I was shown this movie last night by someone who had got hold of it on video somehow.
At first I was sceptical about his praise, never having heard of it. But soon it had my full attention. Most of the other commentators have hit it right on the mark as a piece of top-drawer black comedy.
Jason Priestley is extremely well cast as the nerdish but alarming bookworm turned hit-man. That distracted, rather troubled, stare lends him the sort of frightening expression one sees on those faces of homicidal delinquents all too often featured in the news. It really is creepy. And yet his personality is one of insecurity and psychological vulnerability. He is sexually inexperienced from an emotional standpoint, despite regular visits from a hooker. When it comes to addressing his feelings towards a girl he actually likes; he's lost. We see him blackmailing the ex-boyfriend for seduction and romantic tips, on pain of execution. Later he is even picking the brains of imminent victims. His body language is awkward and childishly gauche, very reminiscent of 'Frank Spencer' in 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'.
In typical nerdy style he is completely lacking in ambition. He lives in a bedsit basement and is quite content there despite the huge pay rise when promoted to hit-man.
Someone suggests he buys a suit to go on a date. And he goes and buys one suit.
Priestley's character is groomed for a career in murder by an established and very capable assassin nicely performed by Peter Riegert. This tutor displays an excellent balance of patience and pathos, guiding his new protégé with a fatherly indulgence. But he is utterly ruthless in a world-weary way, whilst privately haunted by demons.
'The Man' is played to oleaginous perfection by ageing Robert Loggia. His is that kind avuncular charm, concealing an unutterable callousness that you've seen in plenty of other mafia movies. He's just so nice; you know he must be rotten to the core.
And so the movie ticks along at its own pace and in its own direction, by an off-beat way that pays very little heed to precedent. You never know quite what's going to happen. I was astonished to see the great Micheal J Fox given little more than a cameo part, only to be obliterated without compunction. There was no DeLorean to save him this time around.
The script goes along with it all. There are no really fancy one-liners, just good, steady, dialogue that seems entirely plausible when uttered by the players.
The nearest comparison I can think of for this movie is the equally off-beat, violent, and darkly humorous 'Fargo'. And if that ain't a recommendation, I don't know what is.
It's lack of availability on DVD is preposterous. Not only is the movie done a dis-service; a great deal of potential revenue is being lost.
Don't miss it if you get the chance. This is a cult movie crying out for its audience.
At first I was sceptical about his praise, never having heard of it. But soon it had my full attention. Most of the other commentators have hit it right on the mark as a piece of top-drawer black comedy.
Jason Priestley is extremely well cast as the nerdish but alarming bookworm turned hit-man. That distracted, rather troubled, stare lends him the sort of frightening expression one sees on those faces of homicidal delinquents all too often featured in the news. It really is creepy. And yet his personality is one of insecurity and psychological vulnerability. He is sexually inexperienced from an emotional standpoint, despite regular visits from a hooker. When it comes to addressing his feelings towards a girl he actually likes; he's lost. We see him blackmailing the ex-boyfriend for seduction and romantic tips, on pain of execution. Later he is even picking the brains of imminent victims. His body language is awkward and childishly gauche, very reminiscent of 'Frank Spencer' in 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'.
In typical nerdy style he is completely lacking in ambition. He lives in a bedsit basement and is quite content there despite the huge pay rise when promoted to hit-man.
Someone suggests he buys a suit to go on a date. And he goes and buys one suit.
Priestley's character is groomed for a career in murder by an established and very capable assassin nicely performed by Peter Riegert. This tutor displays an excellent balance of patience and pathos, guiding his new protégé with a fatherly indulgence. But he is utterly ruthless in a world-weary way, whilst privately haunted by demons.
'The Man' is played to oleaginous perfection by ageing Robert Loggia. His is that kind avuncular charm, concealing an unutterable callousness that you've seen in plenty of other mafia movies. He's just so nice; you know he must be rotten to the core.
And so the movie ticks along at its own pace and in its own direction, by an off-beat way that pays very little heed to precedent. You never know quite what's going to happen. I was astonished to see the great Micheal J Fox given little more than a cameo part, only to be obliterated without compunction. There was no DeLorean to save him this time around.
The script goes along with it all. There are no really fancy one-liners, just good, steady, dialogue that seems entirely plausible when uttered by the players.
The nearest comparison I can think of for this movie is the equally off-beat, violent, and darkly humorous 'Fargo'. And if that ain't a recommendation, I don't know what is.
It's lack of availability on DVD is preposterous. Not only is the movie done a dis-service; a great deal of potential revenue is being lost.
Don't miss it if you get the chance. This is a cult movie crying out for its audience.