Monday, November 13, 2023

Film: The Killer

 

GENRE: Crime Thriller
RATING: R for strong violence, language, and brief sexuality
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 58 minutes
PLATFORM: Netflix
STARRING: Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Alien: Covenant)
Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick); Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
DIRECTOR: David Fincher (Social Network, Zodiac, Fight Club)
WRITER: Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven, Sleepy Hollow, 8MM)
PLOT: A paid assassin needs to travel and tie up loose ends when a hit goes wrong.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I like Fincher’s style no matter how dark.

STORY STUFF: I found myself pretty invested right from the start. We get most of our information from visuals and our killer’s narration but both are very well done. Walker writes a lot of great inner monologue as the killer describes his process. I love how methodical the killer is but he is also paranoid and makes a number of mistakes. I know Fincher and Walker are making a point that no one pays attention anymore, but the killer’s various 70’s TV aliases not raising a single eyebrow made me roll my eyes. That seems like a pretty risky thing to do for an assassin.

ACTING STUFF: While actors like Parnell and Swinton give great short performances, this film is all Fassbender. He is perfectly cast as a strong, silent type. What he doesn’t convey in his steely looks, he makes up for in his pitch perfect narration.   

ARTISTIC STUFF: There is just something about the way Fincher shoots his films that keeps me mesmerized. Just beautiful angles, wide shots, dollies and light contrasts. I also highly enjoyed the playlist consisting of mostly The Smiths. Lots of great lyrics that comment on the killer’s situation. Vey fun stuff.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You like a sharp Fincher film
UPCOMING REVIEW:  The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

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