The Killer - Not The Movie You Were Expecting
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ย. 2023
- The Killer, David Fincher's latest thriller on Netflix, seems to have divided audiences with some people calling it a brilliant psychological thriller and character study, and others labelling it as boring, slow and frustrating. Let's find out what its really all about.
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Michael Fassbender really does have the unfortunate distinction of being the most talented actor in the worst era of Hollywood. If he'd come on the scene a decade earlier he'd be a legend by now.
Agreed.
So true. Such a classic style to his look and depth of acting.
I think he just prefers racing cars.
His work as David in Prometheus and Covenant is so underrated it nearly hurts.
@@tim1843 he's the only reason I want a sequel to covenant
The Killer is actually a documentary on the pitfalls of the HR department. You mess up one time and they try to get you fired, smh.
That's what you get for working in an hr department, dummy. The whole concept is fascist.
Yep. They're there to protect the employer and never the employee 😂
Hahahahahaha that’s funny and slightly true.
Happened to me. A loyal worker that was second to none in dependability for 7 years and I was fired for one little lie told by a middle-aged post wall bitch.
i think you nailed it with that analysis lol
Michael Fassbender truly elevates any project he's in. Imagine being cast as the same character portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen and not only does he outshine him but he even humanises him on a deeper level.
To be fair, script was allowing Fassbender a tad more humanity than it was Sir Ian. Otherwise, absolutely true.
Yup
I enjoyed both versions but like fassbender a tad more
To be fair, Sir Ian was just a bad guy with good motivations, but Michael got to be thr origin story, show why he's the way he is to a general audience, it also takes talent to act the role well but that's a good script meets a good actor.
A revenge story that turns out to be about a guy who finds out he’s not who he thinks is after all. Also in keeping with Fincher’s proclivity to say something about consumerism in all his movies I can’t help but notice that the billionaire at the top, the true “few” gets away unscathed, as they usually do in real life. While everyone below him who had to get their hands dirty for the billionaire guy, met their end by the killer, even though they were just doing a job. There’s also a funny irony in the movie, that in the beginning the killer talks about how he doesn’t give a f***, but then ends up getting emotional about a guy who also didn’t give a f***, just wanted a job done, nothing personal. This is a ramble but there’s a lot of layers in this seemingly simple movie. It’s a masterpiece
I think you and the youtuber missed an important piece of this story. I believe Fassbender's character doesn't "find out" anything about himself. The whole point of the movie is that he only did this as a line of work and that he's actually not a killer at all. This is the importance of the last line of the movie where he reveals he is just like every other person out there who can't abide by the rules of the lifestyle and his face twitches showing a deep concern for the things he's done in his line of work and how he's not comfortable with it. This is in stark contrast to Tilda's character who actually enjoys the lifestyle.
This is the actual irony of the movie, that he doesn't prescribe to the rules of being an effective hitman just like the rest of society, yet he continues to kill people to meet his own needs. In that respect, the movie actually plays out as a comedy of errors. He messes up throughout the entire movie, completely disregarding the code he's explaining in his narrated monologue. He misses the shot, he returns home, he goes to the hospital, he shows sympathy to the secretary/mother by making her death look like an accident so her family can collect insurance, he bungles the assassination attempt on the guy in Florida resulting in a lengthy fight that nearly kills him, he sits face to face from one of his targets, and he lets the billionaire live at the end. On the surface, the audience sees how meticulous he his throughout the entire movie but in retrospect, after the last line is delivered, you look back and see all the ways he clearly showed he's not the killer you once thought he was. That didn't suddenly change in the course of the movie, he's always been that way.
These acts weren't set in motion due to a missed shot. That was just a matter of chance and the odds catching up to him. He's never been a "killer" and this is revealed by the fact that he has a girlfriend/fiancé at all. That clearly violates the rules of being a professional killer, yet he's had one for years that he clearly cares about, enough to put himself in danger by returning to his home AND the hospital to visit her. The missed shot doesn't change who he is, but tells him it's time to quit the facade because time has run out. His goal is to retire with the love of his life and live a carefree life where he doesn't have to look over his shoulder. This is also why he doesn't kill the billionaire that wanted him dead. He's not a killer and he's not cut out for an entire lifetime of looking over his shoulder, wondering if the police are narrowing in on his position. He just wants to be left alone and retire in peace, which was his ultimate goal all along.
There's nothing simple about The Killer. The ending is icing on a perfectly baked cake; because in real life, killers really do get the "happy endings". The worst people you know will die old, fat, wealthy, and surrounded by family
@@jojolebleu9364 I don’t think it’s simple. Many of the criticisms I’ve seen is that it’s too minimal and simplistic for a Fincher film. That’s all I was saying by writing “seemingly simple”
@@jojolebleu9364 I took the ending to mean he realised he wasn't as good as he thought he was, ie a true cold blooded killer, he isnt a psychopath and has to constantlly remind himself not to feel empathy, so after he scares the billionaire he just retires and becomes one of the many, a place where he might have belonged the whole time.
He let the billionaire go because he didn’t have anything to do with the hit on him
Really enjoyed seeing them walk through all the steps he takes to prep for entry, execution and exit. Haven’t seen a movie like this before.
Try The Day of the Jackal, it's a classic assassin movie based on a very good novel of the same name
Thats fine play all hit man games and you will gat it it I suggest start with Hitman silent assassin... dont miss contracts,that will be a bummer when you reach to absolution you will; get this movie
"Leon" is a great movie.
og ocean series? not assassin but still the prep and everything
Kind of reminds me of the "Oceans" heist films, but for a murder instead of a heist.
I really liked how he was not painted as a good guy but maybe a man struggling with the morality with his line of work. It was almost like an assassin’s slice of life.
Didn't seem to struggle that much?
I was like eh watching it.
It wasn't particularly fun but it was definitely interesting, just like most David Fincher movies. They make you think instead of just being a dopamine fix
I found it odd that people did not like it. I watched it yesterday with my dad and a friend we both thought it was pretty awesome. I love John Wick and all, but this one seemed to be placed in our actual reality and that made it a lot more tense.
@@jasewildheartWhat are you talking about? We can see through Fassbender’s performance of restraint maybe even empathy slipping in before he goes back to his philosophy.
In my opinion, this movie was a study in how to do a slow burn the right way. It was slow. Glacially so at times, but I never felt my attention slip, because the odd commentary was done in the right way to keep me pulled into the story. The whole thing also felt more real and less fantastical than something like John Wick (which is still awesome and will probably be a classic in 20 years). That realism made it all feel more grounded to me. The movie pulled you through the adventure instead of just showing it to you, and that was pretty cool!
Agreed
Agreed, it’s a Masterclass in storytelling
Saw it last night ... good assessment. I enjoyed it
Hell yeah!
I don't even think it was slow. It was paced perfect. Something was always happen.
The Killer was actually really enjoyable. The pace was not exhausting and the character build up at the beginning was perfect. Fassbender is built for this role and performed flawlessly.
here is a story in my country...
colloquialism ensues.
a killer is a team of about 4 people. a married duo on a bike, gunwoman and husbando motorcycle driver because of a male's stronger legs can stopstand the bike without losing their balance. very progressive.
also an "asset" who stakes the target and gets schedule, where and when. a "agent" who is the go between with the client, usually the ahente is a police officer.
