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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