Review of Killshot (2008) by Jason D — 12 Jun 2009

I find it hard to believe that the same director of Shakespeare in Love could present a so-so film. As luck would have it though, the film was cursed by the likes of greedy and know-it-all film executives that just had to have it their way, which ultimately hurt this film and the direction John Madden had intended for it.

The real sad part is most people don't know the behind the scenes problems and will instead just blame the movie, ignorantly. Killshot is actually a decent film, though it could have been so much better.

After being shelved for THREE years, not to mention torn apart helplessly (Johnny Knoxville and other crucial plot pieces have completely disappeared from this movie), it finally limps onto a bare-bones DVD thanks in part to Mickey Rourke being the "it" guy at the moment.

Thankfully, Rourke does give off a great performance as a cold hitman who refuses to let people get too close of a look at him without suffering death. Eventually, his rules get him into trouble, as does taking up a loose cannon sidekick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who steals this movie at times and proves he can portray a truly despicable character).

Both of these guys attempt to take out and kill separated couple Thomas Jane and Diane Lane (whom they intended on making her the lead character of this film, but that never comes across in this movie).

The film turns into a cat and mouse game between the two killers and the husband.wife combo that doesn't really develop enough thanks to a timid 95 minute running time. In the end, this film left me wanting so much more.

I wish it could have been better. Someone needs to stop the Weinstein Brothers before they destroy everything. They could have at least provided us with a deleted scenes special feature so we can see the crucial parts that were removed.