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Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, Rade Serbedzija, Valery Nikolaev, Henry Goodman ... see more see more... , Alun Armstrong , Michael Byrne , Charlotte Cornwell , Pat Laffan , Yevgeny Lazarev , Irina Apeksimova , Emily Mortimer , Verity Dearsley , Lev Prygunov , Lucija Serbedzija , Adam Smith , Tommy Flanagan , Ian Hendry , Roger Moore

Based on the popular novels about that other suave, globe-trotting man of action, this genre picture from director Phillip Noyce mixed romance and character development with dangerous stunts, geopolit... read more read more...ical intrigue, and a variety of elaborate disguises, resulting in an uneven stew of a spy thriller. Val Kilmer is Simon Templar, a classy, cunning master thief and "man of a thousand faces" who cribs his phony names from those of obscure saints and sells his illegal services to the highest bidder. Hired by an ambitious Russian politician (Rade Serbedzija) to steal the formula for cold fusion, Templar falls in love with Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the frail Oxford scientist who has unlocked the secret of the process. Back in Moscow, the thief debates whether to betray his new love or the powerful madman who is paying him millions, until he discovers that his client is concealing oil reserves that could save his freezing people. Often seen as an also-ran to the legendary James Bond, Templar, the creation of author Leslie Charteris, in fact predated the first Bond novel by decades and probably inspired Ian Fleming in his creation of the debonair agent. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

65,715 ratings

Critics

30% liked it

44 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Phillip Noyce

Release Date: April 4, 1997

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DVD Release Date: October 6, 1998

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Stats: 2,359 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,359)

  • cosmo313
    August 19, 2011
    cosmo313
    Based on a character created back in 1928, this film tells the story of an expert thief and master of disguise who, in this telling, has all sorts of aliases, all of them named after Catholic saints. The Saint gets involved in all sorts of troubles when his latest caper sees him ... read morefalling in love and caught up in some nutty geopolitical issues in Russia.

    The concept and ideas, mostly that of using saint names as aliases, are pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, the way thigns are executed here leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not quite sure what went wrong. Noyce has experience with this sort of thing, so maybe most of the blame goes to the script and the specific story. Some of it's cool, but it seems a little lifeless and dull.

    That said, I still found the film to be entertaining and watchable, even though it isn't really that good. It kinda comes close though.

    The love story is a little hokey, and some of this stuff overall is kinda silly, but it's fun, and definitely had potential to be awesome. Val Kilmer is fun to watch use all kinds of different wigs, accents, and costumes, though it amazes me how many of the characters get fooled by some of his disguises, especially since some of them are really not all that great. He does a good job though. Shue is okay, or at least servicable, though she kidna comes off as a little silly, which clashes with some of the more dramatic and seriosu thriller elements at hand.

    Actually, I think I just figured it out. Part of the issue here is the tone. It's uneven, and unsucessfully tries to mix levity with drama. In a lot of ways, this is like the Bond films, although some of those manage the mixing far better than others. Maybe I'm just underwhelmed by all of this because it didn't seem all that fresh and exciting.

    Like I said though, it did entertain me, and I was never bored. See it if you like, but don't expect it to be the real gem it should have been.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 4, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Saint, for me is a borderline decent action film. The ideas in the film, are good, but poorly executed, and feel kinda cheesy, yet there's something appealing the film too. The Saint for all its flaws, is a fun film to watch. The acting leaves a lot to be desired, but someho... read morew the film is entertaining enough to be a passable action film. I agree that this film is uneven, but there are far worst films than The Saint out there. Val Kilmer give a decent performance, but one that is forgettable as well. The Saint is a cheesy action film that you have to watch when you want to be a mindless movie night where you pick something that doesn't have much plot. The Saint is a cool decent flick, but because there a lot of flaws with the film. Especially that now, watching the film today, the film looks dated all around. The film hasn't aged well. I was surprised at the names involved in this film, and considering that this film isn't good or excellent, it's just decent I was surprised to see actors like Michael Byrne in this. The Saint for all it's imperfection is entertaining, I liked it, but I wouldn't call it a good film. Like I said earlier, it's a decent flick at best. Nothing special on screen
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    A cinematic sin.
  • thmtsang
    March 24, 2008
    thmtsang
    Good cast but movie is disappointing.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    December 9, 2007
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Fun to watch for some reason i still can`t explain.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 7, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    The Saint has a cold dank Russian setting, which brought it down. Val Kilmer dons some great disguises on his mission. I liked the uplifting ending when the fusion occurs. Warmer locations people!
  • garyX
    April 28, 2007
    garyX
    Mindless nonsense in which Val Kilmer dons a series of disguises about as convincing as a giraffe in a Groucho moustache trying to pass itself off as a gerbil. Forgettable and silly.
  • superclerk25
    January 26, 2007
    superclerk25
    I liked this little action movie. I wish they would have made a few more.
  • deano
    October 19, 2006
    deano
    Val Kilmer is terrific as 'The Saint' in this non-stop spy thrills.
  • nadyajoensen
    June 7, 2010
    nadyajoensen
    This is one of my favorite Val Kilmer movie of all time. Simon is a loner and a thief who uses many false identities and names of Catholic saints. He has committed many crimes without ever getting caught. When he is to steal a formula recipe made by scientist Emma, things get a l... read moreittle complicated because he falls in love with her. The movie is very thrilling and one can't wait to see what happens next. Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue do an awesome job.

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Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy
May 20, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

A generic suspenser that doesn't taste bad at first bite but becomes increasingly hard to swallow. Full Review

Lisa Alspector
May 20, 2008
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

This insufferable romance-adventure includes vague comedy as well as unintentional humor, and its target audience seems to be preadolescents who won't notice the calculated enthusiasm with which it si... Full Review

Peter Travers
March 6, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Love redeems this profiteer; it also renders him conventional.

Rita Kempley
June 26, 2002
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Reinvention in the hands of Hollywood is seldom cause for celebration. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
June 18, 2002
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

There isn't a contemporary film actor more crafty than Val Kilmer -- or one who reveals less of his true self. That's why Kilmer is so perfectly cast as Simon Templar, the master thief and elusive dis... Full Review

Liam Lacey
April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

More entertaining than Mission: Impossible or the last Bond film, Goldeneye, it brings back the humour and sang-froid that makes the genre work. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Whereas something like Clear and Present Danger was briskly all of a piece, "The Saint" has difficulty making us believe that its diverse elements belong in the same motion picture. Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

A soulless piece of claptrap. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Compared with the sensational stunts and special effects in the Bond series, The Saint seems positively leisurely. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The Saint is lightly entertaining, but there's very little here worth getting excited about. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Saint Trivia

  • In what movie did Roger Moore play the voice on the radio at the end of this Val Kilmer movie?   Answer »
  • What was the name of the saint book that the charmed had in possession, in the serial "Charmed"?  Answer »
  • Name the movie from this antonym. The Sinner   Answer »
  • Thief and master of disguise (Val Kilmer) is hired to steal an energy formula from the Inventer (Elisabeth Shue). Name the movie?  Answer »
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