THE POET
UK, 2003, 89 minutes, Colour.
Dougray Scott, Laura Elena Harring, Jurgen Prochnow, Andy Lee Potts.
Directed by Paul Hills.
The Poet is billed as a romantic thriller, although it focuses on a cold professional hit man. The Poet has been his alias in his native Russia and in his work in Chechnya. However, he does have a devotion to Pushkin and other poets and is attracted by the arts.
When the film focuses on the hits and his escapes, it is quite strong. When he has to kill a witness, he begins to make mistakes. Intrigued by artist whom he shoots, he then visits the art gallery where the photographer's exhibition is being held. He is also attracted to his sister and begins an affair with her. It all has to come to a head with the sister, who has declared she could never kill anybody, having to make a decision of where she stands with the killer as he faces the police.
Dougray Scott is solid, sometimes stolid as the Russian killer. Laura Elena Harring (from Mulholland Drive) is not so effective as the sister. She tends to be portraying her role in posed sultriness, rather than depth of character. Jurgen Prochnow is solid as the police investigator.
On the whole this is routine material - but the sections with the hit man at work show what it might have been.
1. An interesting thriller? Romance? Combination of the two? Original ideas, stereotypes, the blend of the two?
2. The London and Paris settings, the action in Vienna, the use of the city, landscapes, the water? The Alpine countryside? The musical score?
3. The title, the reference to poetry and the arts, Andrei and his devotion to Pushkin? His nickname in the Secret Service? His voice contact explaining, for audience benefit, his past career?
4. The opening, his shooting the man with the money, getting away? His going to Paris, his disguises? The money in the bank, using his computer? The phone contact and his going to further assassinations?
5. The police, the criminal who embezzled the money from the charity, their having to protect him, the means to do this, the car, the cover? Andrei and his pretending to be Canadian, occupying the third floor, his shooting his victim? The irony of Ricky getting off at the wrong floor, wandering around, taking photographs, witnessing the killing, the confrontation, his being shot?
6. Ricky, his bizarre photographs, the memories of the Balkans and people losing their humanity? His photographic designs of death? Paula posing for him? His temperamental side, the set-up of the photos at the gallery, worry about the invitations? His being irritable, Paula pushing him? His getting dressed, being persuaded to go for the interview? Being in the wrong place at the wrong time? The opening of the exhibition, Paula and her speech, the attack on the superficial guests, her leaving? His catalogue, at home, his album - taken by Andrei?
7. Paula, her protection of Ricky, the bookshop, the story of the family? The holiday house in the Alps? Her moving out of the exhibition opening, the rain, getting a lift from Andrei, talking, attracted, his pushing her out of the way and saving her life? His coming back to the shop, trying to return the album? Her gift of the book? Returning the scarf? His coming back, falling in love, the affair, the sensuality, their going to the country? His phone call, driving fast, her bewilderment? Her love for him, the discovery of the truth, waiting for him, her talk about inability to kill anyone, her not killing him? His returning and her reaction to this, loving him but not being able to forgive him, cradling him after he was dead?
8. Andrei, character, the further hit in the club, his not shooting the man dead, having to go back to the hospital? The gradual change in his relationship with Paula, the discussion about killing, his trying to explain himself? The poetry, leaving the note? The pursuit, going to the border as advised, the return, not harming Paula, saying that he loved her, going to his death - without the gun?
9. Max, insubordinate, determined, the interrogations, his story about lying low and finding clues, waiting for the killer to make mistakes? The attention to Paula? His assistant, her hacking into the authority's sites? The authority, sitting at his desk, their clashes, at the hospital? The siege, shooting Andrei dead?
10. A political thriller, a psychological study of a hit man, the possibility of change of heart, love and possible redemption?
