Film Snail

6.5

Assassins

R·1995·132m

Action

Adventure

Crime

Thriller

Action

Adventure

Crime

Thriller

Summary

Assassin Robert Rath arrives at a funeral to kill a prominent mobster, only to witness a rival hired gun complete the job for him -- with grisly results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian life. But finding his way out of the world of contract killing grows ever more dangerous as Rath falls for his female target and becomes a marked man himself.

Cast

Sylvester Stallone

Robert Rath

Antonio Banderas

Miguel Bain

Julianne Moore

Electra

Anatoli Davydov

Nicolai Tashlinkov

Muse Watson

Ketcham

Steve Kahan

Alan Branch

Kelly Rowan

Jennifer, Electra's Neighbor

Reed Diamond

Bob

Kai Wulff

Remy

Kerry Skalsky

Buyer with Remy

James Douglas Haskins

Buyer with Remy

Stephen Liska

Cop

John Harms

Cop

Edward J. Rosen

Cemetery Caretaker

Christina Orchid

Dowager

Bruce R. Orchid

Cabbie

Sue Carolyn Wise

Obnoxious Woman in Elevator

James Oliver

Customs Officer

Ron Ben Jarrett

Maintenance Man at Marriott Hotel

Marian Collier

Eugene & Danny's Pet Supply Lady

Dave Young

Male Guard

Ragna Sigrun

Female Guard

Mark Woodford

Room Service Waiter

Anibal O. Lleras

Cabbie

Marta Labatut

Cemetery Woman

Choco Orta

Cemetery Woman

Ivonne Piazza

Bank Teller

Ángel Vázquez

Bank Official

Axel Anderson

Bank President

David Dollase

Bodyguard

Jim Graham

Bodyguard

Wally Dalton

Priest

Paul Tuerpe

Reporter #1

John Procaccino

Reporter #2

Nerissa E. Williams

Reporter #3

Juan Manuel Lebrón

Puerto Rican Cafe Waiter

Eddie Bellaflores

Fruit Vendor

Thomas Helgeland

Soloist

James W. Gavin

Police Helicopter Pilot

Scott Stuber

Parking Attendant at Marriott Hotel

Richard Blum

Watcher

Michael DeCourcey

Cabbie

Whitey Shapiro

Cop

Stefan Enriquez

Cop

Fulvio Cecere

Cop

Shirley Oliver

Cop

Eric Sather

Cab Customer

Wally Gudgell

Upset Passenger

J. Mills Goodloe

Newlywed Man

Peter Sebastian Lackaff

Singer

John Lamar

Money Hungry Man

Ernie Hall

Cop

Calli Medved

Cop

Robert Sanders

Monorail Driver

Rhonda J. Osborne

Police Dispatcher

Christina Herrera

Pro Choice Woman

Cary Sanchez

Bank Receptionist

Frank R. Jimenez Jr.

Towel Boy

Jeff King

Helicopter Pilot

David "Shark" Fralick

Buyer with Remy

Bob Minor

Cop

Crew

Director

Richard Donner

Screenplay

Brian Helgeland

Screenplay, Story

Lilly Wachowski

Screenplay, Story

Lana Wachowski

Reviews

John Chard

August 19, 2017

Check Mate?

Sly Stallone stars as an ageing assassin who gets embroiled in a cat and mouse game with a younger assassin who wants to be number one of the trade. Teaming up with a computer hacker, Stallone battles not only his pursuer but also an event from his past that troubles him so.

With Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore in starry support, Richard Donner in the director's chair and the Wachowski brothers on writing duties, Assassins held the promise of a top line actioner. Sadly that promise is not met.

There's clear signs of the makers trying to make something more deep and cerebral, what ultimately transpires is a overly complicated - and way over long - picture. Punctured with great action scenes, none more so than an outrageous taxi ride that John Woo would be proud of, it's in the middle section where pic drags itself into needless slumber. By this mid-point, one has had enough of Banderas, who comes off more like a deranged excitable kid than someone to be feared. Donner really falters there, but conversely he gets an interestingly engaging tune out of Stallone. Moore is very good, and gets some good dialogue to spout, which is a rarity, though, since much of the chatter is mumbled or said in such agitated or broody manner that the sound mix strains for aural clarification.

It's not a stinker, and in its own way it's a diverting time waster, but too many holes and too many poor production desicions leave it knocking at the averageville door. 5/10