The Last Hit Man

It obvious that director Christopher Warre Smets loves movies. It's also clear that he has seen a lot of them. Something that recalls Tarantino.

While watching the theatrical premiere during the Canadian Film Festival just last week, there were many moments where I could see the influence of films from another era. The opening sequence is beautiful and beyond it being the only part in black and white, the film does a great job of having a retro film noir aesthetic while combining it with modern pacing and humor.

I don't know what to compare it to as it's not an action film or thriller. The first film that comes to mind is The Professional, as I see parallels in it's treatment of love, family and relationships amidst killing for hire.

Totally recommend it.

I am not going to be a pretend person and quote other actors/movies etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. In part, it was somewhat predictable, but the way it played out, made in my opinion, excellent viewing. Obvious from the start that dad and his daughter are involved in an unusual income earning lifestyle. Equally obvious that dad is trying to shelter daughter to an extent. Dad involved in something he wants to keep from daughter. Enter third main character. This one kept me guessing for quite a while - then when I finally decided to trust him - he let me down. Then it got really got interesting! Except for the tears I had to shed at the end. Like I said, bloody good movie! This one I am keeping!!!!

While I normally don't watch this type of movie, it wasn't that bad for a bad guy movie. This isn't a really deep movie, but it's not a typical hollywood shoot em up. I thought the main characters were well acted. The pacing was a little slow, given one of the main themes it's somewhat understandable. The dialogue could have used a little brushing up, not a big fan of cussing in movies. A little more back ground on the mains would have been nice, to better understand why he went into the business. This isn't a highly polished hollywood style movie, but it kind of draws you in and remains interesting enough to continue watching.

I was skeptical, when I saw this on Amazon Prime. Glad I took the bait and watched it.

To those of us pro-2A pro-firearm folks, Joe Mantegna is one conservative actor who knows his guns, and how to shoot. So its always interesting to see him in films.

Long story short, if you like a decent firearm flick, you'll enjoy this one. The jist is a father/daughter hit-team dealing with an (unfortunate) everyday family dilemma all families seem to have to deal with -- terminal cancer.

So the story revolves around how a family whose obscure business deals with the reality of a terminal disease.

That's not all of it, just enough to wet your whistle. Bottom line, its worth the 90 minutes out of your life to watch, if you are an action/gun movie guy like I am.

V/r, ColonialOak

Director-writer Smets injects life into a tired genre with this top-notch throw-back which combines black comedy and genuine pathos with ease and skill. Smets was certainly influenced by crime dramas of the 70's (most notably, The Mechanic). His subdued style and pacing is a welcome change from the usual shock and awe of Hollywood. His characters speak from the heart and head and could be your father, sister, or next door neighbour. The film never takes itself too seriously until it matters, nor does it get bogged down with pop-culture references and post-modern irony. I look forward to more films by this talented director.