Click to read the article
Hitman (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:92
Fresh:14
Rotten:78
Average Rating:3.7/10
Consensus: Hitman features the unfortunate combination of excessive violence, incoherent plot, and inane dialogue.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $39,617,876
Synopsis: Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the frame-up and retribution-packed odyssey of Number 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed... Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the frame-up and retribution-packed odyssey of Number 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed with a barcode on the back of his head. There's lots of BOURNE SUPREMACY-style flash-edits and superhuman stunt work as 47 seeks to find out why moderate Russian presidential nominee Belicoff (Ulrich Thomsen) was the client for his own assassination, a hit that 47 pulled off perfectly, except for one hitch: the target's still alive. For romantic interest we have Olga Kurylenko as a foxy Russian prostitute sold into slavery by the evil Belicoff. She and 47 wind up on the lam together but they'll never be safe as long as Belicoff is still alive. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) has been tracking 47 for years; he's on the scent and about to close in. Luc Besson was the producer on this, and fans of his TRANSPORTER, THE PROFESSIONAL and LA FEMME NIKITA films will eat it up, as it's got the same narrative arc, same hyper-kinetic shoot-em-up flavor, vividly saturated colors, swooping camerawork, tightly choreographed fights, and lots of blood flying from the copious bullet wounds. Vin Diesel executive produced, and one wonders what stopped his big bald head from filling the screen in the lead, but no matter, as Olyphant does a thorough job, speaking in a measured drawl that recalls, of all people, Clint Eastwood in his DIRTY HARRY days. [More]
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Henry Ian Cusick, Michael Offei
Director: Xavier Gens
Director: Xavier Gens
Screenwriter: Skip Woods
Producer: Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh
Composer: Geoff Zanelli
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Hitman
Fans of the video game on which this film is based may get a kick out of the cinematic treatment, but even these low level kicks will be tempered by the film's failure to articulate its main plot points or to create characters we care about.
It's based on a computer game, Hitman (see what they did with that title?), though even when it reaches maximum velocity, it's still panting behind The Bourne Ultimatum for style and excitement.
Obviously made to appeal to the computer game’s fans, it still begs the question: How does a film with this level of violence get a certificate of 15?
This is a script written with the sensibility of a geeky 12-year-old boy and then dumbed-down some. More than some.
Hitman is by no means great filmmaking but as video game adaptations go, it proves mindlessly entertaining and at least it's not irritatingly stupid.
Hitman may represent some progress in the video game adaptation genre, but it's not enough to recommend.
Hitman overstays its welcome from the moment the ammunition starts flying, and never finds a satisfying way of winning us back.
Hitman is the oddest of action movies %u2014 a film all but devoid of action. Not satisfied with simply being another mindless video game adaptation, the film also forgets to be entertaining.
An overcooked time killer that finds bad acting, bad direction, bad cinematography, and bad screenwriting in a furious race to dominate the running time. I'd call it a four-way tie.
At one point, the female lead says to our hero that she's "never felt so much indifference in her life." I knew exactly how she felt.
The film's target audience - dummies everywhere - will be blown away.
Sluggish, humorless and pointlessly graphic, it will appeal to only the most desperate genre junkie.
Latest News for Hitman
October 28, 2009:
Xavier Gens Will Cope with Fallout ![]()
"Hitman" director Xavier Gens is set to direct "Fallout," a post-apocalyptic thriller that's being touted as a film "that combines elements of 'Assault on Precinct 13' with... More...
June 24, 2009:
Fox Hires Kyle Ward for Hitman Sequel ![]()
Fox is gearing up for a "Hitman" sequel -- and according to IESB's sources, the studio has hired Kyle Ward to write the script. More...
March 24, 2008:
Fifth Rambo on the Fast Track?
Who's ready for more Rambo? More...
March 10, 2008:
RT on DVD: Call It, Friend-O -- No Country For Old Men Hits DVD
The critically-acclaimed, Oscar-winning No Country For Old Men comes to DVD this week, accompanied by a litany of fellow Fresh films (Lake of Fire, Summer Palace, Dan in Real... More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 84% 84% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
| 89% 89% | Zombieland | 03/12 |
| 76% 76% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
| | The Strength of Water | 03/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

