YMMV / Spy Game

• Awesome Music: The score was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams.
• Designated Hero: Hadley has committed an act of terrorism in which at least one innocent person died. The heroes still try to break out her of jail.
• Designated Villain: The CIA higher-ups, willing to let Bishop bite it in order to distract the Chinese from an operation they're running to bug several Chinese government buildings ahead of some US-China trade talks.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The film was made before 9/11, although it came out two months later, and features CIA agent Muir utilizing suicide bombers.
• Magnificent Bastard: Nathan Muir is a brilliant CIA operative who doesn't shy away from using ruthless methods to get things done. His attitude leads to a falling-out between him and his idealistic protégé Tom Bishop. Years later, on the eve of Muir's retirement, Bishop is arrested trying to rescue his sweetheart Hadley from a prison in Su Chou where she was incarcerated via Muir's machinations. Muir quickly understands that his superiors plan to let Bishop be executed, and decides to atone for his quarrel with Bishop and imprisonment of Hadley by getting the two of them out. Using his personable demeanor and Sherlock Scan talent, Muir gathers the classified data on the SEAL unit stationed near Su Chou. He forges the CIA director's signature and writes an order for a rescue operation, paying for it with all of his savings. When the executives grow suspicious about his bank transfers, Muir explains the money is a payment for his retirement property. Bishop and Hadley are safely rescued, and Muir calmly leaves the CIA for good, with the executives only belatedly realizing what he has been up to in truth.
• The Woobie: It can be hard not to pity Bishop when he gets dragged into CIA black ops and forced to watch Muir repeatedly sacrifice people Bishop cares about, including the women he loves. His torture during the present day scenes doesn't help.