The Saint
Directed by Phillip Noyce
- thriller
- action
- romance
- science fiction
- adventure
The story
Simon Templar (The Saint), is a thief for hire, whose latest job to steal the secret process for cold fusion puts him at odds with a traitor bent on toppling the Russian government, as well as the woman who holds its secret.
What it’s like
Glossy 1990s studio polish: bright, saturated location work across London and Berlin, with sleek hotel suites, gleaming boardrooms and night streets slick with rain and reflected neon. Camera moves are confident and fluid, with plenty of crisp tracking shots, quick cuts through crowded rooms and the odd flashy overhead angle, all sitting over a bombastic orchestral-and-synth score that swells at every heist beat. The vibe is breezy caper energy with a light romantic streak, the sort of thing for a Friday night with popcorn or an easy weekend afternoon when you want something slick and entertaining without much strain. Pacing is brisk, with set pieces punctuating longer stretches of banter, and the emotional register stays playful and wry rather than heavy. The central figure is a charming, self-assured rogue who gradually lets his guard down around a sharp, capable woman who refuses to be rescued. Intensity is moderate: a handful of shootouts and fistfights, brief in duration and bloodless in look, with some peril and tension but no gore and little that is truly cruel. Suited to viewers who enjoy polished espionage thrillers, playful romance and a hero who is more wit than brutality.
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