Rated R, directed by Tony Scott, with Robert Redford (Nathan Muir), Brad Pitt (Tom Bishop), Catherine McCormack (Elizabeth Hadley), Stephen Dillane (Charles Harker), Larry Bryggman (Troy Folger), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Gladys Jennip), running time: 126 minutes.
Nathan Muir is a CIA operative about to retire when he discovers his young protege, Tom Bishop, has been captured by the communist Chinese. Familiar with the workings of the CIA at even its highest echelons, Muir works to free his young friend, while fondly recalling the time he spent honing Bishop's skills as an operative. Muir and Bishop's friendship had been forged while travelling the world teaching and learning the game of espionage, but a woman, with whom they both fell in love, tore their friendship apart. When Muir learns that Bishop has turned rogue and tried freeing a prisoner in China, the anger Muir feels toward Bishop is quickly washed away as he sets out to rescue his old friend.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATA
No one saw it coming. Everyone — including the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — expected at least some of the recall campaigns against 24 of its lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) to succeed. Underground gamblers reportedly expected between five and eight lawmakers to lose their jobs. All of this analysis made sense, but contained a fatal flaw. The record of the recall campaigns, the collapse of the KMT-led recalls, and polling data all pointed to enthusiastic high turnout in support of the recall campaigns, and that those against the recalls were unenthusiastic and far less likely to vote. That
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