Rated: R
Running Time: 1:59
Tabitha's Rating: ***/5
Synopsis: A hit man must save his son from his partners when he learns too much.
The hardest reviews to write are always the three stars. Three stars means average. Nothing special, and nothing terrible. I'll do my best though.
Obviously the biggest draw to this movie is Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks as a bad guy no less. Also, Sam Mendes, who's first movie was American Beauty, directs this as his second endeavor in films. Of course it is difficult to top American Beauty (as it is difficult for M. Night Shymalan to top the Sixth Sense), but surely he could have chosen a better film than this.
:Maybe I was disappointed because I was expecting Tom Hanks to play the bad guy. Although his character is a hit man, and knocks off a few people here and there, he is still the protaganist of the movie. There isn't even much of a love-hate relationship between his character and the audience. It's Tom Hanks, he can kill as many shady characters as he wants, and we still love him. And even more so since his love for his son shows through his tough demeanor.
Do not be misled by the previews, this is not a gangster movie. It is a movie about the relationship between a father and a son when they are forced to form a relationship. It's not even a very compelling father and son story, and believe me, I am a stickler for father-children stories. Through that in there, and I am bawling. Unfortunately, I was pretty much yawning this time. The story just wasn't that interesting. yeah yeah, Tom Hanks performance was great. But even Tom Hanks can't do miracles for such a boring storyline. Or maybe I was just tired, after all, I did see it at midnight. Then again, I have seen plenty of other movies at that time. If they are boring, i fall asleep, and if they are great movies, I will be on the edge of my seat. True to a three star movie, i didnt fall asleep but I wasnt intrigued either.
The movie's finale was so predictable as well. You were just waiting for it to happen. Come on, Come on, I know its gonna happen...yep, there it is! And the last line of the movie, jesus, who came up with that?? "Some people say my father was a good man. Some say he had no good in him at all. I just say, he was my father". Or something to that affect. I was listening to the first part of that line, wanting to hear what the kid had to say about it. But all he said was, he was my father. Duh. What do you THINK about him though. Just because he is your father, is not a good reason to love him or respect him or be proud to say, he was my father. Bottomline: See it at home when it comes to DVD.
