Still enjoy watching this film after so many years - great storyline (if a bit stretched to believe that Faye D would help the hero they way she does and how easily he gets to access Bell Telephone Labs, Hotel telephone exchanges and a top spy's house) but history has shown that the reasons behind the whole raison d'etre of the murders are plausible and indeed semi-true (despite some political denials over the Middle East!).
Max von Sidow is an early incarnation of Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men and shows how character acting should be done.
Tight script, tight everything. Wish they still made movies like this. And i have nothing more to say, I'm no critic!
the plot is convoluted yes but the adroit direction and subtle but effective acting, together with a very human sub plot and romance, carries this quite brilliant espionage/CIA type thriller over the line with pace, excitement and emotional impact.
obviously if you don't like CIA paranoia type thrillers then this is not for you; but if you liked the Bourne series, and found The Conversation clever but dull, this is right up your street. indeed it is a cross between the conversation and Bourne Identity; with the complexity of the former and the engagement of the latter. It is not as fast paced as some but it makes up for lack of pace with a good dollop of a subtle rom-com which is played with remarkable sensitivity for a thriller.
Redford is great as is Dunaway and all the cast. the plot s a little hackneyed but then this was probably the first so the others are copying!"