The Contract (2006)

Ray Keene (John Cusack), a father who wants to redeem himself in the eyes of his son (Jamie Anderson), is trying to bring Carden (Morgan Freeman), a world-class assassin to justice. All the... See full summary »

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Stephen Katz, John Darrouzet

Stars:

John Cusack, Morgan Freeman, Jamie Anderson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Morgan Freeman	...	Major Frank Carden
John Cusack	...	Ray Keene
Jamie Anderson	...	Chris Keene
Alice Krige	...	Agent Gwen Miles
Megan Dodds	...	Sandra
Corey Johnson	...	Davis
Jonathan Hyde	...	Turner
Bill Smitrovich	...	Police Chief Ed Wainwright
Anthony Warren	...	Royko
Thomas Lockyer	...	Johnson
Ned Bellamy	...	Evans
Gary Whelan	...	Agent Stanfield
Ian Shaw	...	Michaels
Atanas Srebrev	...	Rodrigues
Maynard Eziashi	...	Agent Chuck Robbins

Storyline

Ray Keene (John Cusack), a father who wants to redeem himself in the eyes of his son (Jamie Anderson), is trying to bring Carden (Morgan Freeman), a world-class assassin to justice. All the while, he must protect his son and evade the assassin's team who are methodically hunting them down in the wilderness.

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Plot Keywords:

river | basketball | baseball | bo 105 bolkow helicopter | box of doughnuts | 

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Taglines:

The only thing standing between an assassin and his target is a father who must protect his son.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [France]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2007 (Germany)

Also Known As:

El contrato

Filming Locations:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Revelations Entertainment, Emmett/Furla Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bruce Beresford writes extensively about this film in his recent memoir, "Josh Hartnett Definitely Wants To Do This". The production was apparently deeply troubled and Beresford was well aware that the script didn't make sense. The producers closed the shoot down after fifty days and Beresford was forced to use his own money to complete the film.

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Goofs

At around 38 minutes into the movie, when Johnson gives their coordinates via radio to Davis, he says "40.083 North, 25.55 West". That's in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, between Europe and North America. Washington state, where the movie is supposed to take place, lies approximately between Western longitudes 117 and 124 and Northern latitudes 46 and 49.

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Quotes

Frank: I'll be coming for you. Depend on it.

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Connections

References Gunga Din (1939)

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Soundtracks

You Thought
Written by Frank Sorci and Jessica Tomich
Performed by Red Letter
Published by Sorci Music Publishing (BMI) / Three Degrees Music (BMI)
Courtesy of North Star Media

User Reviews

What a disappointment

This film was a real let-down for Cusack and Freeman fans alike.

A movie doesn't have to have a large cast, doesn't need to include special effects, it can be good even if it runs for only 83 minutes and is set mostly in the woods- but in this case it just didn't work.

There are so many movies that come to mind while watching this one, déjà-vu all the time.

The plot is also very predictable and nothing much happens.

The only good thing is the scenery but the talents of the two stars are waisted here.

They did succeed in putting some Starbucks and Sony product placements in there though, even if the setting almost didn't allow for it.