HIT LIST

US, 1989, 87 minutes, Colour.
Jan- Michael Vincent, Leo Rossi, Rip Torn, Lance Henricksen.
Directed by William Lustig.

Hit List is a familiar thriller, Mafia background, overtones of death wish and vengeance. It is tough, has some brutal assassination scenes, has a rather unbelievable if spectacular car chase. Jan Michael Vincent (looking rather the worse for wear) is the hero whose friend, is murdered, wife attacked, son kidnapped - by mistake. Rip Torn is the arrogant Mafia leader, Leo Rossi quite effective as the Mafia henchman who is asked to testify against his boss. Charles Napier is the FBI man, terminally ill, but fighting for years to bring Torn to justice. While the film is familiar material, its brief running time and action pace commend it to video viewers (for whom it was probably made).

1. Entertaining action thriller? The Mafia? The law? Mistaken identities and assassinations and kidnapping?

2. California settings, the city and the suburbs, Justice departments and courts? Hideouts? Special effects, stunt work? Musical score?

3. The title, the Mafia bosses intimidating and eliminating witnesses? The brutal assassin? vengeance and justice being seen to he done?

4. Vic Lucca and his reputation, business connections, televisions and food, VCRs etc? Tough, denying that there is a Mafia? Interviewed by the media? His ruthlessness, lawyers, hit man? The capture of his lieutenants and his orders for their
killing? His rage? His control over the law, getting information? The confrontation with Frank? in the court, Frank's evidence? The judge and her outburst (bought or not?)? And the case being thrown out of court? The talking to the media and his confronting Mitcham, Mitcham shooting him?

5. Frank de Salvo, at the opening funeral, the priest, the drugs hidden in the coffin? Arrest? Under FBI protection? Love for his son? Boasting about his work? His care for his son? The honour of the family, not wanting the killing, being taken by Collins, collaborating with him, identifying the assassin? His father's murder, the confrontation with the killers and their deaths? In court, roundabout testimony? Willingness to testify? In the police car, confronting the assassin, his death? The friendship with Collins? His son? A new future?

6. Jack Collins, military background friendship with Brian, family man, love for his son? Out, coming back and finding the disaster? His anger, the law, escaping, taking de Salvo, getting the information, confronting the killers, the assassin, the car chase, the assassins death? Re-united with his wife, his son? Brian as his friend, victim? The family sequences, giving pathos to the vengeance quest?

7. Mitcham and the FBI, his assistant, in court, arresting the two at the graveside? In court, taunted by Lucca? Surveillance over de Salvo, the mistaken kidnapping? In court, not getting the evidence? His health, smoking - and his decision to kill Lucca? Poetic justice?

8. The assassin, trying on shoes, a gentleman? His ruthlessness, murders in the prison, the assassination of the witness? His return to the shoes? His murdering Brian, attacking Collin's wife, kidnapping the sone and the mistaken address? Holding the son, information to Lucca? Collaboration with him, the meal, not wanting the money? Exercising brutal power? The confrontation with Collins, the car chase, his seemingly being unable to be killed? The final brutal death? Poetic justice?

9. The law, lawyers, goading the judge, Lucca trying to buy justice?

10. Familiar Mafia material, the death wish theme with the innocent being attacked an wanting vengeance? Topical thriller of the 80s?