Review of Hitman (2007) by Joseph R — 06 Feb 2015

Based on the computer game series published by IO Interactive, directed by Xavier Gens (The Divide (2011)), written by Skip Woods (Swordfish (2001) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)) and produced by Luc Besson.

This is a silly action film that adds nothing new to the video game adaptation genre and it doesn't do it any favours either. It could have been a good film, but bad decisions ruined it. Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) along with dozens of other young men, was trained since birth to be a professional assassin, working for a mysterious company known as The Organization.

For one of 47's assignments, he's ordered to assassinate Russian President Mikhail Belicoff (Ulrich Thomsen), which he seemingly does, but when 47 is told there was a witness to the hit, called Nika (Olga Kurylenko).

When 47 intercepts Nika, she tells 47 nothing is what it seems, and Belicoff had a body double, who is planning something deadly. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) is hot on 47's tail, trying to get him.

It's all been seen before, and done better, both before and after. It didn't help that this had a troubled production, the first cut was badly received, Fox had director Gens fired and they had the film re-edited.

Even though it did well financially, Fox were so fed up they cancelled a potential sequel, and it's being rebooted now.