1000dollars depends on target split 4 ways
Contrary to the shit stained waterfall for movies we have pouring for the last few years,it was a pleasant watch.
I do feel people mistake slow pace for boring sometime
because you can have a very slow pace movie
if done right it can be very interesting to watch
How soon is now // The Smiths Perfect song to use during the hotel sniper riffle scene! Good movie. My friend and so for high as fuck on good weed and watched it last night. I love Michael Fassbender
It definitely was not what I expected. But it still hooked me right away. The first two lines piqued my interest: "It's amazing how physically exhausting it can be to do nothing.
If you are unable to endure boredom, this work is not for you."
“If you are unable to endure boredom, this movie is not for you”
@@Rickle_Pick23sick burn
Lotta cubicle jobs like that.
@@Rickle_Pick23 Nah, that movie was pretty awesome. If you have a ticktok attention span and no brain wrinkles, this movie is not for you.
@@Rickle_Pick23Funny enough, I think that’s EXACTLY where Fincher was going with that line.
If you’re expecting John Wick, this
Isn’t the movie for you.
Michael Fassbender is a deeply underappreciated actor.
Everyone lost out on him not being cast as Bond.
He is not suited for Bond....
It was great to see him back again and I thought he was good in this.
His Mcbeth is something to see. In a good and very weird way.
@@yellowscarlightningscream8347really? I think he would be an amazing bond
Has the calm, cool collected aura
@@ygershomHe's a bit old for that role but I'll still take him over whatever the studio is gonna come up with, a back to back trilogy would be awesome
The long scenes where you're anticipating for something to happen and the director lets the suspense grow are so cool
And fantastic thing is nothing ever happens lmao
@@Wrestling-Nun This is what tiktok does to zoomers, they fall asleep after 5 minutes of no Marvel quip or CGI fight scenes
@@Wrestling-Nun Or something happens but it's not either a huge twist or a massive action scene or anything. Makes the one actual action scene really stand out and it was quite shocking when it happened.
It bothers me when pioneers aren't given credit. Two of the very good films of the miserable 2023 are The Killers & The Creator. Both while original lean on an old cult hit. The Virtuouso for The Killer & Chappie for The Creator. Those two films broke the glass ceiling & I for one would argue they were still better than the two 2023 films which are also thoroughly entertaining.
I loved the final note of the movie where he admits he’s not as cold, calculated and disassociated as he monologues being in the beginning. Turns out he’s a lot like everyone else…
except he's not, he's a sociopath.
Normal, well-adjusted people don't murder.
@@ifyoudisagreeyouarewrong
Yes they do.
That's YOUR definition.
He has His definition for you also.
He's just an ordinary SERIOUS businessman.
Your way off
@@ifyoudisagreeyouarewrong he's not "normal" but he's more normal than he thinks. Throughout the movie, and moreso through his nervous tick at the end, the killer shows he IS affected by the job, even though at the beginning he mentions that kind of personality trait is a liability that people in his line of work shouldn't have.
@@Hannoshobazz_Neolmech lol shut up punjab
As an "old" person who remembers films like "Three Days of the Condor" and "The Day of the Jackal" this review looks really intriguing. I miss genuine thrillers and I'm glad it looks like we have a top-notch one here.
How about "Point Blank"?
I too was going to give this one a pass, but after this review it is on my list to see some time in the future.
It’s rubbish
*HAHA, OLD!* That'll never happen to *ME!*
@greyone40 👍
Also, does anyone remember that movie where John Cusack is an assassin? (Not Grifters, though they both have scenes of him drinking at the bar, *kinda...)
It might be that one with Hillary Duff
I genuinely liked the movie. I liked how it was more of a slowburn and how the main character wasn't some superhuman, but rather someone who had to improvise and got beaten up, and even admitted to himself that he's not a genius.
Well said!
That beat up would kill him tho.Liked it but the ending was meh at most.
The entire movie is him doing the opposite of his mantra "Don't Improvise."
@@piotrswat169How do you know it would kill him? It *could* kill him sure. But "would"? Not exactly.
@@lucasgrey9794 His head against the floor a 300 pound UFC type dude is pounding his head in.Cmon man!
I really liked it. The lack of dialogue fitted the introspective nature of the character very well.
The overuse of voiceover is repetitive and amateurish.
@@greggibson33 In general I'd agree with you but here it is not "voiceover" but character development in a different way since there were only very few dialogue scenes. The score and the small parts of lyrics of the music that stood out also fit the whole concept and added another layer. Repetetive yes, but the changes & contrast to the later actions showed his arc. Calling a core part of David Finchers cinematic approach to this movie amateurish is a bit insolent, dont you think?
@@greggibson33I felt like it was more of an internal dialogue than voiceover narration.
@@greggibson33it was meant to be his mantra. Sounds like him gloating his surefire method, but we see him fail in the opening. It becomes his way to convince himself it will work though he is an a bit downward spiral. As an audience i felt, "Ok, u messed up last time n doing narration again. Ur A game condition. U seem to get a grip again this time but do u? How much the slip up n ur hospitalized gf affect u? Also didnt the last time even though u r so prepared it fail?" To me it makes the suspense thicker.
I was not cheated. I went into this expecting another brain dead movie full of violence and one liners. but got one of the most cerebral movies of the last few years. It was the perfect balance of action and awkward bored nerd doing his job. A beautiful exception to the modern norm. Fassbender is a the hero we need but not the one this era of film deserves. I forgot Tilda Swinton. She is a treasure. This is her at her best. I loved this movie and I hope Netflix never makes another movie like it. Embrace originality and the next amazing story that breaks the mold. Never copy this.
You went into a David Fincher movie expecting it to be brain dead and full of violence and one liners?
Watched it last night with my 75 year old Dad and we both thought it was the best thing we have seen for a long while and exactly because it was not the usual John Wick killing spree, which we are not opposed to BTW, this was just refreshingly different.
After John Wick 1 I got burned out. Especially when they cast Common, the ex straight/rapper. I bet Common and John Legend make out. Which is ok, it's 2023 right? 🤢🤮
@TracchofyreOkay then go watch John Wick then ADD brain this isn’t a one man army film and it’s not trying to be
@@fvefve12His targets were also capable of killing him and survived some of his encounters with them by chance. John Wick is basically a superhero.
@Tracchofyrestupid? The guy is insanely smart and super meticulous.
@@humanbassan edgelord
The scene with him against The Brute was so frigging good. The direction/sound design makes that scene so tense and brutal.
it was a completely superfluous scene that mimiced the bourne movie action scenes for only one reason: he didn't want to hurt a dog, so he drugged him...and EFFED THAT up also after monologuing to the audience how its done lol.
@@TNM001 I genuinely couldn't tell if that stuff was intentional or not. But I did notice that basically every time he screws something up, it's because he goes against his own "code".
