KILLSHOT

US, 2008, 90 minutes, Colour.
Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Hal Holbrook.
Directed by John Madden.

Killshot is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard. Leonard himself wrote for the screen, especially 3.10 to Yuma. A number of films have been made from his novels including Get Shorty, Be Cool, 52 Pick Up, Tough.

This film has a short running time – and seems to have some plot parts missing (in fact, scenes with Johnny Knoxville have been excised completely after unfavourable preview responses).

The film strains credibility at times, especially in the behaviour of the central characters, a wife and her ex-husband, Diane Lane and Thomas Jane, who witness a botched crime. They are put in witness protection. The criminals are played by Mickey Rourke and Joseph Gordon- Levitt as a young psychopathic killer. Rosario Dawson appears as Gordon- Levitt’s girlfriend and Lois Smith as Diane Lane’s mother.

There is some background of Indian generations with Mickey Rourke playing an Indian character.

The film, with its limitations, is watchable but not a memorable Elmore Leonard film. Direction was, unusually, by Englishman John Madden who had made Shakespeare in Love, Proof, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – although he had directed episodes of Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect.

1. The popularity of Elmore Leonard’s books, tough thrillers? A film adaptation? British director?

2. Canadian locations, Missouri? The seasons? The musical score?

3. The realism, homes and offices, real estate work, building jobs, sites? The Indian towns?

4. The title, assassins, hunting witnesses?

5. The introduction to Armand, his dream, his brother watching the woman, getting shot? Armand as deadly, his killer career? The Indian background, the name Blackbird, his wanting to be an owl? His grandmother’s powers? Her death? The phone call, the commission from the Toronto Mafia? Confronting the boss in his hotel, their discussion, allowing him some dignity in his death, killing the girl in the shower? The gift of the car, using it for protection against the Mafia? Visiting his home, wanting to settle, Lionel not making him welcome?

6. The introduction to Richie, the robberies, dumb and intense? Psychopathic? His relationship with Donna, her support? His ambitions, the phone call, the threats and demands from the real estate agent? Meeting Armand, attempting to rob him, Armand pulling the gun on him, letting him live, because he reminded him of his brother? Their going to the office, the attack on Wayne, the wrong man, the fight, the shoot-up, Armand leaving but coming back for Richie? Carmen seeing Armand? The consequences?

7. Carmen and the real estate, showing people around houses, the office, home? Wayne and his jobs on site, being grounded? The fifteen-years marriage, separation, the death of the child, the divorce? Carmen’s mother? Wayne and his collecting his goods, the tension between them, the fact that he was watching the house? Wayne in the suit, mistaken for the estate agent? The police? Wayne and Carmen becoming targets?

8. Carmen alone in the house, the threats from Armand, Wayne arriving, the shooting, Carmen and the gun?

9. Richie and Armand going to Donna’s house, the tension, the sexual relationship, the bond, the danger for Donna? Her showing the photos of Elvis to Armand? Richie’s reaction?

10. The explanation of the witness protection program, the relocation, Missouri, the jobs, selling houses, the boss watching her, Wayne and his making friends? Going out to the bar, talk, the possibility of staying?

11. Armand and Richie, in the house, phoning Carmen’s mother, the visit, the massage?

12. Faking their deaths and the consequences?

13. Carmen’s return, in the house, Armand and Richie in the house already, Wayne and the phone calls, terrorising Carmen?

14. Wayne, his dilemma, return, speaking to Carmen, seeing the gun, his tactics?

15. Richie and his brutality, in the shop, shooting at Wayne, killing the woman at the counter? His recklessness? Armand liking him like his brother, changing his mind, Richie’s chatter at the table, making Carmen strip, Armand and Donna – and Armand’s suddenly shooting him?

16. The final confrontation, Armand and his tactics, Wayne and the gun, Carmen shooting him?

17. An Elmore Leonard thriller, characters, crime and motivation?