The Set of 400: #378 – My Favorite Loopy Conspiracy Theories

Today! Because Ike said, “Hey look, give us your technology, we’ll give you all the cow lips you want” –

Sneakers (1992)

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson

Starring Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, David Strathairn, Timothy Busfield, Donal Logue, George Hearn, Stephen Tobolowsky, James Earl Jones

All the cast in the world came together for this relatively light heist flick in the early ’90s, with pretty fun results. It’s not a movie you hear bandied about much these days – but judging by its gross, it was fairly popular in the fall of ’92. Redford and Kingsley play friends-turned-rivals battling over this MacGuffin that will decode and hack into everything on the remedial early ’90s internet. Redford’s team of good guys includes very funny turns by Aykroyd, Phoenix, and particuarly Strathairn as the blind sound expert Whistler. To my knowledge, this is also the only big screen pairing of film legends Redford and Poitier, so that’s cool! Is it a bit dated, given that the high-tech wizardry on display in this movie looks like a cheap Nintendo game? Sure. But even at the time this seemed more an excuse to gather up a ton of great actors and go on a good, old fashioned caper than to try to wow the audience with gadgets. The movie doesn’t quite match up to the heavy hitters involved, but it is definitely enhanced by their collective presence.

Two more actors join the Two-Timers list here, as #391’s The Lion King continues to prove the center of the film universe here the early going – James Earl Jones joining Broderick and Goldberg as Disney alums making a second appearance. But today let’s spotlight #389’s Memoirs of an Invisible Man co-star Stephen Tobolowsky popping up again!

Not to spoil future posts, but Stevie Tobo will appear down the road

Sneakers may have garnered a Best Picture nomination from the not-exactly-prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Awards, but otherwise is staring at squadoosh on the mantelpiece. Let’s remedy that! Best Government Sponsored Central American Earthquake Conspiracy Theory, proposed by Aykroyd’s paranoid B&E expert Mother. Also, Best Blind Driving is more than deserved for Whistler’s wrecking ball style van operation.

Coming tomorrow! I will see you there or I will see you on another time –