Themes: Witnessing a Crime, Witness Protection, Hired Killers
Main Cast: Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Thomas Jane, Rosario Dawson
Release Year: 2009
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Prime Suspect 4 and Inspector Morse director John Madden comes back to the world of crime after a brief foray into romance with Shakespeare in Love and Captain Corelli's Mandolin with this adaptation of pulp icon Elmore Leonard's novel concerning a real estate agent and her husband (Thomas Jane) who become the targets of two relentless mafia hitmen. When real estate agent Carmen Colson (Diane Lane) catches a glimpse of a hitman named the Blackbird (Mickey Rourke) as he carries out a job, a subsequent request for her to testify against the aging gun for hire soon lands both Carmen and her husband, Wayne (Thomas Jane), in the Witness Protection Program. Blackbird isn't a man who likes to leave loose ends when it comes to his work, though, and now as the seasoned assassin and his psychotic partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) attempt to catch the couple in their crosshairs, Carmen and Wayne are going to need much more than a few federal agents to make it out of increasingly deadly situation alive. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Mafia hitman Blackbird (Mickey Rourke) is ruthless,and aging has upset his mob employers. He is also haunted by the death of his younger brother during a job. Because of this, he takes up with the stupid, impulsive and psychopathic young robber Richie Nix (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). During an ill-conceived shakedown at a realtor's office, Blackbird feels that his identity has been compromised. Blackbird and Richie hunt down estranged couple Carmen (Diane Lane) and Wayne (Thomas Jane), even though they are enrolled in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
By July 2006 Killshot was being screened to test audiences who had previously enjoyed Traffic and Collateral.[9]Test screenings showed that audiences found the plot too confusing and that the story was not tightened enough. As a result, scenes involving Cape Girardeau and a subplot involving Johnny Knoxville's role as a deputy were edited from the film.[10] This extended post-production process and test-screening by the Weinsteins is held by some to have damaged the film[11]. Their choice of both a director and screenwriter with no previous action movie experience, has also been commented on several times.[12]
Release
Killshot was originally slated to be released on March 17, 2006.[13] It then was delayed to October 20, 2006.[14] It was reported on July 19, 2008 that Killshot will be going straight to DVD.[15] In early September 2008, the film was resurrected for November 7, 2008 but then pushed back to January 23, 2009.[16] The film was released on DVD on May 26, 2009.
