Where to watch Assassins
2 Stars
Robert Rath is a seasoned hitman who just wants out of the business with no back talk. But, as things go, it ain’t so easy. A younger, peppier assassin named Bain is having a field day trying to kill said older assassin. Rath teams up with a computer hacker named Electra to defeat the obsessed Bain.
Richard Donner is a well-respected director with numerous hits and accolades, but he seems to be the wrong choice for “Assassins.” The film is based on a screenplay by the Wachowski siblings, who were relatively unknown at the time, with a rewrite by Brian Helgeland. Unfortunately, Donner’s traditional approach to this high-tech, modern action film lacks the verve and energy it desperately needs. One can’t help but wonder what the final product might have looked like if the Wachowskis themselves had directed it. “Assassins” comes off as a strangely low-key affair, burdened by an inexplicable air of melancholy.
The opening action sequence drags on for nearly twenty minutes. Its visual dullness, combined with the flat performances, uninspired score, and lackluster sound design, makes the events on-screen feel ineffective. Stallone and Banderas have two pivotal scenes together, and their chemistry is magnetic, bringing the film to life during these brief interactions. In contrast, Stallone’s pairing with Julianne Moore, who is miscast as a cybercriminal, fails to deliver the same impact. It’s intriguing to consider how the Wachowskis would have approached this material, especially with different stars. The film runs for about 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is 30 minutes longer than necessary for the story being told.of the story on-screen.
Directed by: Richard Donner
Written by: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Brian Helgeland
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore