Review of Killshot (2008) by Burton M — 27 Dec 2009

Never heard of this movie? That's no surprise. Though it was completed in 2006, the Weinstein Company refused to release it for reasons unknown until 2008 when it went direct to video. The film is actually quite solid, with good performances by Diane Lane and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

I've concluded that it's impossible for director John Madden (Walk the Line) to make a bad movie. He gives this movie his best effort and provides the best experience possible despite a B grade script that manages only slim characterizations and a cliché storyline.

Some of the dialogue is clunky despite the actor's best efforts and the voice over by Mickey Rourke doesn't make much sense in light of the ending. My guess is that the VO was added later by execs thinking that more explanation was needed.

Novelist Elmore Leonard is one of the best crime writers around, so it's sad to see one of his better works not properly adapted. Overall, better than I was expecting, but still lacking in terms of narrative and character creativity.