Posted: 11/25/2007

Hitman

(2007)

by Neal Fischer

The film Hitman is based on the video game of the same name by Eidos. Like the game, the film follows an assassin by the name of Agent 47, played by Timothy Olyphant (Live Free or Die Hard). This assassin is a stone-faced, meticulous killer brought up by an assassin organization from birth. He even comes equipped with a barcode tattooed on the back of his head. The story follows Agent 47 as he is set up during one of his jobs, and crosses paths with a Russian hooker/presidential mistress played by Olga Kurylenko. He tells her he will protect her as he finds out who set him up.

Now I don’t have any experience playing the video game Hitman. My brother played it all the time, and from what I could see, it was many shots of Agent 47 from behind as he shot his sniper rifle into the skull of a target. Luckily, I was treated to many of these shots in the film, which was the only comparison I could make personally. I found this film to be in line with many films released over the past few years that are neither good nor bad. They seem to exist in their own classification of enjoyment that baffles me when the credits roll. They are in a middle section that doesn’t exist.

I really thought the worst aspect of this film was the screenplay. It just felt as if it was written a week before the shoot. It struggled to be a unique film. Timothy Olyphant’s best work in this film is when he is NOT talking. I’ve been told the character talks in the game, but it just felt weird in the movie. Also, the director, Xavier Gens, seems to think every room in Russia has a smoky, foggy essence to it. It seemed as if every citizen smoked a pack of cigarettes upon entering a room. We also have a poor performance in my opinion from Dougray Scott (M:I 2). I haven’t seen a performance from this guy that I have liked, but his similar looks to Steve McQueen keep me watching his films, hoping that he’ll pull out a Bullitt or a Great Escape.

If you are looking for a film with modern MTV style editing for style over substance, female nudity, some blood splatter, and some “so-so” one liners, then I guess this film is for you. The only performance that I thought shined was that of Robert Knepper of Prison Break fame. He actually does quite a convincing Russian accent. Maybe I will be happy playing the video game, where I can control where Agent 47 goes and who he kills…and skip past the lame dialogue.

Neal Fischer is a filmmaker and film critic in Chicago.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com