Killshot (film)
Killshot is a 2009 thriller film based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. The film is directed by John Madden and stars Diane Lane and Thomas Jane as a couple who, despite being in a witness protection program, are confronted by the criminal they outed, portrayed by Mickey Rourke.
Plot
Mafia hitman Blackbird (Mickey Rourke) is hired to assasinate a mafia leader (Hal Holbrook), who he calls "Papa". Afterwards, he meets Richie Nix (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) at a bar, where they decide to team up. Meanwhile, Wayne and Carmen Colson (Thomas Jane and Diane Lane) are living the American Dream, with a nice house and good jobs. But this all changes when Carmen's employer is involved in a shakedown by Blackbird and Nix. Wayne interjects, beating the men with a tire iron. They flee, but the Colson's have seen Blackbird, a man that no one is supposed to see. Blackbird and Nix go back to Nix's house, meeting with Nix's girlfriend Donna (Rosario Dawson), while the Colsons are put in Witness Protection services. Throughout the film, they experience Richie Nix's insanity, i.e. Nix firing at the Colson's house with a shotgun and having a shootout with Wayne at a gas station, and the cold, calculated intensity of Blackbird. At the film's end, Carmen is held hostage by Blackbird and Nix, with Wayne away from home and unaware of what has happened with his wife. Blackbird tells Carmen that they'll wait until his husband gets home, where they'll presumably both be shot. Blackbird tells Carmen about his job, that he "kills people for money, sometimes for nothing." Blackbird shoots Richie Nix. Wayne comes home, and realizes that his wife is kidnapped. He's able to surprise Blackbird, but they are locked in a shootout. Eventually, Carmen secures a shotgun and shoots Blackbird, killing him. Wayne and Carmen hug each other outside their house as police arrive.
Cast
* Thomas Jane as Wayne Colson. Viggo Mortensen was originally considered for the role.
* Diane Lane as Carmen Colson
* Mickey Rourke as Armand "The Blackbird" Degas. Robert De Niro was once set to play the role.
* Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Richie Nix. Justin Timberlake and Quentin Tarantino were once tied to the role.
* Rosario Dawson as Donna
* Hal Holbrook as Papa
User Reviews
KILLSHOT is far from being a great movie. I suppose it could be said that it isn't even a movie, but instead a DVD project as it has a rather leaden history. But though there was no theatrical release to garner public interest and little promotional material about its shelf release, it may just find an audience among word of mouth promotion. It has enough elements to keep the interest of even late at night tired viewers - and that says a lot these days. Elmore Leonard's novel has been reconstructed by Hossein Amini and John Madden has done his best to string together the various beads of the plots that comprise this story, and the result is a film peppered by some worthwhile actors who do their best to make the implausible story lines work. Armand 'Blackbird' Degas (Mickey Rourke) is a long time hit-man, an American Indian with a past pasted together by tragedies who accepts an assignment to make a new kill. His plan is disrupted by his accidental and maladaptive association with a bona fide psychopath Richie Nix (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and girlfriend Donna (Rosario Dawson). Nix decides to partner with Blackbird and in the process they encounter a 'couple on the rocks' - Carmen and Wayne Colson (Thomas Jane and Diane Lane) - who happen to witness an incident that puts them in danger of Nix and Blackbird's recipe for not leaving witnesses. The couple is put on Witness Protection Program but that doesn't dent the clever Blackbird from accomplishing his goals. The rest of the story is a cat and mouse chase that has some moments of real terror. And as in most of Leonard's stories, things don't turn out the way they seem to suggest. Things are missing from this film that create holes in the story and stretch credibility. The work by the lead actors is quite good as is that of the momentary cameos by such luminaries as Hal Holbrook and Lois Smith. A great film this is not, but a film that maintains attention/tension it is and worth an evening's entertainment. Grady Harp