The three-episode release of Andor came out throwing a fastball that fans weren't ready for. Most were not expecting Tony Gilroy and Toby Hanes to take the tone of the Star Wars galaxy to an unexpectedly dark place many thought it couldn't go. When watched in one sitting, the episodes play like a movie and captured the energy that is often found in major espionage fare. All of this is achieved by the total commitment to making the world feel not like it is in a galaxy far, far away but like the one that the viewers are living in.
But alas, the wait between single episodes begins, and many fans will have to find ways to bide their time from week to week. In the meantime, however, there are plenty of great features that share similar tones to the one promised in Andor's premier. From signature Gilroy legal dramas to spies on the run, here are some movies to hold fans over in the six days between the new installments in Andor's story.
Michael Clayton Is the Legal System's Cassian Andor
Michael Clayton was Tony Gilroy's directorial debut and is regarded as one of the best legal dramas of the 21st century. Much like the opening of Andor, Michael Clayton introduces its title character in a moment that feels a lot like watching an all-star pitcher throw a perfect game. From the get-go, audiences know that these characters are not to be trifled with. They are grizzled and carry the perfect amount of detachment needed to get their jobs done. A perfect role for a former Batman, Michael Clayton's journey stacks the cards against him and forces him to ask what lines he's willing to cross in order to survive. Michael Clayton is a part of one of the greatest years in cinematic history, premiering alongside films like There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men, and it certainly earned its place among them.
Stream Michael Clayton now on HBO Max.
The Bourne Franchise Changed Spy Movies Forever
The Bourne franchise reinvented the way spy movies were made in the 21st century. Shortly before The Bourne Identity's release, spy movies were starting to reach self-awareness to the point of camp or straight-up parody. The pairing of Greengrass and Gilroy made for a great collaboration that brought espionage into the modern and grit-filled world. From then on, it seemed like every movie was trying to recapture the well-executed, shakey-cam tension of the original trilogy. But few could reach the heights achieved by the pair behind Jason Bourne's silver screen appearance. Gilroy went on to direct his sophomore feature within the franchise with The Bourne Legacy, which followed the fallout of The Bourne Ultimatum. And while it didn't reach the masses in the same way its predecessors did, Legacy is certainly an underrated flick that deserves far more attention and acclaim.
The Bourne Franchise is available to rent on Apple and Prime Video.
Beirut Explores the Complexities of Conflict
This 2018 Brad Anderson feature was written by Tony Gilroy and features the talents of Marvel Comics' Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike. Set during the 1982 Lebanese Civil War, the film follows Hamm's Mason Skiles, a former U.S. diplomat to Lebanon who returns to Beirut ten years after a terrible tragedy. While there, he must negotiate the safe return of an old friend and important U.S. official who was kidnapped. Watching a beat-down Skiles navigate a complex civil war when he can barely take care of himself provides some truly fascinating tension. The movie is small but mighty thanks to its nuanced writing and powerfully measured performances. For those looking for more content that discusses the gray found in war and conflict, Beirut is worth the watch.
Watch Beirut anytime on Netflix.
Munich's Use of Tension Is Masterful
Steven Spielberg's Munich captures the fallout of the 1972 summer Olympic games, where eight members of a Palestinian terrorist group named Black September killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic Team. Eric Bana leads the film as a Mossad agent tasked with carrying out the assassinations of 11 Palestinians as a proportional response from the Israeli government. Spielberg rips the tension off of the pages written by Eric Roth and Tony Kushner and throws it directly on the screen. While it may not be in the upper echelon of Spielberg's filmography, it is certainly still a masterclass in how to create a thrilling action experience while simultaneously asking the moral quandaries surrounding the cycle of violence.
Munich is available to rent on Apple and Prime Video.
Enemy of the State Delivers With Classic Spy Games
This Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer picture is not as beloved as Top Gun but is arguably just as fun. Will Smith plays a labor lawyer on the run when evidence of a massive government cover-up falls in his hands. The 1998 movie is truly a product of its time but still holds up as a fun re-watch filled with twists and turns. In addition to its breakneck pace, the movie also features a vast ensemble filled with plenty of young familiar faces, from Jack Black to Regina King. Watching the late-90s commentary on government surveillance feels dated when looking at it from a modern point of view, but that doesn't diminish plenty of fun twists and turns that are worth the watch.
Enemy of the State can be rented anytime on Prime Video.