With the release of In Bruges, which focuses on two hitmen on a vacation, I thought I'd compile a list of some of the all-time favorite hitmen we've come to love. (In no particular order):
Vincent from Collateral
Why: A cool, calculating contract killer, played by Tom Cruise (in his best role yet) hijacks a taxi cab, driven by Max (Jamie Foxx). Driving from hit to hit, Vincent takes out each person quickly and efficiently.
Shining Moment: After offing some rich guy, Vincent walks out to find two thugs walking off with his briefcase. He approaches the men, who brandish pistols, but...
Does He Make It Out Alive: Unfortunately, no. After attempting to kill an attorney who Max hit on, Max takes power into his own hands and has a showdown with Vincent on the Subway.
Leon from The Professional
Why: Leon is an immigrant hitman whose perfected the art of killing. When Matilda (Natalie Portman) has her entire family killed, Leon takes her under his arms, and teaches her the ropes about killing, and ultimately, getting revenge on those responsible for her families demise.
Shining Moment: Although the end is epic as he fends off the police, it's the opening that really shows what he's capable of.
Does He Make It Out Alive: No. The dirty cop (Gary Oldman) spots Leon escaping and guns him down. But Leon has a little present for him... Grenades.
Martin Q. Blank from Grosse Point Blank
Why: Coming home for a high school reunion, Martin (John Cusack) plans to take care of a hit while he's at it. Talk about multi-tasking! Add on to that an old flair of his (Minnie Driver) and some top notch comedy, and you've got yourself a movie.
Shining Moment: Being attacked during the reunion by a rival hitman, Martin uses martial arts and a ball point pen to kill the prick.
Does He Make It Out Alive: Indeed, all in a days work, and he gets the girl!
Jules from Pulp Fiction
Why: Samuel L. Jackson plays a hitman who can't get a break. Whether it's being held up at a restaurant, or having his partner accidentally shoot someone in the head, he still has his moments of coolness.
Shining Moment: Jules interrogates a few goons, and dares the man to say "What" again!
Does He Make It Out Alive: After having an epiphany, Jules decides to retire and walk the Earth. His partner isn't so lucky though.
Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men
Why: He doesn't stop. Ever. Almost mechanical in his hunt for Moss (Josh Brolin), Anton, played oh so well by Javier Bardem, is extremely evil. Don't believe me? Flip a coin and call it...
Shining Moment: Infiltrating a hotel room, Anton easily disposes of all three enemies inside.
Does He Make It Out Alive: Busted up in a car accident, he sucks it up and walks away free.
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7 comments:
You guys can't count.
Awesome list! What can't they count?
No Chow Yun-Fat? You gotta be shitting me!
Uh, hello? Jason Bourne puts them all to shame!
Jef Costello. Melville's Le Samourai. Nuff said.
lindsey said ... "Uh, hello? Jason Bourne puts them all to shame!"
even though the bourne movies are good. i dont consider them 'hitman themed' movies at all.
and 2 of the 5 listed in the article i dont count either as there not TRUE hitman films... i.e. Jules from Pulp Fiction and Javier Bardem from no country for old men... cause to me javier bardem's character seems more like a psychopath more than a contract killer... and jules just dont have that typical feel to him that a hitman should have (i.e. Leon/Vincent)
But Leon is BY FAR (with a somewhat close second to Collateral) the best 'hitman themed' movie to date... it wipes the floor with the bourne movies if you ask me and so does collateral.
It doesn't matter that Anton Chigurh "seems" like a psychopath. He was hired to kill somebody, he kills people on contract, so he's a contract killer, or hit man, regardless of being psychopathic.
Jules is also employed to kill people. Marcellus Wallace pays him to kill people, and he kills people. So, regardless of whether or nor he has a "feel" to you, he does everything required of being a hit man.
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