It's as much a doomed romance as a shoot-'em-up.
The Killer (1989)
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Reviews Counted:30
Fresh:30
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Synopsis: When Jeffrey, a hit man, accidentally blinds a young nightclub chanteuse, his guilt makes him leave the racket to take care of her. Falling in love with the vulnerable singer, he eventually agrees... When Jeffrey, a hit man, accidentally blinds a young nightclub chanteuse, his guilt makes him leave the racket to take care of her. Falling in love with the vulnerable singer, he eventually agrees to do one last hit to raise the money needed for a cornea transplant that might restore her vision. His assignment is to assassinate mob leader Tony Weng during the crowded Dragon Boat Festival. The hit is successful, despite all the police protection, and he almost gets away. But a child is injured during his escape, and Jeffrey nearly gets caught while taking the time to drive her to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Because his identity was revealed while saving the child, the new crime boss now wants him killed. Refusing to pay him for the successful hit, he puts a contract out on his life instead. [More]
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Chu Kong
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Chu Kong, Kenneth Tsang, Fui-on Shing, Barry Wong, Parkman Wong
Director: John Woo
Reviews for The Killer
A lot of claims have been made for this campy bloodbath concerto by Hong Kong director John Woo, and I must admit that he's even better than Brian De Palma at delivering emotional and visceral excess with staccato relentlessness.
Woo has cited Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese as two of his influences, but he has established a touch all his own.
The director repeatedly places the viewer at the center of the crossfire and turns the gyrating camera into the next best thing to a lethal weapon.
The best marriage of intense, exciting, bloody action with a strong, affecting story I have ever seen.
In the world of John Woo's over-the-top action movies, it seems there's no problem that can't be solved by a hail of bullets. Don't be fooled; The Killer is far more than the sum of its plot elements.
Good John Woo movie. Over the top action scenes, and a heartfelt story about remorse.
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