Director: Aleksander Bach.
Starring: Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto, Ciarán Hinds, Angelababy.
Was it a Hit? Was it even a Hitman film? If we go by the game, which it’s based on, no. I think fans of the Square Enix series will be disappointed. There’s a few nods to the ‘real life’ agent 47 but I feel the film lacked the Essence of Hitman. Possibly going over the top a little, adding scenes to 'bulk’ up the action and storyline.
Was Rupert Friend the right person for Agent47? Seeing him in Starred Up and The Young Victoria I think he tried too much to play the part. They downplay Hitman as they should but it just isn’t the agent fans are so familiar with. He’s a cold, calculating, efficient assassin with the ability to infiltrate high security strong holds with ease, a master of disguise and a great architect of murder. This Agent47 was none of these.
In parts it started to feel more like a Katia movie than Agent47, Hannah Ware’s part, who I thought was brilliant but she isn’t part of the Hitman universe. There was no 'Princess Leia’ in Hitman. Star Trek’s Zachary Quinto has an interesting part but again, non-Hitman and their relationship reminded me of T-800 and T-1000’s affair.
As agent gamers know, there’s no driving in the gameplay so to put car chases into the film seems, inappropriate and unnecessary. There is lots of gunplay and some outstanding original camera work that impressed me. Disorientating sometimes but actually in a good way. Nice work for a debut director Aleksander Bach, he’ll be one to watch out for.
If comparing this to the first film in 2007, that shared the dark oaken feel of Hitman, Tim Olyphant did a fine job, even mimicking that stride agent47 has and there’s that clever CCTV POV that brought you back to the game. Friend’s 47 is definitely the junior of the two.
I think Hitman would make a good premise for a TV series, as what the games boast that the films doesn’t is the locations. Each episode could be an assassination masterpiece each time in an entirely different location, each bringing a challenge to Agent47 just like the levels do in the games. Golf Club, Opera House, a Vineyard and Mental Health hospital for the rich & famous.
Overall this one wasn’t a hit. It didn’t embellish Hitman well enough, but would non-gamers like it? As a stand alone film it might be better received. Rating: Mass Murder
Running Time: 7
The Cast: 5
Performance: 6
Direction: 7
Story: 6
Script: 6
Creativity: 7
Soundtrack: 5
Job Description: 2
The Extra Bonus Point: 5 for fancy camera work.
56% 6/10