His code tells him to be aware of his surroundings and exercise patience, meanwhile he fails his mission during the intro because he gets tunnel vision and unnecessarily rushes the shot. It tells him to show no empathy, meanwhile he risks exposure by staging a death as an accident (presumably for the benefit of the victim's family), and nearly gets himself killed by a 50lbs pitbull because he drugs it (poorly lol) instead of killing it.
It made me wonder at the end, is he really going to survive this? Or does he actually die some time after the credits roll? Because he does the same thing again with "the client". The filmmakers quite clearly draw attention to him being spotted by a camera inside the building for some reason, and then he allows the client to live. The same man who he knows for a fact already specifically ordered at least one assassination (his target from the opening scene). So the client is not a good person, we know he's a murderer by proxy. What is to stop him from doing it again? Just fear? Risky.
If the writers were actually trying to make a point there, it was probably too subtle for me lol. Because I'm really not sure.
I did quite enjoy the film though.
The various sounds and noises throughout the movie were all very good
@@TNM001 I find The Killer to be the complete of Bourne. Bourne action scenes are terribly edited. You'll get whiplash watching it. Plus the music blaring over it. The fight with the Brute in The Killer, you feel like you're in the room. It's tense, claustrophobic. That scene on a nice sound system = chef's kiss.I do love that the entire movie is pretty much Fassbender screwing up every time.
It was perfectly directed
Fell in love with Fassbender's acting when he portrayed Lt. Archie Hicox in Inglourious Basterds and loved him in this. This is one of those films I want to watch again just to make sure I understood what it was his character was trying to tell us, and I replayed the ending scene several times because I was so invested in understanding his character's worldview.
What are you thoughts on the ending part of contradicts the characters message a bit but it feel as though it leaves a mystery? Did he intend to kill his wife?
There are contradictions there. His final words indicate that he is ultimately a non-submissive fatalist. He realizes life is tragic, unpredictable, chaotic and yet he bends all of his will towards dictating precise outcomes knowing that randomness and chance can intervene without notice--foiling even the best laid plans and his meticulous preparation. He realizes that there are very few with his level of discipline, detachment, or who even practice his trade, but he is like many in his refusal to resign himself to the randomness. I don't think he kills his girlfriend; I think he gives love a chance. Will it last? Will his past come calling, or haunt him in some way? @@ViewtifulBr080
Best character in the film.
I watched this movie with no expectations, probably one of the most memorable movies of this year
For fans of Fassbender, myself included, it's his movie to carry & he does it almost effortlessly. To me, he's one of those actors who elevates whatever production he is in. Even something so dull as The Snowman still shows him trying to work with what he's been given. He's won awards for a reason & he's been up for Oscars. Not flawless but the man still makes an effort.
I wonder how much he charges.... just curious...
@@alejandropacheco7832
It probably depends on which credit card he is using.
Or were you referring to the battery on his mobile phone? I would guess he might have a lifetime supply of Apple products since he portrayed Steve Jobs.
Michael Fassbender is criminally underrated as an actor. He brings depth and intensity to every character he portrays. He really has the presence and look of a professional actor from the 1940-60s.
I don't think he could measure up to Robert Mitchum.
Gary Oldman is a better character actor as is Bale( but Bale uses Method Acting. Look at his body in the Machinist & American Psycho- dedication. Forgot Donnie Darko, which falls into late 90s/early 2000s
Poor guy got strapped on too many shit movies.
@@Feanor1988bislike those last two dreadful X-Men films.
Aye, I was watching X-Men apocalypse to catch up, he was great in the start of that even
Critical Drinker, thank you SO MUCH for comparing this film to The Game--the 1997 film with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. Freaking GREAT film. I used to show "The Game" to my students in my film class. They loved it because the character develops from an icy rich guy to a caring man. And the set up and pay off in "The Game" is totally worth it.
The Game is great. Probably Fincher’s most under appreciated movie.
As much as I love The Game it clearly doesn't give enough screen time to show what Van Orton was like and so any attempt at character change towards the end doesn't have much impact. Script is generally where Fincher is at his weakest.
Hate the Game. It stretched suspension of disbelief way way too far. The ending destroyed that movie for me. It's on par with "it was all a dream" for me.
I’m so happy to see Michael Fassbender back! It’s been a while. The Killer is a very excellent film
Of all the 'deconstructing' that's been going on in Hollywood of late, Fincher's take on the hitman genre is a breath of fresh air.
Drinker absolutely nailed it! Fincher and Fassbender always deliver and The Killer is no exception. Go into it knowing it's a more mature movie that requires the audience to have patience and you'll get a very rewarding cinematic experience.
I dont disagree about anything he said. But the movie wasn't fun. And it certainly wasn't serious. Im sorry, but realistic and hired assassin just dont go together very well.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of the movie. I enjoyed fassbender. It didn’t overstay it’s welcome. But without some of those muchmaligned “tropes,” the film felt kind of barebones. Also Trent Reznors score was downright *heinously* bad at times. But it was all right
It's not mature just trying to be
Oh, that's what I lacked to enjoy the movie, maturity.
This ranks up there with Drinker's preview review of Prey. Just wrong.
@@darkpatches it was for a mature audience though lol im mature so i loved it
I discovered Fassbender with Hunger at school, in English class. I rediscovered him in Shame in 2011 and I was so moved by his performance, and also by his simplicity and humility in his everyday life, that I now consider him as one of my models.
Seeing him starring in an Netflix assassin movie in the current "John Wick is the New Black" era, I was worried that he had eventually slipped on the bad side of today's consumerist cinema.
I saw your video, and I started to believe my fears were real.
And then you speak of this movie in a good way. You praise Fass' great acting. You point out every good aspects this film has, that I've always expected from an assassin movie.
Gosh I am relieved !
I really enjoyed seeing this movie and from the beginning to the end of it, I couldn't stop thinking:
"The Drinker MUST watch this one!"
I really enjoyed it, mainly because it's great to see Fassbender in a lead role again. He's always been an incredible and brave actor, but in this he relies on his movie star chops and to be fair, he has those in spade fulls!
Didn't he beat the fuck out of his fiance tho
I love how the movie's conclusion is like in a videogame where you get to the final boss and you pass the intelligence skill check and avoid the conflict entirely.
I'm usually so OP from finishing all the side quests by the time of final boss confrontation, the much vaunted epic showdown lasts five minutes 😂
Fallout NV
This and Oppenheimer were by far the best movies of 2023. Both were a breath of fresh air. And, yes, for mature audiences who want actual cinema.
That fight scene near the end was the most absurd thing I have seen in a so-called drama in a very long time. Kicked and punched repeatedly in the face by a 250 pound hit man and walks away with a slight cut on his lower lip.
That was so bad I lost all interest in the outcome. How can a director allow such a ridiculous scene to make the final cut. Any one of those punches would have knocked the most powerful man unconscious and possibly killed him in that place called real life.
i agree with both @markmooroolbark252 and @docbrown6797
@@markmooroolbark252 Yes, unfortunately, it was a good old Hollywood fight, the only drawback of the movie :(
The best? Lawl. I love Fassbender, but this movie was long shit with no logic and that fight? Eh? They could have rather have Hitman movie as true hitman.
