A classic 90s crime caper, Sneakers has a fantastic cast and shows off all of the pique technology of the day that we can look back on now with smiling nostalgia.
I remember watching this movie in the movie theater when I was in high school. I vaguely remember the story, and a few things were familiar when I watched it this time, but when I mentioned it to my husband, he got very excited. As a software engineer, he couldn’t believe that I didn’t remember all of the details, but his focus was fully on the computers and the code. This movie is nostalgic for him, but likely not in the same way it is for most other people – unless you are also a lover of old technology, in which case, this is definitely your movie!
Sneakers begins in 1969, where young Marty and his friend Cosmo are hacking into people’s bank accounts – stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. When Marty runs out for pizza, Cosmo gets arrested, and Marty goes into hiding. Many years later, Marty runs an eccentric team of people who are paid to break into buildings to show the owners of the businesses where their weaknesses are. When he is suddenly approached by National Security Agency agents who reveal that they know his identity, he is convinced to try to retrieve a black box from a famous mathematician and, in exchange, they will clear his record.
The first thing that anyone will notice about this comedy thriller is the incredible cast. Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, and David Strathairn – I mean, come ON. Every time a new actor walks onto the screen, your eyes light up because they are all incredible.
There are also some great actors who play secondary characters who will also make you smile. Stephen Tobolowsky (a man you know from every movie, but let’s go with Ned from Groundhog Day), Timothy Busfield (Annie’s brother in Field of Dreams and so much more), and Eddie Jones (Marla Hooch’s father in A League Of Their Own and so much more) are just a few more of the familiar faces, not to mention a killer cameo at the end that I won’t ruin for you.
The story is a lot of fun, but some of the dialogue is even better. A few of my favorite bits are, Man: “Would you like to have breakfast with me?” Woman: “Sure, fine…” Man: “Should I phone you or nudge you?” and Man making a request: “I want peace on earth and good will towards men.” Agent: “We are the United States government, we don’t do that sort of thing.”
I am a huge fan of the scenes that involve the one blind character (played by Strathairn) using a braille computer and, later, solving various problems by using his hearing as a unique strength. There is also a funny scene in which he has to drive a car because he has no other choice.
Sneakers has a lot of 90s personality and faces that you have always loved. There is fun technology that was incredibly cool back then and would likely fit on a tiny hard drive now (look at me, pretending to speak the language of my husband), and a fairly solid story (a little cliché, but it doesn’t matter). An enjoyable film for younger and older people, and a blast from the past for 70s, 80s, and 90s kids.
Runtime: 125 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Peacock, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
I remember watching this movie in the movie theater when I was in high school. I vaguely remember the story, and a few things were familiar when I watched it this time, but when I mentioned it to my husband, he got very excited. As a software engineer, he couldn’t believe that I didn’t remember all of the details, but his focus was fully on the computers and the code. This movie is nostalgic for him, but likely not in the same way it is for most other people – unless you are also a lover of old technology, in which case, this is definitely your movie!
