It's often described as a feelgood heist film, and not without good reason: the gang's pursuit of the black box has Martin forced to get back in touch with his ex, Liz (Mary McDonnell), at which point a real Hepburn and Tracy screwball dynamic springs up.
Sneakers also has one of the best film scores of all time. No, really: James Horner, whose signature sounds brought Aliens, Apollo 13, Titanic and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to life, teams up with saxophonist Branford Marsalis to create a haunting and energising sound. Watching Redford tapping away slowly as Horner's score punctuates every tenuous keystroke will have you holding your breath – like the cast, Horner understood the brief.
The stakes in Sneakers get very high, very fast, which makes for an utterly compelling, yet profoundly comforting film. Everyone on Martin's crew has a romantic, idealistic worldview, which the film itself shares: speak truth to power and help the little guy. And isn't that just the kind of cinematic vibe we need right now?
Sneakers is available to stream on Apple TV+ and Prime in Australia, US and the UK. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Schumacher's inner circle as F1 boss reveals who ‘regularly' sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON'T visit
When Schumacher's head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two SCHUEY'S CIRCLE Inside Schumacher's inner circle as F1 boss reveals who 'regularly' sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON'T visit AN F1 boss has revealed insider information on Michael Schumacher's inner circle - like who "regularly" visits him and his shock at one pal who won't. Schumacher hasn't been in the public eye since a devastating skiing accident 12 years ago and is cared for by medical staff and his wife Corinna at their home in Lake Geneva. Advertisement 7 Schumacher lifts the trophy after victory in the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco Credit: Getty 7 German formula one world champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari hugs his wife Corinna in 2004 Credit: Alamy 7 Ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star Credit: Re-Engineering Australia Foundation 7 The F1 legend's family have remained very protective of his privacy, with little known about his condition since the 2013 accident. Now ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star - and revealed who regularly him. He told "Jean Todt, that's well known. Jean and Michael had an extraordinarily close relationship. "I believe Luca Badoer, who is a close family friend, visits him. Advertisement "If there is a third, I don't know who that would be." But Hopkins also spoke of a pal who won't visit Schumacher - Flavio Briatore. He added: "Flavio is, as we know, a flamboyant character. I would have thought he would have probably been the first person who would have wanted to see Michael in whatever way that was. But you have to respect that decision. "That's down to the individual. Not necessarily shared by all. I know there are close friends that go and see Schumacher and that's their own choice and for their own reasons. Advertisement "But Flavio has obviously got his and it's very deep and personal how we remember people, and how we want to remember people. "I think we all have to respect that one." Michael Schumacher's Monaco Grand Prix-Winning Ferrari F2001 In 2020 Briatore's former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes.' Addressing this rumour, Hopkins said: "I'm not in that circle to know the absolute facts about Schumacher. Not many people are. Does he communicate through his eyes? Quite possibly. Advertisement "There is rumour he does watch Grand Prixs. But this is just speculation and perhaps unfair for anyone to make assumptions and guesses. "Any remark I make will be unqualified as well in that sense, so it's difficult to be drawn on it." In April, Schumacher signed a charity helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart with help from Corinna. The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart's charity Race Against Dementia. Advertisement But Hopkins has described the signing as potentially being a "one-off". He said: "I suspect that [Jackie Stewart helmet signature] gesture was a one-off. There was a lot of media around that and maybe for the family too much media. 7 Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore Credit: Getty - Contributor 7 Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore looks on in the paddock during qualifying Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 Race winner Michael Schumacher celebrates on the podium in 1994 Credit: Alamy "They try to keep everything quiet and private, so I'd hazard a guess that it was a one-off. "It was a great gesture from the family to organise that." Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Schumacher unless they were given £12million. Advertisement Security guard Markus Fritsche had copied the private material while working for the Schumachers and sold it to the two men. In February the trio were found guilty of their part in the blackmail plot. Fritsche was given a two-year suspended sentence, while Tozturkan was jailed for three years and Lins was given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a German court. Schumacher's wife Corinna wanted a harsher sentence for Fritsche. Advertisement She said: 'What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. 'He should receive a punishment for this that deters others from potentially doing the same.' When Schumacher's head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two. The brain injury was so serious that he spent 250 days in a coma. Advertisement The best medical treatment that money could buy brought the sporting great, who is worth £468million, back to consciousness. There had been rumours that further treatment in Paris had allowed Schumacher to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
