Much like their characters, the main cast of “Sneakers” is a well-oiled machine where each actor not only works in harmony with those around them, but is also perfectly suited to their respective roles. Donald Crease, for example, goes to Poitier like a glove; he is dignified and rarely loses his temper, even when his colleagues test his patience by recounting, for example, how the Apollo moon landings were rigged. (This is where I make the easy joke that Aykroyd as a mom essentially plays himself.) Yet when Donald realizes just how much Martin’s secret story has put them in danger, or, in terrific third act moment, reveals “why” the CIA fired him, Poitier can channel the same badass energy he brought to his most iconic film line: “They call me Mister Tibbs!” He might not be her main character, but “Sneakers” perfectly illustrates what made Poitier such an engaging presence on screen.

Beyond that, “Sneakers” is just a great ride fueled by fun bites and tight storytelling. It carefully straddles the line between comedy and drama, which keeps its plot from tipping so far into the realm of implausibility that it loses all sense of the stakes (even with a MacGuffin who is inherently a bit of a silly). The score, by James Horner, is also one of my favorites – it’s both playful and heavy when it needs to be, and taps into the film’s underlying sense of melancholy. Speaking of which, “Sneakers” brings up many concerns that are as topical in 2022 as they were in the early 1990s: the right to privacy, inequality, and how those in power always seek to control the flow of information. One cast member in particular, whom I deliberately avoided mentioning, makes a meal of their monologues on these issues, and it’s a pleasure to watch them at work.

There’s a lot more to enjoy about “Sneakers” – damn it, I only mention now that Mary McDonnell (“Dancing with the Wolves”, “Battlestar Galactica”) and Stephen Tobolowsky (“Groundhog Day”) are doing too. part of the film’s stellar set. So if you want to revisit some of Poitier’s best work or if you’ve never seen this one before, do yourself a favor and rent it on one of the multiple platforms where it’s available this weekend.