Saturday 20 January 2024

Movie Review: The Killer (2023)


Genre: Assassination Drama Thriller  
Director: David Fincher  
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Arliss Howard  
Running Time: 118 minutes  

Synopsis: The Killer (Michael Fassbender) is a professional assassin on a mission in Paris. When he fails to execute, he becomes a target, and his hideout in the Dominican Republic is invaded. He sets out to seek revenge on his aggressors, a journey that will take him to New Orleans, Florida, New York, and Chicago.

What Works Well: Director David Fincher and writer Andrew Kevin Walker delve deep into the mind of an elegant but dispassionate killer, where simple rules of preparation and emotional disengagement are the foundations for success and survival. Moments of intense and sometimes brutal action punctuate meticulous attention to detail, and Michael Fassbender glides through the role with a profound sense of human-caused fatalism. The post-punk music of The Smiths is featured on the soundtrack.

What Does Not Work As Well: The focus on one man is exceptionally tight. The context-free narrative carries limited appeal, and one assassin's perspective in first targeting a faceless victim then other mostly nameless enemies is a flimsy foundation for two hours of drama. The narration explores the workings of the inner mind, but becomes repetitive and overbearing.

Conclusion: Stylishly smooth, but the intentional detachment yields apathy.






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