Oppenheimer was dogturd
We watched this yesterday at our "dude-evening" and I found it to be riveting and very immersive! The monologues & scenes without dialogue backed by Trent Reznors Score were so fitting and well done. I loved the short music lyric pieces that always supported the visuals. Its a phenomenal flick.
In such a dark age of Hollywood cinema, movies and actors like these are what we need
This was not the film I was expecting, and it was damn good.
agreed! Loved every second.
His decision to spare the secretary in the office I think was huge. Him abiding by her request, albeit fatally, shows a level of growth and empathy even though he still did what his code told him he needed to do. That and the question of culpability by way of degrees of separation brought up in the final exchange were the most intriguing parts of this movie because it asks difficult questions whose answers are equally difficult.
The entire first half of your comment makes no sense whatsoever. 🤨
@@Simone-Bucn if you watched the movie it would. If you watched it and it still didn't make sense then you weren't paying attention silly Willy
@@KapyBarra41 I have watched it "silly willy", & you literally contradict yourself. You're wrong, and you're also one of those people who's in love with themself.
@@Simone-Bucn ok buddy so the reason I said what I said is because he considered empathy weakness and cut it out of his life to be a professional. She sat there and asked him just to make her death look real, that she couldn't "just disappear." Ordinarily he would have disappeared her because that's what his code calls for, but he used the excuse that she had to show him the names (and it was an excuse because he could've easily found them at the fixers home) and decided to kill her on the stairs to imply an accident so her family could collect on the insurance money. That is him growing and becoming more human by showing empathy even though he still killed her.
I liked it. The interminable hunter's wait in the deer blind for his target was refreshing compared to a series of ain't-we-cool scenes and poses in the typical assassin genre. Then the unthinkable happens and he messes up and, even more incredibly, isn't able to fix the problem. When his first alias was Archibald Bunker I laughed and hummed "Boy, the way Glenn Miller played..." The fight scene was great and at times I rooted for both sides. Fassbender is creepy to me, but to be fair I've only seen his movies where it was his job to be creepy. Overall, it was a nice break from the usual tripe.
It's so tragic that something this good is SUCH a rarity in contemporary cinema. We didn't really know how good we had it until we started losing it nearly a decade ago.
Thank you! Watched this with some friends and was surprised by how little they appreciated it
It wasn’t good though
@@jaja2084it was a boring predictable movie with morrisey to make losers think they are cool
It was a great film. Seen it twice already. Watched it the second time with my teenage sons who both really enjoyed it. The were expecting some gun-blazing romp, but they never left the room for a drink, or looked at their phones, or got distracted. It held the attention of kids who are more used to the quick and fast style of media. A well told story with great performances is what we all need.
This is exactly the issue. The people who don't like it are the "modern" Tik Tok people with the attention spam of an ant. If there isn't constant action, then these people simply can't watch a story develop or get invested in a character. It's easy to see why Hollywood goes for quick wins like identity politics over character growth, because they think this is their main market.
I am the only one who thought it was below average? the story was mediocre, predictable. We've seen this movie ten thousand times.
@@bonjourbonjour2754 Ten thousand times? Dude, you should get out for a nice walk and some fresh air.
@@davidanderson_surrey_bc A revenge movie of an experienced assassin? Are you kidding me? Why are you so triggered? I am ok, maybe you need to take walk buddy.
This film is SHIT
Michael Fasbender is one of my favourite actors ever, really hope he does more work in the coming yrs and that ppl start to appreciate him more
I appreciate how deliberately paced this film was. Everything felt focused and meaningful, similar to the protagonist himself.
I absolutely love the way Drinker describes a film that he (if not enjoyed then at least doesn’t dislike) because you can hear a type of… not “eagerness” but almost like a kind of nostalgia (for back when he got to review all kinds of amazing films) before they truly began *THE MESSAGE* and everything else with it.
Great content bro!!
Remember the Original Mechanic Charles Bronson was everything Drinker just said Lo key studies the target every move and habit then perfect hit every one thinks gas explosion or heart attack no traces.
He's recalling the days of old with a movie could just suck, instead of being woke suck. At least a suck movie could have redeeming qualities. Wokeness has no redemption.
@@Archie2c absolutely!! They’re never gonna make em like that anymore.
@@LordFalconsword you hit the nail on the head!
Wokies have no ability to create anything, so they first;
1. INFILTRATE the particular fandom or IP.
2. Next they start with falsely framing narratives, telling half-truths and outright LIES to sow decent amongst the fandom/IP.
3. The then move to criticizing EVERYTHING/EVERYONE involved, the story/arc, characters, themes, subject matter and OF COURSE the fandom/IP.
4. They completely take over the proverbial “thing” itself, all the while claiming that anybody who has a problem with their involvement/criticisms/highjacking/perversion of “it” labeling them as “problematic” or an “ist-a-phobic”, and “hateful” “intolerant” (and every other buzzword they can wield as a weapon).
5. Finally having mutated “it” into whatever particular “woke” abomination was possible, and once the “thing” becomes unrecognizable to the fandom/IP that everybody leaves and “it” crashes and burns/dies those same NIHILISTIC miserable douchenosels simply abandon “it’s” corpse and find the next popular “thing” and start all over again… Like the Aliens from Independence Day. (Most of the asshats I’m talking about could probably pass for one of those 9 days out of 10!
😂😂😂
He's first class for quality reviews.
Really enjoyed the movie and was pleasantly surprised. Someone put it on Netflix and I was glancing at the opening credits, not really paying attention because I expected another trash movie like almost everything else today, then I saw Fincher’s name and perked up. The opening scene drew me in and I’m glad I watched.
Fassbender is so expressive without saying a word. His narration is there pretty consistently, and his voice is fantastic. I can't say enough about his presence. But when I heard "Fincher" along with some of the same people that helped create Fight Club, I was expecting a lot. This movie tho is lacking tremendously when compared to Fincher's other work. I can't tell if it's because I hold him in such high regard that makes this film seem so average, or if it is objectively an average film. To properly analyze, I'd have to watch a few more times, but this is not a movie that I want to watch again. If I were assuming, like so much that's out there now, it feels like it's been shelved for years and finally, scrambling for anything new, it got made. There is nothing new about the story tho. If anything, it's a very simple revenge story, but now from the perspective of a psychotic narcissist assassin (listen to his mantra, dude is nuts, and repeats "what's in it for you"). There are elements that are incredible; the music, the sound, Fassbenders entertaining presence. I chuckled a few times with some fairly hilarious levity that was sprinkled in (cheese grater). I realize the whole point of this movie was to be simple and straight forward, and Fassbenders acting is the draw. And I really liked the internal narration. But some of that mantra after hearing a handful of times, doesn't sound as brilliant as I think the writer intended. One very tense fight scene was really great, but it was so poorly lit at the expense of being "gritty" I suppose, it unnecessarily lowered the impact of what was to be a pinnacle scene. I understand that stories don't always need all characters' back stories fleshed out, and it's just supposed to be this small glimpse into the lives of a handful of characters. But this movie presents us with an assassin with zero back story, they introduce a girlfriend that has no back story and the bit of dialogue she has is very strange, she gets beaten up when people are looking for Fassbender, and we see he does care about someone, but it's not a wife or child, and she lives (seems out of character, why not just kill her), so really the stakes don't elevate like intended. And I don't want to give away the "ending" but it is pretty strange how this emotionless killer makes that decision. 6.5/10
Okay I honestly agree. I feel like people are way to quick to jump on the bandwagon of 'it's not like other hollywood movie therefore it's CinEmA'. Like most of the movies we get nowadays (if you only look at the mainstream) are usually not great. Compared to the countless remakes and rehashes we get nowadays obviously The Killer looks better by comparison. It's still a good movie, I would agree with a 6.5-7 out of 10. But it's just a little messy and the themes in my opinion lack overall cohesion. They work together and make sense on a surface level, but didn't truly come together. Sort of like not cooking a stew long enough, the flavours didn't really marry in my opinion. And yeah, I think the concept behind the narration was really damn good. But the execution was just...fine. Fassbender is brilliant, but there was so much potential that just wasn't reached.
