Hitman: Agent 47 (15)
Directed by: Aleksander Bach
Starring: Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware & Zachary Quinto
Running time: 96 mins
Hitman: Agent 47 centres on an elite assassin who was genetically engineered from conception to be the perfect killing machine, and is known only by the last two digits on the barcode tattooed on the back of his neck. He is the culmination of decades of research and forty-six earlier Agent clones – endowing him with unprecedented strength, speed, stamina and intelligence.
Right from the opening credits, Director Aleksander Bach sets the tone of the film; high action, high tech and high wire stunts! Basically, that is what Hitman: Agent 47 is. Rupert Friend stars as Agent 47, a nameless assassin that was created for the sole purpose of killing without a conscience.
The plot of this movie is something that appears to have been worked out on the back of a postage stamp. The game, upon which this movie is based on, required the main character to act, think and ultimately kill in stealth and secrecy. Sadly, it appears the Director looked at the wrong game as this is more akin to a city shoot em up!
The bullets are flying in all directions, and whilst the main character uses his game’s signature guns, he at times goes on a one man Rambo-esque shooting spree. There is virtually none of the elements that fans of the games will recognise, except for the look of Agent 47 himself.
The script and acting are clunky at best. Rupert Friend has little dialogue and just shoots and drives his way through the film, leaving a body count that would put Total Recall to shame! The heroine, Katia (Hannah Wayne) has a psychic (?) ability that she is able to see things before they happen, yet in one key plot element near the end, they should have remembered that!
It would appear that this is one of those films that may have looked great on paper; take a popular game about an assassin, add some action sequences, guns and a car chase or two, and bingo! We have a hit! Sadly, the execution (pun intended) falls very flat.
It doesn’t work really as an action thriller due to the non-inspiring script, neither is it a faithful adaption of a well-loved computer game due to leaving out some of the key character elements.
Instead it’s more of a mish-mash of a movie that will have you scratching your head and thinking, “Seriously?”. A very disappointing entry – when fans of the genre are asked “Name a good Computer Game to Movie Adaptation?”, this will barely feature on the list!
2 out of 5 Nerds
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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