Movie #228 The Hit *1984*

Terrence Stamp - Willie Parker
Tim Roth - Myron
John Hurt - Braddock
Stephen Frears (Director)

You got to love an existential hitman movie.  I love almost all hitman movies.  It is a sub genre of the gangster movie which is a sub genre of the larger crime genre.  In this movie Stamp plays a former informant of the mob.  He has been living a peaceful life in southern Europe until two thugs show up to take him hostage and transport him back home to meet the mob boss.

These thugs are played by Tim Roth and John Hurt.  Roth plays a man on his rookie assignment out to prove himself worthy of the job.  Hurt is the seasoned and jaded veteran.  He is supposed to be cool as ice.  Once they capture Stamp they are expecting something totally different than what they got.  They expected him to be panicking and pleading for his life.  What they get is a meditative and serene man. They don't know how to take this.  Roth thinks it is a trap.  He thinks that Stamp is up to something and doesn't trust him.  Hurt never really expresses what his take on the matter is, he just wants to get the job done.

Along the way they have to make a few stops in an attempt to elude the cops, which almost don't play a role in the film at all and really makes the kidnappers seem paranoid and unprofessional.  Which in turn makes them vulnerable, which could be something Stamp might be using to his benefit.  One thing that I like about this movie is that it is very difficult to really figure out what everyone's motives are. 

At one of these stops they feel like they have to take another hostage.  This time it is a beautiful woman.  Roth begins to have sympathy for this woman and the predicament they are putting her in.  This creates yet another layer of ambiguity and character development for everyone involved. 

All the while Stamp is going along with things.  He seem un-phased by the events taking place.  he does spout some eastern wisdom about life being a journey and death not being the final step in that journey.  As he does this he seems to be goating the rookie, Roth into second guessing Hurt.  Is this some sort of plan?  Is that why he seems to be not affected by his kidnapping? 

The answers (or as close as you will get to them) come in the final few minutes of the film where some major character traits make a 180.  This movie has an explosive ending for such a slow burn of a film.  I loved it.  This movie is well shot, well acted, well written, and well constructed.  I give The Hit ★★★★.