I also really agree with the stakes not really being there. Like why was it his gf getting beat up? We're introduced to this clinical killer, but also he's got a sweet ass home that he leaves completely unprotected and has a partner that he apparently cares a lot about... like okay? That's sort of what I mean when I say the themes don't really mesh like they could've, in really top tier stories nothing is without purpose or direction. If the gf had at least died they could've spun it to be about someone who clearly is desensitised to death being forced to actually confront it. At the beginning of the film he talks about how nothing he does makes a different in the grand scheme of life and death, yet if someone he cares about dies then that whole philosophy that he lives and kills by is thrown into question. Not to mention they could've thrown in themes of emotional abstinence and being forced to feel grief and rage. Like this very clinical and controlled killer slowly loses himself to anger, and his seemingly perfect system/worldview slowly degrades revealing that he's just as human as anyone else (part of the many not the few). The whole title then gains a new meaning, like what does it actually mean to be a 'killer'? Is a killer someone who cuts out the parts of them that make them human, or do ordinary people cut out the parts of us that make us killers? Those questions were sort of (and I mean sort of) presented in Tilda Swinton's character but again just wasn't really laced throughout the whole movie. Etc.
I just feel like those narrative choices are what held this movie back in the long run. It's definitely still a good movie, I think the reason it feels underwhelming is because it had all the ingredients to be genuinely amazing (a great concept, a great lead actor and a great director) but just didn't get there.
@@notaspeck6104 I agree with all of it! Especially your take on top tier films and details. And the stew analogy lol. In another post my analogy was if Michelangelo went on to paint houses. Sure, it’s good, but it is not the Sistine chapel by any stretch.
The thing is, the story itself being deep and having a lot of element isn't what makes a good movie. It's in the how it's told and shown to the audience that matters, and to me David made a fantastic job here, at least for me.
I'd also say the dialog isn't trying to be as deep as something like fightclub, and is more of a character study on how the assassin himself sees things, and trying to be more of a contrast to what is happening on the screen, than inform the audience of some deep philosophy. The movie starts with his mantra showing what he wants to be, this apathetic, cold, methodic and flawless killing machine, just to continue in his line of work, and slowly peels away his shell to show that not only he's flawed like everyone, but he isn't as methodical, as cold or apathetic as he thinks he is. The end where he chooses not killing the client isn't just out of nowhere, but the culmination of all of his mantra being broken throughout the movie to show the man behind the cold facade.
In the end the movie doesn't show us backgrounds or how we ended up here because it isn't what the story it's telling is, not even what makes a good movie. What we need to know about him we learn on the prelude where he's waiting for the target while telling us how cold and collected he is, his methods to achieve his job, how boring his job can be, and how he never fails. The story is the perfect assassin discovering he isn't perfect and how he failing to do his job leads him into a path that show his true colors. Yeah an apathetic, emotionless assassin wouldn't have a girlfriend who can be a liability, neither put his life in the line to avenge her in a feat of rage, not even share a drink with the person who was send to kill him in the first place, even more have empathy for the client who sent him the assassins, and that's the point.
The film is almost a Film School teaching reel on how to frame shots, use music and establish tension until you want to snap yourself and look away. It's a master class in cinematography.
It was great seeing Fassbender on screen once more .
To me, his performance in Hunger will always be one of the greatest and most underappreciated one ever
Thanks for the review Will.
Watched this last night with the missus, she’s usually not a fan of assassin type movies but she really enjoyed it. It was a nice break from the usual high octane non stop action that can be numbing at times in these sort of movies. Micheal Fassbender always turns in a great performance
This was a great movie. Great use of atmosphere, great use of nihilistic narration (which immediately had me thinking of Fight Club) & the short, punchy action scenes were a breath of fresh air compared to the usual drawn out impossible spectacles we get treated to nowadays. Even the lousy Netflix trope of hopping from exotic location to the next worked so well here (I think all the traveling scenes helped me feel invested). All in, great effort from all involved, here's to more Killer type movies, as opposed to Extraction type shit, from Netflix.
And happy New Year, Mr Jordan.
It's like a behind-the-scenes assassin movie. It shows more of the unglamorous preparation and tedious intelligence gathering than action movies. The MC is only as dangerous as his preparation allows him to be and when unexpected obstacles arise he has to run or fight for his life. One of his mantras is "Anticipate, don't improvise;" when he has a lot of time to prepare and plan he is extremely effective; it's only when things don't go according to plan that it actually feels like he's in danger.
I love the fight scene because it shows that his opponents are as deadly as he is. That he's not an unstoppable killing machine. That's something that is lacking in movies these days. I never get a sense of threat from the antagonists. They're either disposable grunts or monologuing boss types that are always removed from the fight until the end.
The only fight scene that he also happens to get away with?
Yes! It also showed how masterful he is in technique. If he hadn’t been as exacting of a fighter in his defense, he would’ve been destroyed in that fight.
@@frodo322 he got away but was terribly bruised. We as the viewer know he is likely to continue (cause he's the main character) but there were moments my belief was disturbed. The sheer strength of the Floridian (punching through wood, taking multiple stab wounds, him ragdolling the killer) showed that without a gun, the Killer couldn't do anything to this monster. The fact he got chased out of the house by a dog that should have been incapacitated showed how his plan could have failed multiple ways and could have cost him his life.
It's like going through an accident in your life then thinking back on "damn, I could have died there on that day".
A lot of this movie reminded me of Assassination Tango from back in the day. It's about the killer, not who is being killed, and the choices/lifestyle of said people. Fincher is my favorite director and I see a LOT of his hallmark influences on this film: precision cinematography, flat color/grading, and Kubrick style direction towards perfection in every scene. I think a lot of people were hoping for Se7en Part II, but we got another character driven film like Benjamin Button. I love this movie and have recommended it to many people.
Greetings from Brazil, Drinker! Indeed, "The Killer" is a slow-burn, well-thought study on a character whose main feature is method, a lot like Fincher himself. Thrillers like that are beautiful gems in our ever-growing streaming dumpster catalogs to be viewed and praised. That being said, how about a review for "Prisoners" from Dennis Villeneuve?
