20th Century-Fox presents a film directed by Xavier Gens. Written by Skip Woods. Running time: 110 minutes. Rated R (for strong, bloody violence, language and some sexuality and nudity).
Hitman is the hot action thriller in movie theaters right now. It's number one problem is it's getting terrible reviews.
A movie review forms their opinion based on their collective knowledge of other moves - and in comparison to other movies- Hitman doesn't win over the competition of say - the Bourne Ultimatum, Mission Impossible or Le Femme Nikita.
But Hitman is not as unwatchable, as some claim.
The second major problem this film has is the pre-understanding that the film is based off of a video game. A person reviewing the movie (the genre of movies based off of video games) ethically should state if they know and/or play the video game from whic the movie is based. {I have never seen of heard of the video game before seeing this movie.}
The teasing question becomes, does knowledge of the game enhance the viewing pleasure? I cannot answer that question. But I can propose that by `basing' the story on a video game, as opposed to say a real life saga as in American Gangster, that there has to be a meta-language that needs to be understood.
Meta-language meaning a language that is specific to it's context.To make that more simple, here is the premise- the nameless hitman kills people. He uses a variety of tools/weapons- the best one for any given situation. He is cold and disciplined. He is
most successful when he plans his moves multiple steps ahead (as in chess). He receives assignments for which he gets benefits for, usually currency, sometimes a favor. He doesn't miss his target.
Many who analyzed the movie the Sixth Sense discovered that the director had set up for himself a set of rules in which to work; this movie operates in much the same way. Suspension of disbelief is a must. For example, after the Hitman tries to kill the President of one of the most powerful nations in the world and has Interpol, Russian police, and the Russian Secret Service all breathing down his neck, he tries to make his escape at the St. Petersburg train station. Of course he succeeds, evn though he is most probably the only bald guy with a bar code on the back of his head. In another fight scene, all the characters put down their guns in favor of small swords. In real life, that just doesn't happen.
About the Direction
It should also be noted, at the beginning of this review, that this is the director Xavier Gens second major film. His first film, the French-language horror item "Frontiere(s)," is still awaiting stateside release. Frontiere(s) (which I have not seen) earned legitimacy by playing at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. This is the guy's second film, and on that point alone it is notable.
Second- there were reported problems between the studio and the filmmaker, who at one point was reported to have been fired. Director Gens, and screenwriter Skip Woods (2001's "Swordfish"),and the studio (20th Century Fox) allegedly clashed with their visions.The novice filmmaker vision was certainly altered by studio pressures. We can hope that in DVD that there will be a directors cut.
About main actor Timothy Olyphant
Originally Vin Diesel was to play the hitman. This could have been a major break for Olyphant- but the almost unanimous panning of this movie also often includes criticism that he was not the right man for the part. He seems neither the mettle nor have even vocal density necessary. Olyphant tries to personify the ninja male, think total modern ninja the ultimate oriental assassin/spy/chameleon. I think Olyphant adds a sensitivity to the role.
A larger star than Olyphant might have with brought more positive reviews. The character Olyphant is challenged to play is supposed to be emotionless,
Female Lead Olga Kurylenko
Despite what the advertisers try to portray, the movie is about men, and being serious. So the feminine character is left being basically meaningless- not even an object of anyones desire, a very unusual approach. The character attempts to bring her femininity into the movie - but is continually rebuffed.
She is not the strongest actress that might have been chosen for the part. Though she is nice to look at when naked.
Flaws
The hitman actually raised his voice emotionally to the female lead. The real The hit man would never raise his voice.
Its been done
So it's been done before. For centuries people have gone to movies and plays with similarities in scripts. At a certain point including as many `stolen' ideas becomes the goal. Like: head tattooing, gratuitous double silver .45's, chain
bondage, threatening a man with a machete, an exploding body, boobytrapping a hotel room, talking to a computer handler (think Mission Impossible), exploding suitcase, Interpol, gratuitous high tech Russian SWAT team, exploding door,jumping out of hotel windows, guns hidden in ice, sliding down elevator cables, elevator music in elevator filled with dead guys, a helicopter shooting in on office (think Matrix.) dead guy in a trunk, gratuitous transvestite, Russian mob party with drinking, drugs, arms dealing, double machine gun Russian mob club massacre, pseudo religious medal, and on and on. In this movie there is almost nothing new- but a hell of a lot of the old ideas mashed in together.
Conclusionis is an movie about a hitman. He kills people. Little plot. The bad guy is the good guy being chased by good guys some of whom are bad guys. Through it all the hitman kills people.
Outstanding opening credit scean showing early indoctrination to the song Ave Maria.
Movie leaves a lot of room for sequals.
Best lines: "You shouldn't have stolen from me, brother. Now you must pay," "What bothers me is he missed," "If you set me up I will find you and I will burn that building down around you," "Do not give that order," "How about dying with a little dignity?," "You think it's done? It's just beginning," "Don't be dramatic. I brought you breakfast," "If you're looking for a
reason not to kill me I don't really have one," "So you don't want to fuck me and you don't want to kill me. I don't think I've ever felt so much indifference in my life," "You know, you are quite charming when you're not killing people," "When I was a
little girl, my father raised grapes""What color underwear am I wearing? You're not wearing any underwear," "Why do you buy these magazines? For the advertisements," "How does a good man decide to kill?,"
Trivia:
# When the project was first announced, Vin Diesel was going to produce and star as Agent 47.
# The car Agent 47 drives is an Audi S5.
# When 47 jumps through the hotel window into the kid's room,
they're playing ‘Hitman 2: Silent Assassin’ for the Playstation 2.
#Timothy Olyphant is Seth Bullock in the HBO series "Deadwood"
***
If you like this type of movie I urge you to rent Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai" (1967), which is about a lone-wolf assassin in Paris (Alain Delon). He too works alone, is a professional, cuts off his emotions, seems lonely and cold. But
the movie is about him, not his killing score.
Overall rating C (Most suited for younger males)
1 comment:
Hitman is a better movie than I thought it might be.
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