If Ronin resembles a vintage John Frankenheimer film -- political intrigue, psychological drama and electrifying action -- that's understandable.

"Frankenheimer made the template for this kind of film many, many years ago," Ronin producer Frank Mancuso Jr. explains. "I thought, rather than show his films to other directors and consequently get an imitation, why not go to the source?"

Despite his spot in film history, Frankenheimer hasn't been on Hollywood's A-list in years. He hasn't had a well-received feature since Black Sunday in '77. But Ronin, starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgard, Nastascha McElhone and Jonathan Pryce, could be his return ticket. The movie opened with a respectable gross of $12.7 million. "There is no doubt John will now be rediscovered by people who never saw The Manchurian Candidate," Mancuso says.