I watched it with my wife last week and thought it was excellent. Glad to see the Drinker agrees. I wasn't aware it had been receiving bad reviews. That's a shame - after more than a decade of having superhero fantasy trash shoved in our faces, we need more realistic films like this across all genres.
Why are you glad someone agrees. Why do you care who agrees or disagrees with what you like.
Cause the more people with large followings agree the better chance these type of movies get made again.
@@RumblesBettrIt matters because good movies should get rewarded. If the people who made it make nothing only the mundane will be made. It's too common for creatives trying to do something interesting ending up broke.
@@RumblesBettrwhy do you care that he is glad that someone agrees?
I know it’s crushing on Netflix views so I’m sure they will make another.
I enjoyed every single second of this movie. It had my attention from the start to the end. I actually put my phone down and paid attention to everything. The sound effects and music is so hypnotic. The fight scene had me tense and worried for him. Also yeah, the I was angry when he killed the extremely gorgeous dominatrix.
I like how you mention there not being much CGI, but every single shot, I think without exception, is a VFX shot within this film - it's just so well done you can't tell. Every car shot is on a volume, almost every interior on a stage with green screen for the windows ext. ext.
Sounds like classic Fincher to me. Being so meticulous with his scenes, makes sense that he would want to have total control over each element presented on screen.
Excellent Review, This reminds me of "Three Days of the Condor" which is also a great movie. No over the top stunts or action. Although the hand to hand scene is Florida was brutal and extremely realistic. Fassbender is one of my favorite actors, he is just fascinating to watch, his expressions say more than most actors with dialog. Also, the aliases were a nice touch of dark humor, I had to look up one or two.
I saw this the day it released. Right from the first scene I knew how the entire movie was going to play just by how the scene was set, his inner monologue, the background noise. It was perfect, because everything about it said, "If you are not patient enough to watch me just sit here, walk down to McDonald's for some ham and egg, and talk about it, then you're watching the wrong movie. This is a slow burn, not a bang bang." This was exactly what I was looking for,
It's awesome that it immediately starts with the opening credits that are frenetic and "exciting", no doubt helpful for the Netflix algo, then drops you into a twenty minute sequence of a guy talking to himself 😅
its a terrible movie that conveniently sets up things so he can eff them up all the time. he is no professional, no idea how he survived in this business, and monologues us to believe he is so meticulous while showing us how he eff up all the time.
if we go by the standards of this movie the latest Star Wars trilogy is a masterpiece.
A girl he likes gets sexually assaulted and the guy goes and gets revenge. Yeah... totally the pinaccle of creative storytelling lmao. What a disappointment of a movie.
@@breakneck777 In this movie, the style comes before the story, just like in John Wick but you can't deny that despite having such a simple story, it feels different than anything else
First of all thanks for the 132 likes. Apparently a lot of people saw it the way I did.
As to 2 of the 3 criticisms, I pose the question: Just how many stories do you think are out there? The Northman is a tale of revenge - what's the difference? The likelihood that Skarsgard's protagonist was ever going to see his Uncle and take revenge was nil, but that film set things up so the revenge took place. At the pivotal moment of the film Skarsgard was going to forego revenge so he could be with Anya Taylor-Joy, but then realizes he has to protect her and her unborn son by following through with killing his uncle. It's the same story. But I'm betting you all liked The Northman.
Heavyhearts complaint falls on deaf ears for me because I already addressed his post in my original. The movie was set up as a slow paced film. I don't remember any frenetic opening credits but even so, an intelligent viewer knows in the first five minutes this film is going to be slowly paced and subdued. So if Heavyhearts actually got sucked into watching the entire movie from two minutes of opening credits then that is on him.
Not everyone is going to like certain films, and I accept that. But this one time I figured I'd post a rebuttal.
I LOVED this movie. I was hooked from the first scene. It really does execute the assassin idea in a new way, which is so ironic since this is much more realistic to what a modern day assassin would be like, and more grounded in reality. You could tell there was a lot of thought put into this movie, and it's such a refreshing experience on the 'Action Assassin' genre. I hope other film makers take notes from this movie.
How did you manage to like the ending?
“… execute the assassin idea …” 😂 I see what you did there
I'm with you on this. While watching the movie I kept thinking how refreshing it was to not see CGI and ridiculous fight scenes that are impossible.
@@kurumatt473 The fight scene with the big dude was too flashy and hollywood for me. Not impossible by any means but definitely over the top.
@@trappedcat3615 yeah the ending was interesting on the way it well... ended but other than that not too bad.
I absolutely loved it. The slow growth back into humanity, realising he is one of the many and there's nothing wrong with that is awesome. Now he took his money and made a second life with it, MF played the role tremendously and I am always pleasantly surprised when he acts. MF playing David carried the Predator series and it just goes to show when the directing and production matches MF's acting, we are given an absolute gem of a movie!
Bro alien. Not predator. But you’re right
It kinda sounds like robocop
That ridiculous fight scene with his girlfriend's batterer was so bad it ruined the movie.
That dude was fighting like the hulk 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣@@markmooroolbark252
I wouldn't really say he 'grew back into humanity' though
Loved Fassbender in Macbeth 2015. He did so well in that role.
I loved it. Appreciated it simply for it's technical realism and 'accuracy'. And I couldn't find any real flaws in the technical/tactical aspects, which normally turn me off when I do see them in movies. It felt incredibly realistic to me. Pace didn't bother me at all, as it was part of his character (as practically stated early on).
Well, him using a device as a silencer that literally does the opposite kind of bugged me.
The Killer was absolutely fantastic. It took me completely by surprise. The sound effects of the fist-fight in Florida had me thinking Fassbender was actually getting hurt. Each smack and punch sounded so real! Anyway, wonderful movie.
I watched this last night Drinker because of your review. I really enjoyed it, top work mate!
Insightful as always. You’re an inspiration Drinker
This is what I really loved about Tom Cruise's role in "Collateral". He was a badass hitman and heel without all the glam and convolution.
But he wouldn’t have been interesting without Max as his opposite throughout the film
Comparing this to that is like comparing apples to paper
@@ninjanibba4259no it’s like comparing a fruit basket to an apple. This movie is just the apple.
@@Bloodynine606 barely
Collateral might be the best hitman movie ever made.
Watched it two nights ago. I found the tone and tension very realistic. At no time did I know what was going to happen next. God I miss movies like this.
Seeing your video got my attention on this movie. I did not know anything about the movie other than what the title suggests.
From the first lines of Michael's protagonist's inner monologue, I felt the movie was for me.
The Killer rewarded me with great character depth, good dialogue, especially with the expert and by presenting an assassin living and blending in as a mundane citizen.
I decided to watch this after seeing your review, and noticed that Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails etc.) was credited with the music. Seems like a perfect fit, glad he's still making music!
This movie is amazing. "Sassy Fassy" once again shows that he is easily one of the best actors working today. Fincher is a master at setting up tension and mood even when nothing is actually happening.
I enjoyed this movie. It’s grounded and realistic without romanticizing assassins. A different pace and I appreciate how we as the audience can understand what’s going through his mind in his art of waiting and saying his daily “mantra”. I’m hooked.
