Ronin Sweaters

This week, I discovered the fresh and deliberate storytelling of director John Frankenheimer. His patient heist film Ronin (1998) was a thrill to watch and had the strong and steady pulse of a handsome European racing cyclist.

Ronin's superlative car chases, breathtakingly carried out by a cadre of fascinating enigmatic characters, were realistic and electrifying. I found myself studying the actions of Robert Di Nero's veteran thief Sam to learn something from his impossibly restrained swagger. Far beyond cars and weapons, Sam's experience, intellect and instincts are the most powerful force in this story.

Ronin's lone female Natascha McElhone really nailed her portrayal of the enigmatic and icy Irish lass Deirdre... and so did costume designer May Routh, who fitted her in androgynous and obscuring sweaters that heightened her power and mystery!

For all the expertly directed action and awesome performances in this movie, one of the real stars for me was Routh's costuming! For example, when we first get to know Sam, he is wearing an overcoat and is dressed much like the Peter Falk's famous TV detective Columbo. Incidentally, Sam pulls a very crafty Colombo-esque stunt in this scene, drawing strong comparisons to Falk's unpretentiously ingenious detective. These wardrobe choices subtly send us information that we are desperately craving from the exciting opposition of Frankenheimer's deliberate and restrained storytelling.

Every character has an unique and befitting way of dress that never detracts from the tones and textures of the plot and scenery.