A wild yarn (You Kill Me (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	You Kill Me (DVD)
Date:	15/09/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performances

Disadvantages: None

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room

John Dahl is the best known director of modern noir (or "neo noir") films - his incredibly successful outings such as The Last Seduction and Red Rock West earned him a wealth of critical acclaim and allowed him to graduate to more profitable, if also less heady films such as the crackling thriller Joy Ride. However, in 2007, he made You Kill Me, a more quirky film altogether, about an alcoholic hitman who attempts to piece his life together.

Frank Falenczyk (Ben Kingsley) is a New York hitman that's got a drinking problem (notable as he hilariously drinks Vodka out of a mug neat!). When he botches an assassination, he is sent away to clean himself up in hiding by his uncle Roman Krzeminski (Philip Baker Hall). In this process, he meets Laurel Pearson (Téa Leoni), a bereaved woman with whom he forms a bond. She is the key to him getting better, but of course, it rests on him being able to fess up to his job as a hitman, and her sticking around once he tells her.

This is a clever little film that sadly never found much of a big audience, but it's well written and directed by Dahl as always. The real standout here though is Ben Kingsley in the lead role. He exudes a certain charm that makes him very likeable despite the fact that he kills people for a living. After a slew of dodgy paycheck roles, it's nice to see him in something of substance once again that plays to his strengths. Tea Leoni also shines as his love interest - he's as lovely as ever, and after a few low-profile years, it's also delightful to see her doing something again.

A wildly amusing film that is raised above its quirky premise by the comic performances from Leoni, and in particular, Kingsley. Top notch cult viewing.

Summary: A wonderfully quirky film