I dont agree that its realistic.
It definitely tries to be but there were just too many mistakes for a trained assassin. Like dumping weapon parts in a skip right outside the building he shot someone, cocking a loaded gun twice in a row to look cool etc.
It was Hollywood realism and the first 40 mins of this film felt like one big drawn our monologue and it was a chore.
@@grant1133 That monologue talks about patience and says it directly to you. Testing you by making you watch a man leave his accommodation, eat a Mcdonalds breakfast, and go back. that is the entire point.
Love this and watching your review made me realise it's based on the Tom Wood novel around Victor the assassin.
loved this film mate, and sound review, might just have restored my faith in the movies a little fella, cheers drinker!!
Brilliant movie, perfect pace. Great performances. So so good.
Great movie!
It's almost impossible to develop an emotional connection to Michael Fassbender's character, which is a good thing because it only makes the character all the more interesting. And if you catch a brief moment where the killer does an action that is untypical for him, such as:Grabbing a glass of alcohol in a restaurant, or even a small thing like opening his mouth slightly while listening to a conversation, creates a certain mystery about the character and makes you wonder how he would behave if he were sitting down especially with a few good onesFriends at the table, or with a family. How did he behave before and is his true humanity perhaps about to emerge at any moment?
When the killer murders, it is always very cold but also staged with great intensity and elegance. And when there's an action scene, it's filmed with such force, so thoroughly and so bitingly that I haven't seen a scene like this in a long time. In general, the film has a very slick and elegant look, which can also be said about the rest of the film's production, which for Fincher's standards also consists of a lot of Shaky Cam - but is always used to the best effect.
The same goes for the whole story - it just glides along, it just slides past you at an entertaining pace... with the necessary effect, of course. Everything is reduced to the bare essentials, nothing feels inflated in any way.
Towards the end you have the feeling that the tension actually decreases more and more, especially the showdown is actually quite anticlimactic compared to most action films or thrillers, but it fits so well as a contrast to the rest of the film and to Michael Fassbender's character.
And after the last shot before the credits roll, you get the feeling that "The Killer" functions like a deeply cynical and nihilistic joke that leaves you wondering what you just saw. Who were you watching, and isn't everything somehow irrelevant and meaningless in retrospect?
I found it very cool.
it was easy for me to form an emotional connection to the character b/c he's literally me. When he casually dropped the n-word ('normies') I cried b/c I felt seen
I loved the showdown at the end (no spoilers of course).
All I can say drinker after watching this review of this video is I never knew this movie existed and the way that you have showed it and examined all the details in it. Reminds me of another series some years ago called the Bourne Identity And yes, I know a lot of people probably would disagree with me. But the elements that you have showed in here are just like once. I saw any original first born movie And mind you? I liked all 3 of them. I never did go past that But in the interim. I think this movie is worth an actual look I do enjoy all of the scenes that you put up in. Your telling of it and/or review And I would hope that the rest of the movie would have an equal amount of same kind of thrills. Keep up the good work drinker. I look forward to your next video Oh yeah, and by the way, you probably have already heard this. But I just wanted to let you know that. Yes, it has come out That they are going to do a remake of Highlander I personally remember the video that you did on it and especially When you started the video More or less being as upset And very mad that they were going to do it and seeing you in a kilt As you stormed out of the place you were doing the video That scene is one I will never forget. And yes, I totally agree with you and your assessment. Then and now probably they should leave Highlander alone. Amongst other classic films too Unfortunately, they probably won't. That's what you get for brain dead idiots in Hollywood that have no imagination, so have to take stuff that's already been created and was successful and remake it in their own image and hope that they get a lot of money. Which of course, we both know they never do Somehow I know you will never read this statement drinker. But I would hope that you would actually take a few minutes and just read it and see what I said Beyond that, as I said, I look forward to More of your videos including the ones You do for production hell Personally, I can't get enough of watching those ones
Thanks for the recommendation, Drinker! It’s a breath of fresh air, the pacing is slow but not sluggish and the action hits even harder when it happens, something the last John Wick movie (while not a bad movie) struggled with. Being inundated with so much action can lead to boredom.
I absolutely loved this movie. This movie proves why Fincher is my favorite director.
agreed!
The movie just doesn’t give any information, nothing about his background or his personal life. We don’t see his relationship with this girl or anything. He acts like an robot. I get that it’s a revenge film. It’s a long getting people killed until you get to the big baddie.
@@frodo322 well thats the whole point.
@frodo322 I didn't see it as a revenge film. To me, it was about a guy who thought he was infallible at his job and messed up and now has to deal with the fallout. I don't think he acted like a robot. He's just impassive. Some people are like that, and it helps him with the job he has. I didn't need any of the background information, the character gives you everything you need in his monologs.
Having a Scorsese AND a Fincher movie around the same time is just a magnificent event.
In my opinion, Michael Fassbender would make for a great Bond! Ian Fleming’s own depiction of James Bond even looks like him!
Exactly
Agreed. And to those who say he's too old, do they not realize the original Bond was a mature man? Also, MF is in incredible shape, always, and would 'class' up the Bond character in a way we haven't seen in awhile.
For a long time I thought that, not least because he has that cruel edge to him, but the more I watch him, the less I think he could carry the role. I am going to get slaughtered for this, but I think he is a bit one dimensional. By this I mean, when he is playing funny or kind or soft, it never feels real to me, there is always a sense of coldness and detachment about him. You could argue this is Fleming’s Bond in many ways, but I feel to carry the franchise he would need more.
Don’t laugh, but the more aI watch him, I think Tom Hiddleston could do a good Bond if he figures out the right balance for the role.
@@fusionfan6883 No. Tom Hiddlestrom just isn't masculine enough. We just went through the sensitive Daniel Craig era, and while it started out OK, almost everyone hated him by the end. Im not sure about Fassbenger. He just isn't British enough or something.
agreed ! However, Bond's currently presumed dead and the new 007 is probably a transgender BIPOC lesbian teenage Tik Tok influencer genius or sumthin.
This looks amazing. Thanks Drinker. I’ll be checking this out for sure.
Excellent film - Fassbender always watchable. And Tilda Swinton's first closeup scene where she processes who has just sat down at the table with her is an absolute masterclass in wordless acting. Reminds me of Bob Hoskins in the back of the car at the very end of "Long Good Friday".
I loved every second personally!
Assassins are not crazy action stars blowing things up etc, real assassins are not seen or heard.
It's an extremely lonely and isolating lifestyle filled with paranoia.
The film is about the character of the type of man who does this stuff for a job.
The Killer is the best hitman film we ever got.
I loved it!! Thought it fit Fassbender's natural acting style perfectly.
Slow, methodical, intense, and willing to toss in a few emotional twists here and there.
I really enjoyed this film and am glad you reviewed it, sir!
I liked the old TV character names he used as an alias. Gives you a look into head without having to do a flashback or some nonsense. Gives him an easy depth and you can imagine as a child he was a latchkey kid who had to entertain himself with old TV shows.
@The Critical Drinker it's amazing to me, hearing you talking about the subtlety and what the film is trying to show and tell, yet I know for sure you don't know what you're talking about. Just amazing.
