(Crappy) Movie Roundup for May 3, 2009
The Final Cut – Robin Williams is a Cutter, a man who takes the best parts of a person’s life, cuts away all the unpleasant ones, and compiles them into a memorial video upon the person’s death. This career path was influenced by a traumatic event in his childhood; one whose reality is called into question when an old friend appears in the memories of a recently deceased client.
The movie introduces some interesting ideas about the pros and cons about having your entire life recorded. Williams does a surprisingly decent job in his role. Unfortunately, rather than simply focus on this character the movie decides to try to balance this with a thriller plot, and does so poorly. You will figure out the ending a good hour before it happens, and all you can do is watch as it skids there. What a waste.
Hitman – Timothy Oliphant tries to play an action hero. Due to various circumstances (script, direction, editing, and his own acting), he fails. Based on the hit (HAR!) video game series, this movie offers up a bunch of uninvolving conspiracies and lifeless action sequences.
The best moment? When the hero crashes through a hotel balcony door to find two kids playing Hitman. The movie does this without any trace of irony or humor. As if a movie that was adapted from a video game needs to nod to it by featuring the video game in the movie!
Not even the lead actress cavorting toplessly (multiple times!) can save this one.