Frankenheimer has crafted a meticulously put together film with spectacular French scenery and equally spectacular car chases and crashes through the narrow streets of French villages. However, as seems to be common with many films today, ultimately the film is all splash and no substance. De Niro and his co-stars are hired by unknown people (eventually revealed to be the Irish) to steal a case with unknown contents (weaponry of some sort is assumed) from an unknown group who is trying to sell it to the Russians. Considering that all of this group is supposed to be some kind of superspies, they all are found awfully easily when they are supposed to be in hiding. Double crosses occur which add a wrinkle to the film. But in the end, the revelations that are offered do not seem worth the time the viewer has expended in the theatre. Lots of violence seems to be the major appeal of the film.