One of the most surprisingly enjoyable films I’ve seen in a long time
It sucked
I thought it was boring and directionless.
@@benjaminhoffman3848 It was like a slow paced John Wick. One dimensional plot. That being said, I actually enjoyed it. One of the suprisingly decent Netflix films.
The fight choreography was perfection. I haven't scene stuff on that level since Extraction and Nobody.
Your observations definitely intrigue me to watch it. I didn't even know this movie was out!
Watched this today based solely on your recommendation, Drinker. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Keep up the great work, my good sir!
Watched it yesterday night and it was a lot better than I had expected. I really enjoy slow and "quiet" action movies honestly.
Agreed. Most of the modern action films like the Wick series become mind numbing for me. It’s almost like watching someone play a video game, with endless NPCs coming out of the woodwork to get easily mowed down. So a smaller slow burn fill like this is much more my style. And FUCK CGI. Enough already.
I'd recommend No Country for Old Men then, if it wasn't likely that you've seen it already.
Nice to see a film like this amid all the 'bang, bang, bang' stuff. I was always drawn to this type of movie due to the focus on planning and organisation and if the character will get away with it. Films like this and the 1973 'Day of the Jackal' are always worth a look.
May i most strongly recommend The Day of the Jackal (not the 90's Bruce Willis 90's remake, but the Edward Fox classic).
A film about a disciplined assassin tasked with dispatching a high profile target, and an ever vigilant calculating detective trying to thwart him.
I stayed with the film because of it’s compelling pacing and style. Fassbender, Parnell and Swinton are a joy to watch and it was apparent (to me) this was a character study of an assassin, so, no surprise as to the type of story I was watching.
But too many “why”s kept me asking questions as I fell out of the narrative:
Why did they spare his gf’s life? Why did she and that other guy (her brother?) in the hospital seem to know of his profession? We were just lectured in a tireless monologue about discipline, sacrifice avoiding emotional complications - seemed he’d have a somewhat secretive life. Heck, why was it that easy to even find him so quickly?
Why are we to believe he’s so successful as a hit man when we watch him make at least 3 mistakes in this film:
Missing his initial target
Miscalculating how long Parnell would live before choking on his blood (conveniently, Parnell’s assistant new the info)
Letting his final, intended mark live after killing everyone before him wether they had any real knowledge of the job - like the cab driver who had no idea he was involved in anything other than a fare.
I stuck with it, constantly reminding myself of the filmmaking pedigree involved and that surely it’ll payoff. But the final scene left me so confused about why he made the choices he made and how this was ultimately a stylish trip to nowhere.
Memory is a bit cloudy as ive watched it a month ago. My opinion on your questions:
We were just lectured in a tireless monologue about discipline, sacrifice avoiding emotional complications - seemed he’d have a somewhat secretive life. Heck, why was it that easy to even find him so quickly?
Part of having a "normal" background life is driven by his tendency to live healthy in general. It also shows a measure of hypocrisy on the character's part as he is not fully the robot he claims to be. The movie starts with him basically saying he is "one of the few", and ends with him saying that he is "one of the many", so we should not trust absolutely everything he says about himself initially. As to why/how he was found, it seems that the movie states that EVERYONE is reachable, including him. If he can find people, people can also find him. The lawyer would have also fed all the info he knew about him to the other assassins.
Why did they spare his gf’s life?
She escaped. On one hand, the Q tip lady did not agree to her murder and might not have went 100% effort on killing her. On the other, The Brute was probably surprised that protagonist's girlfriend wasnt an easy kill, so she managed to escape. Not the strongest plot point i agree.
Why did she and that other guy (her brother?) in the hospital seem to know of his profession?
I think his GF's brother has a general idea that Fassbender is a dangerous person doing shady shit. Its not apparent that he knows exactly the line of work Fassbender is in. His girlfriend might know. I guess protagonist didnt really expect to be found in the first place. His composure drops as soon as he arrives home and sees bootmarks and cig butts in the sand.
Why are we to believe he’s so successful as a hit man when we watch him make at least 3 mistakes in this film:
I think exactly because everything went wrong for him and he still managed to clean the entire chain of people up shows his professionalism. Instead of losing it, he methodically kills all people involved. He makes mistakes because he cannot control his environment as well as stalking somebody: having months to preplan and do target profiling etc. He gets in close quarters combat with the Brute and nearly bites it. He kills the Lawyer by accident. Assassination is the opposite of making a plan "as you go".
Letting his final, intended mark live after killing everyone before him wether they had any real knowledge of the job - like the cab driver who had no idea he was involved in anything other than a fare.
He says right before going to visit The Client that this one is too high profile even for him. Killing him would get a lot of hounds on his ass as this guy is connected with other rich/powerful individuals. Still, its only after he talks to The Client that he decides not to kill him, after he scares him shitless. Much more efficient for him than a high profile blood trail. He kills the cab driver as letting him live would be a useless risk compared to 0 interest his death would have caused to anybody remotely important.
I could NOT agree more! I watched it this past weekend, expecting a Hitman meets The Mechanic kind of story. What I got was a very pleasant surprise! It was like peering through the keyhole of their world, and we got to see a bit of what it's like. I felt very rewarded for my time, like waking up to a.... well. I'll just say it was damn good.
That’s usually what you get when it’s David Fincher - a look at the world through nihilism. Wish he’d done WWZ like he planned. Dudes late into his career - and still wants to do dramas and animated movies and zombie movies 🐐
This movie is quite excellent.
It felt like a movie from a better time.
agree - it had all of the right ingredients - great attention to detail , i found myself sneaking around my house afterwards
@@Tom-wd5bs haha, same. It really gets you in that paranoid mindset
Finally watched it after seeing your review and was not disappointed. This was a breath of fresh air. No reason more movies like this cant be made.
I went into this movie expecting something like Hitman. Which it was in a sense. The protagonist has a lot of parallels to Agent 47 with his attention to detail, patience and creative approaches.
I kind of wish we would have seen some of his more successful contracts before they showed us the one in Paris. Just to underscore how good he was.
I still enjoyed the movie though. It had me hooked from the very start.
Reminds me of the disappointment people had with Jarhead. It was advertised as an action movie along the lines of Blackhawk Down and Saving Private Ryan. A great movie held to the wrong standard and consequently panned by reviewers
I liked that film.
I knew nothing going in, but I loved the opening credits which had that unique Fincher look (very much reminding me of Fight club's opening). Then, within a few minutes, I was hooked. The sounds especially immersed you in the moment. And you couldn't be sure of anything he would or would not do. I'll definitely be watching again. Very impressed
I watched it due to your recommendation, and loved it. It was interesting and very thoughtful. Fasbender was perfectly cast as the “Assassin.” The story was coherent with no extra “hand grenades” that didn’t go off. His deadpan facial expressions as people referred to him as obvious sitcom Pseudonyms is priceless. His rules reiteration were so cogent to each situation, even when he doesn’t follow them. It was great! When will we see your screenplay?
I went into it with no expectations and Loved the movie! No need for constant explosive action scenes with this kind of quality!