THE KILLER

France, 2024, 126 minutes, colour.

Nathalie Emmanuel, Omar Sy, Sam Worthington, Diana Silvers, Said tTaghmaoui, Eric Cantona, Tcheky Karyo.

Directed by John Woo.

In the 1970s and 1980s, John Woo was one of the key directors of action filmmaking in Hong Kong, with a distinctive style, arresting moments, framing and editing, elaborate action sequences.

The Killer was one of his most acclaimed films, a star vehicle for Chow Yun-Fat. Woo then moved to filmmaking in the United States, most strikingly in Face/Off with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. While he continued to make some films in the United States, he also went back to China, a number of striking historical films.

In his mid-70s, he made this film, a remake of his 1989 film, this time focusing on action in Paris, and the killer being a young woman, Zee with a very troubled background, skilled in assassinations and escapes, disguises, under the control of a Rogue Irishman played by Sam Worthington who works for a crime boss Eric can turn. He is played by British actress, Nathalie Emmanuel, noted for being one of the stars of Francis Ford Coppola’s.Megalopolisa

There are very exciting set pieces in the John Woo manner. There are car chases, confrontations with criminals, quite an episode in a nightclub where a young American singer is wounded, hospitalised, but ordered for elimination. Zee takes compassion on her, pretends to be an American official just as the police come to interrogate. And the policeman is played by Omar Sy with his customary charm. He plays an officer with a chequered career record.

Quite some further complications, orders for assassinations, threats to Zee herself, money deals, a suspicious Arab prince, Zee wanting to protect the singer, threats to her own safety, ultimate confrontations.

While a world of hired assassins is amoral/immoral, the screenplay weaves human themes and conscience issues throughout.

21^st-century audiences will enjoy the film, characters, drama, action –   but many old-timers and critics, probably expectedly, wrote it off as not to be compared with the original.

1. The films of John Woo, in Hong Kong, in the US, in the 20^th century, later films, this remake, 2024?
2. The Paris settings, the views of the city, landmarks, the streets, buildings, car chases, bikes, stunt work and special effects? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Zee, her story, family, exploited, criminal, the revenge on her pimp shooting him, her skills, becoming a hired killer, Finn as her controller, her lonely life, her friendship with the tailor, his making the suit for her, her commission to go to the club, the disguise, suit and hat, searched, Jen singing and her fascination, the confrontation with the criminals, her weapons concealed, the violence of the deaths? Jen hitting her head, going blind? Her escape?
4. The de-consecrated church, the candles and her lighting them for her victims, the images of the crucifix, the way it was filmed, commenting on the action, the Christian symbolism? The empty church, the birds, her going to pray and reflect, the meetings with Finn?
5. The criminal background in Paris, the boss, dealings, ruthless, international connections, his control, known to the police, his moods? His working with Finn? The Prince? The plane, the robbery of the drugs, Finn concealing them?
6. The police, the drug situation, the criminal world, their knowledge, political pressures? The role of the Prince and their shielding him?
7. Sey, his integrity as a police officer, his career, memories of being shot and the revelation that it was Zee who shot him? His partner, the shootouts and chases, his partner wounded, his wife pregnant? The bond between them? The disillusionment of his final betrayal, setting up Sey, snipers, his standing on the spot as target, Zee saving him, shooting the assassin?
8. Sey and his investigations, his relationship with the authorities, his skill with the gun, pursuit, in the car, crashing into the drug dealer, the confrontation, shooting, pursuing him, the confrontation at the water’s edge, his being shot? The further revelations of his drug deals, the stealing of the drugs, the friendship with Jen, listening to her song, her having the information?
9. Sey, the orders to kill Jen, her compassion because of the blindness, the story, pretending to be the American Embassy official, changing her mind about the lethal injection, present at the interview with Sey? His realisation of who she was, her disappearing? Finn and his continued demands that she kill Jen? The hospital, the return, the assassins, corrupt police, on the bike, edging them off, rescuing Jen, the shootout in the hospital? Taking her to a safe place? The discussions about her background, the information, in the church?
10. Finn, with the boss, the boss challenging him, his death? Finn, the other assassins, the women assassins?
11. The buildup to the confrontation with Zee, the abduction of Jen, the bargaining, the information about the drugs? The pursuit, the confrontations, the exploding of the drugs?
12. The fights, choreography, in the church, the female assassin, overcoming her, the rescue of Jen?
13. The finale, the setup, to shoot Sey, the revelation of his friend’s treachery, Zee and her shooting the assassin?
14. Sey and the authorities, his taking a stand, refusing the award, wanting integrity? The meeting with Zee, the possibility of her change and a respectable future?
15. The issue of crime, hired killers, ethics and morality, the lack of morality, but the possibility for human compassion?