BULLET TO THE HEAD

US, 2012, 92 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi, Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Jon Seda, Holt Mc Callany, Brian Van Holt.
Directed by Walter Hill.

Bullet to the Head begins in a rather ugly fashion, two hitmen and a violent death. Soon after, one of the hitman is stabbed in a bar. The film continues in this vein.

The film is a star vehicle for Sylvester Stallone at a time when he is career was not going anywhere except for the three Expendables films. It is also a film for the director, Walter Hill, a screenwriter for 40 years with a number of very tough films that he directed. This is competent, but the whole film seems more like one straight to DVD.

The setting is New Orleans, Stallone playing Jimmy, a career hitman, with little moral sensibility. Sung Kang portrays a Washington police officer whose corrupt partner has been murdered. His life is saved by Jimmy and they work together to solve the case, uncovering vast corruption in New Orleans, an African businessmen investing in building developments as well as a corrupt lawyer assisting.

There is some respite in a tattoo shop run by Jimmy’s daughter.

A film of some brutality, moral ambiguity, done in this environment style by Stallone and Water Hill.

1. A crime drama with a difference? The central character being hit man? His collaboration with the police officer?

2. American cities, crime groups, the police, hired hitmen?

3. New Orleans, dark city, homes, offices, bars? The musical score?

4. The title? Jimmy, his background, as a child, growing up, his becoming a hitman, for hire? His associate?

5. The first job, the killing, in the bar, the associate and his being stabbed? Keegan watching them? Pursuing James, the attempt on his life?

6. Taylor, police background, competent, Korean origin? His investigations? The local police?

7. The partnership between Jimmy and Taylor? An odd couple? The tension between them? Prejudice, racism, criminals and police? Jimmy and his motivation with the death of his assistant? Taylor and his being a partner of Greeley, Greeley being dirty, the documents, wanting to investigate his death? Jimmy and his assistant being responsible? Taylor being shot by the dirty police, Jimmy saving him? They are sparring, and the repartee?

8. Information, Robert Morrell, his African background, his investments, his leading the criminal group? His disdain – and his comeuppance from Keegan?

9. Baptiste, the corrupt lawyer, helping Morrell, his self-confidence, the social and the party, Jimmy and Taylor present, taking him, the interrogation, his being tortured, giving a lot of information, Jimmy shooting him?

10. Taylor, his moral stance, his still considering Jimmy a criminal despite the help?

11. Taylor wounded, taken to the tattoo shop, his being helped, the girl, the revelation that she was Jimmy’s daughter?

12. The contact with Ronnie Earl, the information about the syndicate? The pursuit?

13. Keegan and his wanting to take over everything, the fight with Jimmy, his death?

14. The abduction of Jimmy’s daughter, the torture, Jimmy and Taylor and their expertise, Jimmy being saved?

15. The aftermath, Jimmy talking to Taylor about justice, crime, about not changing? Taylor’s interest in his daughter? His not reporting Jimmy to the authorities?

16. A routine film, the touch of the ugly, crime and brutality? The ambiguity of moral stances, especially with sympathy the Jimmy?