Assassins

Plot

Robert Rath is a long-time government hitman – who is tiring of the work he does. On his latest ‘hit’ he discovers a second hitman, Miguel Bain, has been hired by his faceless boss – who he only communicates online. Now he must keep his latest ‘target’ safe from Bain – meanwhile teaming up with the target, Elektra – to sell a top secret

Direction

Richard Donner directs, and does a great job with some fun action sequences starting from the get go.

There are some good techniques used like one of my favourites the deep focus used in a few scenes – and some fun use of reflections – especially in Elektra’s sunglasses that is used early in the third act that is a foreshadowing for the final moments of the film.

Donner who was used to action films like this from his Superman and Lethal Weapon era, and he shows solid use of quick cuts that follow the action, but are still easy to follow.

Cast/Characters

Sylvester Stallone plays the lead of Rath, Antonio Banderas is fun and energetic as Bain, and Julianne Moore is a solid female lead as Electra.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

There are some pros and cons here.

I liked that the two main characters meet, and become antagonists within the first ten minutes. This sets up a two-hour long cat and mouse between them, with plenty of cat and mouse chase sequences.

Some of the cons however are silly moments such as Bain’s ability to find Electra’s apartment from a simple photo (in a large city like Seattle), and the many ‘plot armour’ action where characters can dodge bullets, or trained assassins cannot shoot a target.

There is also some strange additions, like Robert a decades long assassin has trouble killing a woman, which makes us believe he has never killed one.

Some of the tech is also very dated, and feels its (thirty years?) age.

I did enjoy the second half of the movie, which is mainly set in Mexico, and I had a bit of a laugh at the characters needing their ‘bathroom’ break after so many hours waiting for one another.

Score/Soundtrack

The score by Mark Mancina was instantly recognisable to me, and had a bit of a ‘Speed’ feeling, which he also scored.

Overall

A fun action film with one of the biggest action stars of all time Stallone. Although Stallone feels a little flat and almost bored at times, Banderas’ overzealous antics make up for it.

Despite a few ‘plot developers’ to get the plot moving forward quicker, this was still a fun mid 90s film, with some solid direction by the late great Richard Donner.

I give this one a recommend.

3.5/5