Sneakers

1992 • 125 minutes

About this movie

Robert Redford leads an all-star cast in one of the most satisfying suspense films! Computer expert Martin Bishop (Redford) heads a team of renegade hackers including a former CIA employee (Sidney Poitier), a gadgets wizard (Dan Aykroyd), a young genius (River Phoenix) and a blind soundman (David Strathairn) who are routinely hired to test security systems. But Bishop's past comes back to haunt him when government agents blackmail the "sneakers" into carrying out a covert operation: tracking down an elusive black box. Along with his former girlfriend (Mary McDonnell), Bishop's team retrieves the box and makes a stunning discovery the device can break into any computer system in the world. With factions from all sides willing to kill for the powerful box, Bishop and his team embark on their most dangerous assignment ever in this exhilarating high-tech caper from Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams).

Ratings and reviews

Mmm... Not bad... 2½★ from me. A gentle spy-type caper, one for Redford's generation perhaps. Improves on second viewing. Is a bit overlong and the tech feels dinosaury but it does have its moments of suspense, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments and everyone does a good job. Wish River Phoenix was still alive today - his career really could've been something. It's not a movie I'd want to own, but was curious about it and glad I rented it.

Saw this in 1992 at the flicks and loved it. Flash forward to December 2014 and I was introducing it to my other half who hadn't seen it. Was as witty, fresh and downright entertaining as when I first saw it all those years ago. The visual style, music and performance make this a higher class of popcorn movie. This is an old friend who will be watched again and again.

Seminal piece of fiction in the universe of techies. Plot holes aside, a great movie.