Killshot (2008)

Beautiful Carmen Colson and her ironworker husband Wayne are placed in the Federal Witness Protection program after witnessing an "incident". Thinking they are at last safe, they are targeted by an experienced hit man and a psychopathic young upstart killer. The ensuing struggle will test Carmen to the limit.

Director:

John Madden

Writers:

Hossein Amini (screenplay), Elmore Leonard (novel)

Stars:

Thomas Jane, Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Jane	...	Wayne Colson
Diane Lane	...	Carmen Colson
Mickey Rourke	...	Armand 'Blackbird' Degas
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Richie Nix
Rosario Dawson	...	Donna
Alexis Butler	...	Girl in Hotel Room
Hal Holbrook	...	Papa
Brandon McGibbon	...	Blackbird's Kid Brother
Robert Gow	...	Prospective Buyer
Catherine Hayos	...	Prospective Buyer
Peter Kelly Gaudreault	...	Blackbird's Brother
Craig Blair	...	Construction Site Foreman
Michelle Arvizu	...	Nurse
Lynne Deragon	...	Mrs. Palino
Richard Zeppieri	...	Son-in-Law / Mafia Boss

Storyline

Beautiful Carmen Colson and her ironworker husband Wayne are placed in the Federal Witness Protection program after witnessing an extortion scheme go wrong. Thinking they are at last safe, they are targeted by an experienced intimidating hit man and a psychopathic young upstart killer. The ensuing struggle will test Carmen to the limit.

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Plot Keywords:

witness protection program | cigarette smoking | estranged couple | pistol | shower | 

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Taglines:

Yesterday she was a witness. Today she's a target.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 2008 (Israel)

Also Known As:

D'un coup, d'un seul

Filming Locations:

Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,741 (USA) (23 January 2009)

Gross:

$17,007 (USA) (30 January 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, FilmColony, Lawrence Bender Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script had uncredited rewrites by late producer/directors Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella. The film was also dedicated to their memory in the end credits.

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Goofs

When Wayne is working on the barge he is not wearing a Type II flotation vest as required by US Coast Guard while in motion and working.

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Quotes

[towards end of film]
Wayne Colson: Look, honey, just hear me out. I drove 400 miles. And 15 years to think about this. And a lot about what you've said lately. You're right, five's not a good number. It's terrible. So let's try six. And if we can make it to six, then we can try for seven.

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Soundtracks

"It Hurts Me"
Words and Music by Joy Byers and Charlie Daniels (as Charles Daniels)
Performed by Elvis Presley
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment

User Reviews

Edge of the seat stuff!

Lots of actors seemingly heading for the scrap heap have made memorable comebacks. Burt Reynold in "Boogie Nights" , John Travolta in " Pulp Fiction" and Sylvester Stallone in " Copland" are the three obvious examples. The most recent High profile comeback has been Mickey Rourke in the magnificent film " The Wrestler" but was it just a flash in the pan?

When real estate agent Carmen Colson catches a glimpse of a hit-man named the Blackbird 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 , 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 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

Killshot is one of those low budget films that got a very limited release at the start of the year. In fact according to imdbPro.com in the first two weeks of release in the US it grossed just $17,000. When i read details like this it always rings alarm bells. I needn't have worried because Killshot is a really entertaining , well acted thriller of which i thoroughly enjoyed. I found Mickey Rourke's performance an intense one and he has proved to me that he is back with a bang for good! There is also some great acting from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the gorgeous Diane Lane.

If your into violent gang related movies you wont be disappointed with Killshot. It delivers on all fronts. The story is believable as are the characters and the final twenty minutes produces real "edge of the seat" excitement. My only criticism is that it does have the feel of a Cable or straight to DVD movie but i cant quite put my finger on why. It shouldn't be a surprise that a film directed by John Madden is as entertaining considering he has brought us "Prime Suspect" , "Inspector Morse" and "Shakespeare in Love" in the past.

Killshot is released on DVD in the U.S on May the 26th and has no date yet for a cinema or DVD release here in the UK.

7 out of 10