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Wednesday, 21 November 2007 |
 Synopsis: Based on the top-selling, award-winning videogame franchise, the HITMAN is a genetically-engineered, elite assassin known only as Agent 47. His hallmarks are a lethal grace, unwavering precision, and resolute pride in his work. But even 47 couldn't anticipate a "random equation" in his life of exactitude: the unexpected stirrings of his conscience and the unfamiliar emotions aroused in him by a mysterious Russian woman.
Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood; Live Free or Die Hard) stars in the title role, a mysterious and complex man of profound contradictions: He was bred from the world's deadliest criminals, but raised by an exiled brotherhood of the Church. His very existence seems to be a sin, but he wages a quiet war to rid the world of evil. He's brilliant, charismatic and charming - yet reveals little about himself, has no name, and is known only by the last two digits of a barcode tattooed on the back of his head.
Crew: Director - Xavier Gens; Screenplay - Skip Woods; Producers - Adrian Askarieh, Luc Besson, Chuck Gordon, and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam; Cinematography - Laurent Barès; Score – Geoff Zanelli; Costume Design - Olivier Bériot; Production Design - Jacques Bufnoir; Art Direction - Johann George; Special Effects – Duboi & BR Films.
Cast: TIMOTHY OLYPHANT... Agent 47; DOUGRAY SCOTT... Mike; OLGA KURYLENKO... Nika; ROBERT KNEPPER... Yuri; ULRICH THOMSEN... Mikhail Belicoff; MICHAEL OFFEI… Jenkins; HENRY IAN CUSICK... Udre.
Official Website: www.hitmanmovie.com
Story: $10.00
Direction: $11.00
Acting: $11.00
Editing: $11.00
Production Design: $11.00
Special Effects: $11.00
Score/Music: $11.00
Costumes: $11.00
"REEL" Value: $10.88 – If you played the game, HITMAN is a high octane adaptation that delivers a killer adrenalin rush just like the game!
My hat-off to screenwriter Skip Woods as he delivers an exceptionally intelligent screenplay that doesn’t play down to the audience, much less spends any real time winking at the audience. With a bit of a feel from the classic “Spaghetti Westerns,” Agent 47 is a man of few words and plenty of action. In fact, several times his dialogue is cut short by action. There are a couple of moments where the film winks at the fans of the game, but they are so skillfully placed as they play out more like “Easter Eggs” on a DVD. In terms of plot, Woods’ economy of dialogue is blended with visuals to support the story. In fact, Woods’ script as a better plot than several of the previous James Bond films.
Director Xavier Gens takes Woods’ screenplay and works the bullets, babes, and big explosions to an intensity that makes you wish you had a seatbelt to keep you in your seat. There is a composition of action and cinematography that taps into the feel of the game, yet takes it to another artistic level. Layering in Geoff Zanelli’s score creates poetry in motion as chaos explodes all around the main characters.
Straight out of "Deadwood" and "Live Free or Die Hard," actor Timothy Olyphant rocks out HITMAN as Agent 47. Olyphant, with shaven head, has this uncanny ability to switch from angel to devil as he meters out his death sentence on the wicked. Olyphant does an equally impressive job of working the martial arts sequences and proves him self equally skilled at sword play. Olyphant’s co-star Olga Kurylenko plays a hooker with a no-so-pure heart of gold and does a fine job of turning on the sensuality of the film in the face of Agent 47’s celibacy. The rest of this international cast provides a hard edge to the film.
Jason Bourne and James Bond better watch their backs! HITMAN has a license top thrill! This is one of those films I went into it expecting to be disappointed and walked out impressed. HITMAN delivers the goods and will easily find favor with both gamers and action film fans.
{Based on the average Manhattan Theater Ticket Price of $11.00.} |
