Review of Killshot (2008) by Rosemarie S — 19 Aug 2009

Strange, how Killshot fell through the cracks. It practically bypassed theatres altogether for some strantge reason, recently going straight to DVD after opening in 5 screens and making 17 thousand dollars. Sure, a lot of films are shafted like this, but look at the movie's pedigree - two Oscar nom's with Mickey Rourke and Diane Lane, two big up and comers with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rosario Dawson, a great cinematorapher, an awesome composer, and a script based on a story by Elmore Leonard. Pretty damn impressive for straight to DVD.

The big question is - does the movie deserve such shoddy treatment? Answer; no. While there's nothing especially great about the film, there's nothing bad about it either. It's an unexciting story told very well, with solid direction by John Madden and some excellent acting. The film continues Mickey Rourke's comeback with Sin City and The Wrestler (especially strange that the studio didn't give the flick a chance in theatres with his star rising). He plays a Native American contract killer for the Toronto mafia, and if that sounds strange, it's a role Rourke sells very well. Supporting work is all strong as well, especially Gordon-Levitt, who overacts as a slimy idiot so much he practically seems as if he walked in from another movie.

I mentioned the mediocre story. It's what keeps Killshot from reaching greatness; strange, since Leonard is a very respected author and often uses extremely complicated and intriguing plots in his novels. The story is not boring, in that it insults our intelligence or anything. It's just that we've seen this kind of hitman plot before, more or less, although it's often admittedly done worse. The dialogue is surprisingly restrained, too, and missing a lot of the spark and juice we've seen in other Leonard adaptations. I did really like, however, that the Rourke character at least sticks to his convictions - he starts the movie as a cold, merciless killer, and ends a cold, merciless killer. He avoids the usual redemption bullshit, and for that I was grateful (the other subplot, involving Diane Lane and her ex husband Thomas Jane, is also handled maturely, where not everything gets a happy ending and an easy resolution).

If there is one final complaint I can make, it's that I feel the personalities of the two main characters should've maybe been switched. Rourke plays the no-nonsense killer well, and JGL's manic intensity is spot-on; it's just that we've seen these quirks in these roles before - it might've been more interesting to have the lead killer been the one with all the screws loose, like Travis Bickle. Anyways, Killshot is a rare direct to DVD film (because that's how I'm counting it as) that deserves a watch. It has its flaws, but it sustains interest for 1.5 hours and has some nice action/suspense moments to go with it. Admittedly, if the flick had gotten it's fair shot in theatres, I probably wouldn't have bothered to write a review. But I know how badly movies can be discriminated against when they don't get a proper theatrical release, and the sad fact is that this movie, crappy parts and all, is still better than a lot of the shit they're showing in your local multiplex. Hopefully, this (very short) review has given you a relatively clear idea of the flick, and wether or not you want to give it a chance.