Redford old but still cool

It's mildly surprising to see a film like "Spy Game" being released in wake of Sept. 11. Many films containing less controversial content have been delayed or shelved indefinitely. "Spy Game" isn't a real scorcher per se. Quite simply it's a character driven think piece involving spy tactics and the ever-ominous government hand.\nRobert Redford headlines the flick as Nathan Muir, a seasoned CIA operative on the brink of retirement. That is until he's notified of the capture of his protégé Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt, turning in nice supporting work). Bishop is arrested and charged with espionage following a botched seize and spring mission from a Chinese prison. The narrative sets up a timetable to establish suspense. Muir has slightly more than 24 hours from the moment of notification to prevent Bishop's inevitable execution. \nMuch of "Spy Game" is told through flashback, and the technique works particularly well here. The film backpedals to reveal a great depth of character in both Bishop and especially Muir. Redford and Pitt embody their roles expertly. The two have an undeniable chemistry that in all likelihood was fostered when Redford directed Pitt in 1992's "A River Runs Through It." Their characters have a warm, understated father-son relationship that propels the piece beyond action movie clichés. \nTony Scott, the director behind action extravaganzas such as "Top Gun," as well as the criminally underrated Tarantino crime yarn "True Romance," lenses "Spy Game" in able fashion. The flick is more grounded than many of his previous works. Redford's weapon of choice is his brain, a pack of smokes, or the telephone, yet Scott infuses the film with a manic energy chock full of jump cuts, extreme close-ups and breakneck editing, which elicits memories of his action flicks past. This can be both good and bad. "Spy Game" calls for a little more subtlety, yet is also spiced-up by the visual pyrotechnics in duller moments.\n"Spy Game" is a capable thriller, and perhaps its impact is amplified in wake of current events. Either way, it's well done and serves as a premiere comeback vehicle for Redford who gives his best performance in at least a decade as teh crafty and sharp-tongued Muir.