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Tuesday, January 31, 2023

The Thrills and Lessons of Spy Thriller Movies: A Guide to the Top Spy Flicks on Streaming Services

 


     Are you a fan of edge-of-your-seat action and mystery? Then you must be a watcher of spy thriller movies. I listed the top ones on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.

     But first, a few words about the morals and principles to live by which are embedded in their actions plots. They have lessons to teach us!

     They feature spies, espionage, and secretive government operations along with the usual fast-paced action scenes, unexpected twists, and larger-than-life characters that make for a thrilling and entertaining ride. But they also deliver themes such as loyalty, identity, and the morality of using underhanded tactics to achieve a greater good.

     The importance of loyalty is the top moral taught in just about all spy thriller movies, whether it's to one's country, a cause, or even a personal relationship. They also show the consequences of betraying one's loyalty and the lengths people will go to in order to protect it.

     "Skyfall" (2012), the 23rd film in the James Bond franchise, focuses on Bond's loyalty to M, the head of the British Secret Service, and the lengths he will go to in order to protect her. Bond, played by Daniel Craig, must choose between following orders and his loyalty to M. He finds himself at odds with M's superiors who are willing to sacrifice her in order to protect MI6. Bond's loyalty to M ultimately leads him to betray his superiors and risk his own life to protect her.

     “Skyfall” shows us the importance of loyalty in personal relationships and the lengths people go to protect those they care about. It also shows the bravery it takes to stand up for what is right and to prioritize loyalty to one's personal values over loyalty to an organization.

     The blurred line between right and wrong: Spy thriller characters are faced with difficult moral dilemmas and must decide what is right and wrong in their quest to complete their mission. They must make ethical decisions and endure personal sacrifices in order to do what is right.

     "The Good Shepherd" (2006) portrays this blurred line incredibly well! The plot reveals the early history of the CIA and focuses on the life of Edward Wilson, a dedicated CIA operative who is torn between his loyalty to his country and his conscience.

     Wilson is faced with difficult ethical dilemmas as he tries to balance his duty to his country with his belief in the rule of law and due process. He’s constantly in a gray area where there is no clear right or wrong answer; it shows how well-intentioned people can face ethical issues, such as allegiance to country vs. loyalty to one’s conscience.

     I enjoy how “The Good Shepherd” exposed the moral decision-making theme that pervades the world of espionage, a world with no clear answers. 

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     The power of sacrifice: Spy thriller heroes are also thrown into situations where they must make personal sacrifices. They deliver a moral message about the power of selflessness and the importance of putting others before themselves.

     “Munich” (2005) demonstrates this quite well. It’s based on the true story of a covert mission by Israeli intelligence to track down and kill those responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre of eleven Israeli athletes.

     It shows the psychological toll placed on the assassins- the difficult moral decisions that were made as they carried out their mission of murder. They were forced to sacrifice their own safety, relationships, and personal beliefs in order to bring those responsible to justice.

     The dangers of secrets: Keeping secrets and the consequences that come with exposing them are often embedded in the plots of spy thriller movies. With 1.3 million people in the U.S. having Top Secret clearances, I can see why this moral theme is so popular!

     The recent revelations about classified documents being carelessly handled by former President Trump, President Biden, and former Vice President Pence is discouraging. It’s hard to imagine the highest-ranking officials in the country showing such disregard for our national security.

     Maybe they would not have been so careless if they watched a spy thriller movie that shows the consequences of carelessly handling classified documents, like the “Bourne Identity” (2002) spy thriller. After all, the main character, Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon), is a former CIA agent who faces the consequences of sloppy classified record handling by CIA leaders. They send out assassination teams to kill him while he desperately tries to piece together his past after suffering from amnesia.

     Because of the careless handling of a secret file, Bourne uncovered the truth about his past and realized that the CIA used him as a pawn in a larger plot. Bourne’s life, as well as the lives of others, were endangered.

     Yes, the best-laid plans can go awry when secrets are not handled with the appropriate level of caution and importance. A moral lesson for Trump, Biden, and Pence? Perhaps.

     The value of trust: I like it when CIA operatives work together to complete a mission. They form a bonding trust with one another, and spy thriller movies often bring out the perils of betraying it.

     The "Bridge of Spies" conveys the value of this trusting relationship. Tom Hanks, as a lawyer, negotiates the release of an American pilot who was captured by the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.

     Hanks journeys through a maze of conflicting interests that pitted the U.S. and Soviet governments against each other. In the end, he learned the importance of trust, both in his own ability to negotiate a deal and in the trust that must exist between superpower nations in order to avoid a catastrophic encounter.

     Lastly, here’s a list of top spy thriller movies on favorite streaming platforms that shed light on the shadowy world of espionage and give a glimpse into what it might be like to work as a spy. They also teach lessons in morality. Enjoy! 

     Netflix: "The Accountant" (2016) is about a highly-functioning autistic accountant who uses his unique skills to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice while evading a deadly assassin.

     Netflix: "The Bourne Identity" (2002), explained above.

     Netflix: "Red Sparrow" (2018) is about a ballerina-turned-Russian spy who uses her seductive skills to extract secrets from a CIA agent, only to find herself caught in a dangerous game of manipulation and survival.

     Amazon Prime Video: "Munich" (2005), explained above.

     Amazon Prime Video: "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (2015) is a spy comedy-thriller about two agents, one from the CIA and one from KGB. They team up on a mission to stop a criminal organization from acquiring nuclear weapons.

     Amazon Prime Video: "John Wick" (2014) is a fast-paced thriller with Keanu Reeves taking on the role of a retired hitman who seeks revenge for the killing of his beloved dog.

     Hulu: "Argo" (2012) is all about a CIA agent posing as a Hollywood producer who rescues American hostages out of Iran (“Exfiltration”, as the CIA officially calls the procedure). I knew the real-life CIA agent, Tony Mendez, who ARGO portrays. I met him at an AFIO luncheon in Cleveland years ago, and listened to him explain how he organized the exfiltration. Afterwards, I wrote the piece, The Hollywood Movie ARGO Portrays CIA Operative Tony Mendez.

     Disney+: "The Living Daylights" (1987) brings back James Bond, portrayed by Timothy Dalton, who stops an arms dealer from supplying weapons to terrorists while protecting a beautiful cellist.

     Disney+: "True Lies" (1994)- secret agent Arnold Schwarzenegger balances his double life as a spy and husband while on a mission to stop a terrorist group. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.

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