Many spy movies overstate the excitement that comes with the job, but there are a few that provide a more realistic and harsher look at being a secret agent. Thesefilmsaren’t without a thrilling chase scene occasionally, butthey are much more concerned with the human aspect of the job. Films likeThe Spy Who Came in from the ColdandThe Lives Of Otherstake into consideration the ways in which an agent is conflicted about putting aside their personal beliefs for the sake of a mission.
Other films opt for a realistic approach to problem-solving that avoids the use of convenient gadgets and intelligence. Oftentimes,movies that real CIA agents recommendare those with these emotional narratives, as splashy action films, while entertaining, don’t often dive into the psyche of their agent characters.Films that depict a realistic life as a secret agentmake audiences second guess their aspirations for the job.
Spy Game
Cast
On the day of his retirement, a veteran CIA agent learns that his former protégé has been arrested in China, is sentenced to die the next morning in Beijing, and that the CIA is considering letting that happen to avoid an international scandal.
Receiving mostly positive reviews from critics and among the films supported by former agents themselves isSpy Game. The film follows the relationship between the characters of Robert Redford (Muir) and Brad Pitt (Bishop). The latter has been charged and arrested for espionage, so it’s up to Muir, a case officer, to get him out.
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The film has been praised for its accuracy, especially when depicting the type of relationships formed in the business, particularly those fractured by differing beliefs and business practices, as seen with Muir’s view of citizens as assets.
The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd is a historical drama directed by Robert De Niro, chronicling the early years of the CIA through the life of Edward Wilson, played by Matt Damon. The film explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the complex morality of intelligence work. Angelina Jolie and Alec Baldwin co-star in this intricate portrayal of espionage and its effects on personal and professional relationships.
Starring Matt Damon as the lead,The Good Shepherdtellsa fascinating story about the consequences of extreme dedication to the job. The film, loosely based on the life of James Jesus Angleton, explores the life of Damon’s Edward Wilson, from his college years to his CIA recruitment.
The Good Shepherddoesn’t have the excitement or action scenes seen in other spy films, but it paints a realistic and harsh picture of the cost of working as a dedicated member of the field of intelligence.
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Ultimatum is the third Jason Bourne film starring Matt Damon. This time, Bourne is tracing the origin of his career as an assassin while dodging the CIA. Despite being the third film in the series, The Bourne Ultimatum is often considered the best film in the franchise, even winning three Oscars in 2008.
The third installment in theJason Bournefilm series,The Bourne Ultimatumcontinues the action-packed quest of Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne. While the film does contain the non-stop thrills often associated withtheBourneseries, there is also a sense of dread that lingers throughout as Jason is determined to uncover his identity, evading those who wish to kill him.The Bourne Ultimatumhighlights how the former CIA assassin remains a target, showing a resignation is not a guaranteed departure from the risky job title.
The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is John Frankenheimer’s classic political thriller starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury. The film follows the story of a Korean War veteran tormented by nightmares, hinting at a sinister conspiracy involving brainwashing and political betrayal, set against the backdrop of the Cold War.
Released during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis,The Manchurian Candidateearned high levels of acclaim and award nominations. The film is based on Richard Condon’s 1959 novel andfollows a group of U.S. brainwashed soldiers at the end of the Korean War,with one soldier, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), becoming an assassin.
The Manchurian Candidatedepicts a real-life paranoia felt by American citizens during the time but isn’t tied to an exact event in history, which extends the years of its relevancy.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is a 1965 film directed by Martin Ritt, based on John le Carré’s novel. Starring Richard Burton as Alec Leamas, the story follows a disillusioned British spy who undertakes a mission to infiltrate East German intelligence. The film explores themes of betrayal and moral ambiguity within the Cold War espionage landscape.
John le Carré’s international bestsellerThe Spy Who Came in from the Coldwas adapted into a film starring Richard Burton as Alec Leamas - an agent on the brink of retirement fulfilling one final mission.
Without giving anything away, the film shows just how easy it is to unwittingly get caught up in a dangerous mission.The Spy Who Came in from the Coldis also realistic because of howit questions the morality of a spy long associated with the business.
The Hunt for Red October
1990’s The Hunt for Red October is a Thriller and Spy film directed by John McTiernan and based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name. The film sees the United States searching for a rogue submarine that is nearly undetectable thanks to a special piece of technology.
Adapted from Tom Clancy’s novel of the same name,The Hunt for Red Octoberisan effective submarine spy filmand one ofSean Connery’s best non-James Bond movies.
Throughout the film, chilling suspense builds asCIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) must get to the bottom of Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius' (Sean Connery) motives. The film emphasizes the risk that comes with the job and stresses the importance of taking one’s time to build a case to avoid a destructive confrontation that harms others.
The Lives of Others
The Lives of Others is a drama film that takes place in East Berlin during the 1980s, following the story of a Stasi agent named Gerd Wiesler, who is tasked with spying on a playwright and his actress girlfriend. As Wiesler becomes more deeply invested in the lives of his subjects, he begins to question the morality of his actions and the regime he serves.
There are some exciting action scenes in the German filmThe Lives of Others, but the strongest aspect of the film is its personal story. The movie follows agent Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) after he’s hired to spy on a famous couple.
The inability to separate oneself from a target is among the more challenging parts of the job andThe Lives of Othersexplores these conflicting feelings with an absorbing story.
However, Gerd soon finds himself to be too involved in their lives, threatening the results of his mission.The inability to separate oneself from a target is among the more challenging parts of the jobandThe Lives of Othersexplores these conflicting feelings with an absorbing story.
Three Days Of The Condor
Three Days of the Condor is a thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford as Joseph Turner, a CIA analyst who uncovers a conspiracy within the agency. When his entire office is massacred, Turner must go on the run to survive and uncover the truth behind the conspiracy. Faye Dunaway co-stars as Kathy, a civilian who becomes embroiled in Turner’s quest for answers.
Returning to work after a lunch break only to discover one’s colleagues have been killed is not a situation anyone would want to find themselves in. However, this is what happens to CIA analyst Joe Turner (Robert Redford) inThree Days of the Condor.
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Suspicious of the involvement of higher-ups within the CIA, Joe attempts to unveil the truth. The realistic film wasreleased during a time when the public was already distrusting the U.S. government, which resulted in high praise forSydney Pollack’s film.
Bridge of Spies
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies follows American lawyer James Donovan, who is recruited by the CIA to negotiate the release of a U.S. Air Force pilot who was shot down over the Soviet Union. Tom Hanks stars in the 2015 historical drama based on the true story.
Many spy films make the job look like a thrilling ride, butBridge of Spiestakes a milder approach. The movie focuses on a lawyer (Tom Hanks) tasked with getting a U.S. pilot released from prison, exchanging with the Soviet Union a captured spy whom Hanks' character had previously defended.
Bridge Of Spies(2015) has a 91% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Still,the film is riveting in its storytelling and works so well, much like the other spy films listed, because of its realistic and considerate examination of its character’s motives.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy tells the story of a search for Russian spy deep within the British intelligence service, at the height of the Cold War in the 1970s.
Based on one of John le Carré’s most popular novels of the same name,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyis one of the more realisticspy movies. Though its plot may not be as action-packed as other films in the genre, the story is gripping and givessome insight into what it’s like to scope out a Soviet double agentwithin the British Secret Service.
With Carré’s personal link to the business, the story accurately lays out the complicated and risky relationships questioned within the agency.
