“You blew it! I am still alive!” —Miguel Bain
Today’s quick review: Assassins. World-class assassin Robert Rath (Sylvester Stallone) meets his match when Miguel Bain (Antonio Banderas), a rival assassin, steals his kill and gets away. Suspecting that he has been set up, Robert regroups for round two: a $2 million contract on Electra (Julianne Moore), a thief in possession of a valuable data disc. But at the last moment, Robert decides to spare her life, prompting a hasty change of plans.
Assassins is an action movie about a pair of contract killers fighting for the same job. Sylvester Stallone stars as Robert Rath, a calm, careful assassin lauded as the best in the business. Antonio Banderas plays opposite him as Miguel Bain, a dangerous upstart determined to take his crown. Their cat-and-mouse game forms the basis for a satisfying action flick, with distinctive leads, unpredictable action, and a few nice touches.
Assassins’ chief draw is its cast. Stallone and Banderas give the film some star power, while Julianne Moore rounds out the lead trio as Electra, a resourceful thief who ends up in the crosshairs as a result of her latest score. In spite of very different personalities, the two killers are evenly matched, turning the plot into a contest of wits. Their running battle leads to some solid action, including sprawling chases and chaotic shootouts.
Still, Assassins isn’t quite clever enough to stand out from the crowd. The plot focuses too heavily on Robert and Miguel without building up a world for them to interact with. Stallone and Banderas each have some decent moments, but they’re missing the iconic lines and chemistry needed to make their characters memorable. Likewise, the action brushes on some clever ideas without crossing over into anything groundbreaking.
The end result is a serviceable action flick with just enough in the way of plot, character, and spectacle to please fans of the genre. Assassins does leave some of its potential on the table, missing just a few tweaks that could have made the pieces fit together more cleanly. But as a 90s-style popcorn watch, Assassins is still an enjoyable pick, and those who are interested in the premise should give it a shot.
For another action movie with a similar setup, try Assassination Games, The Replacement Killers, The Mechanic, or Bangkok Dangerous. For a more heartfelt crime drama about an assassin with a conscience, try The Professional.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid fundamentals without the polish to make full use of its resources.