ASSASSINS (C) this unheralded action picture has an interesting confluence of major names attached to it. It is of course headlined by director Richard Donner of Superman and Lethal Weapon fame, as well as Sylvester Stallone and hot newcomer Antonio Banderas. What took me by surprise is that the film is based on a Wachowski's of Matrix fame story and turned into a screen play by Brian Helgeland who was about to blow up at the writer behind L. A. Confidential and Mystic River. So why is this film not remembered well? It just doesn't work. It wants to be a sophisticated fight between two top notch assassins, but Banderas is the only one who looks like he is enjoying the film. Stallone's playing a burnt out and regretful assassin who just comes off flat and boring. A key female role, played by Julianne Moore, is unbearably incompetent and grating. The action, which is staged somewhat well is stretched out and overall much too talky. I would have loved to see this plot/story in the hands of somewhat like John Woo.
Review of Assassins
