...even the most forgiving action fan will walk away disappointed by this mess.
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
For what it is --- a fast-paced, violent thriller, based on a video game, of all things --- it's actually entertaining.
For some reason unknown to man or film criticism, Jeanne found this highly entertaining.
...the very premise -- "elusive" killers walking around with shaved heads and barcode tattoos -- is idiotic on its face.
As far as it being a video game, I was in the theater and I was trying to work the remote control to close the curtains and turn the sound down.
Hitman's performances outclass the film's video-game origins. These are credible characters, not video drones.
The film's target audience - dummies everywhere - will be blown away.
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.
Rubbish, of course, but some teenage boys love this stuff. Don't rule out sequels.
This film is like watching the actual game played by someone with slow reactions. That's not much of a spectator sport.
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?
Xavier Gens should have stuck to making music videos rather than inflict his goldfish-like attention-span on cinema.
It might just be one of the best videogame adaptations ever made, which isn’t saying much. It could also be the film of the week which, come to think of it, isn’t saying much either.
Yet another depressing confirmation of the inability of filmmakers to turn decent videogames into decent films.
A soulless, slackly directed, suspense-free exercise in misanthropy packed with unconvincing stereotypes
Hitman continues the grand Hollywood tradition of completely failing to turn a computer game into a decent movie.
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...
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