Writer: Hossein Amini (Screenplay) Elmore Leonard (Novel)
Starring: Thomas Jane, Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Hal Holbrook
Plot: When psychopathic criminal Richie Nix (Gordon-Levitt) tries to rob a real estate agency his plan goes wrong. Working with aging hit man Armand ‘Blackbird’ (Rourke) they have to clean up loose ends. Wayne (Jane), Carmen (Lane) Colson a divorcing couple get taken into Federal Witness Protection program, but the killers won’t stop until they finish tying up all the loose ends.
Verdict: A good crime thriller
Story: With crime based films you need to have a villainous character that you will remember as it will be what they do to drive the good guys. Having the breaking relationship between the married couple adds interests to the story. While the weird older brother relationship between Richie and Blackbird all this adds up to make a thriller where you just don’t know what will happen next. (8/10)
Actor Review: Thomas Jane – Wayne down on his luck with job hunting and his marriage has to fight back to save his wife. Good performance but really doesn’t get enough action for what he is capable off. (6/10)
Actor Review: Diane Lane – Carmen real estate worker and recently separated lady who becomes a target after seeing Blackbird’s face. Good woman in distress performance. (7/10)
Actor Review: Mickey Rourke – Blackbird a quiet hit man for a mob but just wants to escape the business. Take the young man under his wing to try and teach him how to improve. Good leading performance that seems to get overlooked. (8/10)
Actor Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Richie Nix the psychopathic killer criminal who seems to get pleasure out of committing his crimes. Good performance that really shines and improves the image of the character Blackbird. (9/10)
Director Review: John Madden – Good direction from the Oscar nominated director. (8/10)
Crime: Good crime throughout and giving us the ability to not know what will happen during the crimes. (8/10)
Thriller: Thrilling throughout. (8/10)
Believability: Hit men would go to extremes to cover up their tracks. (2/10)
Chances of Tears: no (0/10)
Settings: A few good setting but not many that are important to the story. (7/10)
Suggestion: I think crime fans will enjoy this but not many casual film fans will. (Try It)
Best Part: A sudden death
Worst Part: Bit slow
Action Scene Of The Film: The real estate robbery.
Kill Of The Film: Richie Nix
Oscar Chances: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Overall: A smart slow moving thriller
Rating