The best films about spies: the choice of actor Oleg Gaas

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“17 moments of Spring”

The standard of a film about a scout, and a film in general. It is amazing that this picture was part of a large-scale PR campaign of the special services launched in the late 60s. Many films about intelligence officers were shot then, and we still remember some of them, such as “Shield and Sword”, “His Excellency’s Adjutant” or “TASS is authorized to declare”, but only one among them was a true masterpiece that overcame time . “17 Moments of Spring” is a military drama and a very cool psychological thriller. The film amazingly intertwines game scenes with documentary footage to create a complete illusion of the reality of what is happening. There is almost no action in the film, except for a couple of shots and a blow to the head with a bottle. The story is slow, the characters only walk and talk. But for some reason, even when you watch this story for the tenth time, you become numb from tension and anxiety. I first saw this movie as a child and immediately decided to become a scout. Having become an actor, I don’t even dream of playing such a character, because it is impossible to repeat him. I hope no one will ever take on a remake of Moments, because it would be blasphemy.

“In August 44th…”

Also a cool thriller based on the most famous novel about counterintelligence officers. “The Moment of Truth” by Yuri Bogomolov is one of the best books about the war, and the film is also, in my opinion, outstanding. For those who haven’t seen it, this is a story about a group of SMERSH members who caught German saboteurs in the Belarusian forests in August 1944. The document check scene is just a textbook for a counterintelligence officer, you can show it at a university. For the audience, however, it is a colossal nervous tension, which is achieved simply by dialogues and an outstanding game of actors. The case when I would have agreed to any of the roles of intelligence officers and spies, they are all written out masterfully! Playing this is professional happiness. Unlike 17 Moments, this film is unfortunately not very famous, but I strongly recommend watching it.

“Treason”

The film is directed by Billy Ray, who directed The Hunger Games, Gemini, Overlord and the latest Terminator. Treason is a 2007 film that tells the story of Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) who joins the FBI with the dream of becoming the best US intelligence agent. But he quickly realizes that he was not just appointed, he will have to expose his boss (Chris Cooper). The chief looks very pious, but at the same time he is suspected of sexual crimes, as well as treason. The chief also sharply curses the communists, but during the investigation it turns out that he works for the Russians. The Russian trace here may seem like a cranberry (as in “Red Heat”), but the amazingness of this film is precisely in the fact that it was filmed based on real events. Such an employee, spying for the USSR, did exist in the FBI. As in reality, the Cambridge Five also existed, which managed to “merge” state secrets to the Soviet Union even from Buckingham Palace.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service”

Brilliant comedy about spies with Taron Egerton and Colin Firth. Her Majesty’s Secret Service is recruiting a gopnik-intellectual into its ranks. Now they, together with American intelligence, have to save the world. I deliberately choose Kingsman from spy classics, not James Bond, because Kingsman is a banter over all spy clichés, the humor is black in places, but invariably subtle British. They make fun of everything holy, including the American president, Elton John, Steve Jobs and even Bondiana.

“Spy Kids”

One of my favorite films from my childhood. The two toughest spies in the world were supposed to destroy each other, but instead they fell in love with each other, got married and had children. But then evil people kidnapped their parents and now the children of spies will have to deal with a bunch of parental spy stray to save their ancestors. Robert Rodriguez’s killer franchise is fun, spectacular, addictive, and full of stunts. Highly recommended for family viewing.