An assassin tracks those who killed her mentor. While the script gets bogged down in backstory and complications, there’s a sense of unfussy confidence in the direction, action choreography, editing, and stuntwork that makes this a worthwhile watch. A decent – if to-type – cast helps. Some corners cut in production design don’t help.
Here’s the trailer.
A Tokyo-based assassin has 24 hours to get revenge on the yakuza chief who fatally poisoned her. The 1940s noir D.O.A., basically, as a stylised action movie. Okay as far as it goes, though the rote script and a fetishized approach to Japanese pop culture detracts from Mary Elizabeth Winstead badassery and intermittently-terrific action choreography.
Here’s the trailer.
An assassin able to take over others’ bodies to complete her mission struggles with reality and control. Cold but impressive arthouse thriller with SF/horror elements, updating themes familiar from Cronenberg senior’s work. Great performances, though not a movie for a relaxing Friday night.
Here’s the trailer.
A lost young woman is trained as an assassin to avenge her parents’ terrorism-related deaths. Solid thriller mashing up La Femme Nikita with a comicbook origin story. Lively is a great lead and good technical credits help (there’s a fine one-shot car chase), though the script is rote, and there’s clumsy use of pop song scoring.
A professional assassin mentors a young man while seeking revenge for a betrayal. Okay remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson original, with plenty of generally well-orchestrated action to hurry the plot along. A sequel, 2016’s Mechanic: Resurrection, followed.
A forensic accountant with social skills issues is also an assassin, specialising in killing international criminals. Oddball action drama with a weird premise and a lead character with the kind of autism found only in movies. Not terrible, but feels like three different spec scripts combined into one.
A veteran CIA agent wants out; he goes on the run, his protege is contracted to kill him. Glum international thriller that wants to be Le Carre. Some good moments and much quality in the cast, but this is standard downbeat spy stuff.
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