3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR

Safety experts and common sense will tell you never to leave with a gunman. You should always scream and flail and avoid being kidnapped, UNLESS the abductor just happens to be a young Robert Redford.

I must admit that based on the title, I never had any interest in seeing The Three Days of the Condor. For me, it conjured vague impressions of a missile crisis, international intrigue, and (possibly) an endangered bird. But the other day, a co-worker came back from lunch and said, "Remember that time when Robert Redford went out to get lunch and he came back to work and everyone was dead?"

"Huh? No. What movie is that?"

"3 Days of the Condor."

I was instantly so excited to get my hands on the movie that I forgot to wonder why she brought it up. Maybe she was hoping we'd be dead when she came back from lunch that day, but I don't care—I got a great movie to watch out of the deal.

Robert Redford stars as Joseph Turner, and he is The Condor! Who knew?! He works for the CIA, but isn't privy to the inner workings of the organization. His job is to read books from all around the world and enter the plots of mysteries, thrillers, and action novels into a government database. Higher officials can then evaluate the material for possible real-life connections and CIA leaks.

Joseph has no idea he's in danger, and is completely stunned to find all of his colleagues murdered when he returns to the office one day. Having escaped purely by luck, Joseph is now on the run. His attempts to be "brought in" reveal that he is still a target, and the murder may well be an inside job. With nowhere to hide, Joseph sees an out when he spots Kathy (Faye Dunaway).

Safety experts and common sense will tell you never to leave with a gunman. You should always scream and flail and avoid being kidnapped, UNLESS the abductor just happens to be a young Robert Redford. If he sticks a gun in your ribs and tells you to get in the car, just do it. If he tells you to take him home with you, go ahead. If he makes you lay by him so you don't try anything funny, snuggle up. If you feel like sleeping with him, this is not an opportunity squander. We all know that Robert Redford will steal your heart and leave you lonely, but who can resist his charm? Certainly not Kathy.

Faye Dunaway is excellent as the sophisticated tough girl, and though she looks coiffed and unassuming, she never shies away from danger. With her help, Joseph is able to escape various attempts on his life and gain the upper hand in the situation, at least for the time being. Though their involvement is fleeting, it certainly spices things up.

The movie also boasts a strong supporting cast, including a shifty Cliff Robertson, a sinister Max Von Sydow, and the always stuffy John Houseman (the grandfather from Silver Spoons). It is a classic nail-biting thriller that leaves you wondering just what's going on and dying to know what will happen next. Though thirty years old, 3 Days of the Condor is surprisingly timely. The quest for oil is the corrupting factor, and though the characters predict we'll all be fighting over plutonium by the 90s, it's amazing how little things change.