Clicky

HEADSHOT – SLIFF Review – We Are Movie Geeks

General News

HEADSHOT – SLIFF Review

By  | 
Review by Dane Marti
Hang out with the film HEADSHOT You won’t regret it, especially if you like thrillers, Film Noir or films with a unique story structure like Memento. Personally, I liked this film without the entire unique plot twists. This is odd because I ordinarily love a movie’s twists and turns, but I liked this film fine without all the neo-Noir mutations. As usual, the main character, as well as the audience, should be very wary of attractive women! Ha!

As a simple examination of a hitman, the film would be more streamlined, with more time for character analysis if it dispensed with the unusual plot format. Still…I did enjoy the film. I kept watching!

It’s the story of a cop-turned-hit man with an unusual way of seeing the world. He becomes a hit man for a shadowy organization that eliminates people it deems to be ‘above the law.’

Shot in the head, our protagonist recovers. Unfortunately, he sees the world upside-down. Throughout, in reality and in fantasy, he either IS or dreams of being a Buddhist. After all the murders and violence, you can almost feel the main character dreaming, psychically longing to enter a peaceful and meditative world. Existential doubt floats through his consciousness. He isn’t sure whom to believe. Paranoia rains down on our confused, but deadly killer.

 However, I will admit that the film is intriguing. You find yourself thinking about prisons and criminals, good and bad. The film is intellectual enough to make one question how one looks at the world.  I couldn’t stop watching—there’s no doubt, it is compelling. Directed with steeling clinical, yet atmospheric precision by Penek Ratanaruang The flick has been selected as a nominee in the upcoming Academy Awards show in early 2013.

 The film is Hitchcockian without being derivative of the Master. Cool Film. I give it neon A.

HEADSHOT plays at the St. Louis International Film Festival on Wednesday, Nov 14th at 9:15pm at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema and Thursday, Nov 15th at 8:30pm at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema

Related Items