Martin Scorsese admits one of his most iconic 90s films 'has no plot'
Martin Scorsese has opened up about making one of his most iconic films, confessing that it actually has 'no plot'. The acclaimed director helmed 1995 crime drama Casino, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, Don Rickles and Frank Vincent, following mobster Sam 'Ace' Rothstein as he oversees the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. It was adapted from a book written by Nick Pileggi, and commands an exhausting run time of nearly three hours. Unpacking the hit movie, Martin previously said that there was 'no plot at all' to be found within the two hours and 58 minutes, conceding that there's 'a lot of action, a lot of story, but no plot'. During a Q&A session with Robert ahead of a screening of the flick at Tribeca Film Festival, held at the Beacon Theater on Thursday, moderator W Kamau Bell questioned his remarks, and he stood his ground. 'Yeah, it's a substantial length film,' he said to laughs from the audience. 'We wanted to sustain one note, so to speak, pushing all the way through the length of the picture. Make it feel as if it's like a breathless experience. 'I don't know if the plot was necessary… I often think films that you think about, or things you've read often, if you really examine them, I find that a lot of the films that I [like], let's say Hitchcock's Vertigo, for example, who cares about the plot at this point? 'Also, if you really, really analyze that plot, it's highly improbable!' 'What are we watching it for? You're watching it for other reasons,' Martin continued. 'You're watching it for cinema, color, the actors, the dialog, the mood, the tone and experience… 'What I'm getting at is that I think if you find that you're watching a film for a plot, or you read a book for a plot, unless the characterization is so unique in psychological depth and emotional depth, there's no reason to read it again or see it again, because you know the plot. 'So what's the point?' In Casino, Robert led the star-studded cast as mobster Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, who was tasked with running a Las Vegas casino. He was forced to take action when best friend Nicky Santoro's (Joe Pesci) criminal activities – as well as his own romance with con artist Ginger (Sharon Stone) – drew too much attention to their antics. The movie served as a reunion for Martin, Robert and Joe, who worked together on 1990 film Goodfellas, also adapted from a nonfiction book by Nick. Discussing the note that Casino was 'adapted from a true story', the director conceded: 'We did have to do a great deal of changing names. It's in the movie, we can't even say Chicago. 'When it cuts back to Chicago, we put 'back home'.' When asked about whether there was 'pushback' from the mob community, he added: 'No… There were meetings in Vegas with a number of people who told [us] to be careful and remember that these [characters were] based on real people, etc. More Trending 'The point is that the material … is public knowledge and it is apparently factual. We changed the names, we changed so many things. But naturally, those who know the characters it's based upon, they know the truth. These are elements of truth. 'Naturally, there are people, there are families and that sort of thing, and there was some pushback. 'People push back forward, so to speak.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'I think women are strong regardless' – John Wick Ballerina director on Ana de Armas MORE: Inside Oasis' setlist after iconic song is heard in rehearsals MORE: Inside Saw's future as 'disagreements' over 11th film left iconic horror franchise '100% dead'
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
James Argent's ex breaks silence as she claims she was 'brutally evicted'
James Argent's ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson has broken her silence after the former TOWIE star was convicted of domestic violence earlier this month James Argent's former girlfriend, Nicoline Artursson, has finally spoken out after the ex-TOWIE star admitted to domestic violence. Earlier this month, Argent admitted his guilt in a Spanish court, receiving a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order. Argent had pushed his then-girlfriend down a flight of stairs, causing injuries, according to earlier reports. Despite the shocking incident, Argent was back on stage by the end of the week, earning his living through singing. Nicoline, a model and former Miss Sweden, met Arg outside a supermarket in Marbella and they quickly fell head over heels for each other. In an interview with OK! magazine, James reminisced about the moment he first saw Nicoline, describing her as beautiful even in her gym clothes and without makeup. "She'd just fed a stray cat. We both smiled and kind of giggled at each other. And Nicoline carried on walking. Then I thought, 'What have I got to lose?' So I turned around and said, 'Hey.'" Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The couple went on to date and had discussed starting a family together one day, with Nicoline praising Arg's family-oriented nature, reports the Mirror. Until now, Nicoline had remained silent about the incident. She recently took to social media to share her thoughts on what had transpired in a lengthy and emotional post titled 'All that glitters, where is the gold?'. In a heartfelt social media post, Nicoline detailed her emotional and physical turmoil following the end of her relationship. She wrote: "It's now been a month. I still can't believe it. My fractures on my body have finally healed but I'm wounded inside. I've been quiet long enough. Silence protects no one - and it almost destroyed started as a love story sadly turned into something else. Behind the pictures, promises and the plans for a life together - the beautiful days - changed into something into sadness with emotional manipulation and eventually physical harm." While she didn't name anyone specifically, Nicoline hinted at issues with Arg's past, saying he had "unresolved ties to his past". She expressed her frustration about feeling like a third wheel in her own relationship, stating: "There were 'too many people in our relationship' - her, Arg and his ex - and accused the unnamed ex and her family of 'targeted emotional distress'." She continued: "I loved deeply, believed in our future and stood by someone I thought would protect me and instead I was left alone and harmed in ways I never imagined. I was not only failed by him but deeply affected by the presence of unresolved ties to his past." Nicoline also referenced a social media poll she conducted, sharing: "Yes I posted an Instagram story with a simple yes or no question about if your ex should be a part of your present relationship. I felt there were too many people in our relationship: me, my boyfriend and his ex. 'Three's a crowd', they say. I asked so many times if we could be just the two of us, but the answer was a strong NO. "I experienced what I can only describe as targeted emotional distress which he allowed to continue. The ex and her family put us through so much misery and false accusations, I won't go into details. "They had no reason whatsoever to do what they did to us, but for some reason they wouldn't let go and let us enjoy our love. Everybody knows that real friends support you and want to see you happy. So I posted a story on Instagram." She further stated Arg had promised to "put a stop" to the ongoing issues: "After being together for one year my boyfriend finally promised me that he would have boundaries. He would put a stop to all that had been going on for months. But he didn't. "Instead he broke the promise and her controlling behaviour continued. The rest is history. I was brutally thrown out of our new home in the middle of the night wearing only my pyjamas. I opened the door to let him in and only minutes after I found myself laying down on the stairs outside our house. My clothes and belongings were being thrown out from the balcony down on me. I was injured." Later, Nicoline expressed gratitude to her neighbours: "Thanks to incredible neighbours who heard and saw what happened and acted, I got help. They called police, brought me to safety and ensured the incident was taken seriously." She powerfully ended her message with: "A gentleman does not abuse you and end up in jail and call you the love of his life. A gentleman does not blame you for his actions. A gentleman will confide in his partner, family and close circle of friends, keeping them close and safe. A gentleman chooses you always and leaves the past in the past - including exes. "Life is to be lived together and not to please people who want to take advantage of you. At the end of the day, fame can only do so much - it's all about being strong and growing together. Life is simply not a reality TV show, life is real. I have tried to understand why. I have cried so many tears thinking about the way he chose to hurt me. He said he loved me and I believed him and here we are." Furthering her reflection, she continued: "There is now a legal record of what happened. Violence has no excuse - no matter how much love preceded it. To those who questioned me for staying as long as I did: I stayed because I believed in love. I believed he and we could grow, could heal, could choose peace. But love doesn't survive in chaos. And it cannot survive where violence lives." She then addressed her readers directly: "To every woman reading this: if you've ever questioned your worth, your safety or your sanity in a relationship - this is your sign. You deserved to be loved with care and integrity. And you are not alone. To the men: real strength is protection. Real love is safe. Be the kind of man who lifts women up - not one who breaks them down, neither by violence or silence. "To the future: never say never. I will get the little family I've always dreamed of and have my dream wedding to symbolise and celebrate true love in front of my dear family and friends." She penned: "I'm healing now. Slowly, bravely and unapologetically. I will rise and I will use my voice - not for vengeance but for truth. For every woman who's been silenced by someone who said 'I love you' and then proved otherwise. This is not just my story. It's a reminder: abuse - whether emotional, psychological or physical - has no place in love."
