THE HIT LIST
US, 1993, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Fahey, Yancey Butler, James Coburn, Michael Beach.
Directed by William Webb.
The Hit List is a routine thriller, a focus on an ex-CIA man who is grieving the loss of his fiancee, killed in double deals by American authorities. He is at the disposal of a group of lawyers who take on wealthy clients, get them off, then have them executed. The hit man is a man with a conscience, saying that the killing bothers him. However, he readily agrees to become involved, except for the case of an attractive widow, recommended to him by his boss.
This has echoes of the film noir, the woman is not what she seems, and is ready to betray him but falls in love with him instead. The film does not develop motivations. Rather, the characters act according to plot intentions of the writer rather than from deep convictions. This limits the film's social and political message and makes it rather cartoonish.
Jeff Faye has appeared in numerous films like this. James Coburn is enjoying himself as a righteous lawyer who turns out to be an arch-villain.
1. The popularity of this kind of thriller? Social concern? American politics? Executions? Romance? The combination?
2. The title, the reference to Charlie Pyke's work, the reason for people being on the list? The lawyers, getting their rich clients off, then executing them - as shown in the opening sequence with the drug lord being executed?
3. The Los Angeles settings, business, the world of espionage? Affluent society?
4. The character of Charlie Pyke, sufficient explanation given of his background, the flashbacks to the death of his fiancee, the involvement with Bishop, with Mayhew? His finishing his term of work in Colombia? Available as a hit man? The contacts with Mayhew, the telephone calls? The initial execution after being upstairs with the prostitute? Covering his tracks? The police chasing him and seeing the many aliases? Mayhew recommending that he take Jordan's case? The suspicions, the discussions? Finding out more about Bishop, executing him? In love with Jordan, yet his suspicions? The clubs, the attempts on his life, the people following him and Jordan? Putting her in his apartment? The killing of the police, the unravelling of the truth, the confrontation of Jordan, Mayhew, the set-up? Leading the police to the safe and to the evidence? Jordan's confession, their both being shot?
5. Jordan, her genuine grief, her husband, the stories she told Pyke,. The connection with Mayhew, setting him up, hiring the hit men, her scheme of eliminating the killer of her husband? Falling in love with Pyke - credible? Her change of heart, her saying she was telling the truth, but lying? Her finally being shot?
6. Mayhew, wealthy lawyer, the contacts, his friends? The CIA, the Colombian deals? The relationship with Bishop? The meetings with Charlie, patronage, friendship? Setting him up? Charlie wreaking his revenge in getting the police to see the evidence?
7. Bishop, callous, his being overheard, the execution?
8. The police, detection, the warrants, the searches, the confrontations with Pyke, following his leads, solving the case?
9. The popularity of this kind of routine thriller?
