Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin, James Caan
Running Time: 90 minutes
Synopsis: In Biloxi, Mississippi, Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan) is a hitman and fixer for crime boss Stan (James Caan). A hit on low-level criminal Rollo goes a bit wrong, but allows Charlie to connect with Rollo's ex-wife Marcie (Morena Baccarin), a taxidermist. Meanwhile New Orleans crime boss Beggar (Gbenga Akinnagbe) moves in on Stan's turf, leaving many dead bodies behind. Charlie vows revenge, and learns that Beggar is desperate to recover incriminating evidence hidden by Rollo.
What Works Well: Pierce Brosnan cuts through the action with effortless confidence, and a few moments of viciously dark humour deliver an effective punch. The production values are decent, and the energy level sustained. Charlie's narrated philosophy is better than it needs to be, as is the jagged romance that he develops with Marcie.
What Does Not Work As Well: This is stock hitman's revenge material straight from the generica action file, with an auto-pilot plot that cannot survive any level of scrutiny. Multiple violent murders never seem to trouble any enforcement authorities, a compact disc is still considered a relevant MacGuffin, a large amount of cash is stored in a small flimsy box, barely defined allies pop up to save Charlie at the most opportune moments, and all of the bad guys disappear when convenient.
Key Quote:
Charlie: It is not really letting go of the past that sticks with you. It's coming to terms with letting go of the future that will never be.
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