The Killer

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Kerry O'Malley, Gabriel Polanco, Sala Baker
Directed by: David Fincher
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2023

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An assassin (Michael Fassbender) botches an assignment, which throws his orderly life into disarray.

Review:

Tim: David Fincher is one of my favorite directors, and while The Killer is really good, I have to admit, he's hit a bit of dip in his career. It's hilarious to say that, but Mank and this film (although both very good) aren't quite as powerful as his earlier films. Most directors would be completely content delivering films of this quality for their entire career, so no need to sound the alarms. However, I do believe that while this is an engaging, effective movie that I thoroughly enjoyed, Fincher can do better.

I probably liked this movie more than most because it felt like an experiment from Fincher. It's almost like he was determined to tell a slow boiling assassin story that spends more time on the mundane than the action. That's what he accomplishes here. It felt like the movie gave us a more realistic view of what it's like to be a hired killer- it's a lot of waiting. A lot of planning. Very little action. The brilliance of Fincher is that he makes the slow, nothing scenes as compelling as anything else. You'd think watching Michael Fassbender stretch and look out a window would be awful, but Fincher films these scenes with loaded potential. We watch through this character's eyes, knowing that at the right moment, he will deal out death. All the other scenes are simply build up. If someone watched this, expecting a Jason Bourne-type movie, they'd likely be bored to tears. I found the film fascinating, though- a testament to how Fincher can make us interested in nearly anything. That's the power of his storytelling. Now, it's true the movie moves very slowly, especially at first. It does build up some momentum, but Fincher is always interested in the small details- this character lives his life by those details and Fincher shows them to us in painstaking detail. This hurts the movie a bit- it's certainly too glacial and overly detailed to be a great movie. However, I was shocked to discover I was never bored- I was always engaged and curious to see what would happen next.

Fassbender is really good in this kind of role- it plays to his strengths. It's reserved, quiet, and the focus on his character allows him to give a subtly wonderful performance. I recently saw him in the disappointing Next Goal Wins, a film that puts him out of his wheelhouse and comfort zone. He was substantially better in this film than that one. Fassbender holds our attention because of how he does what he does. It's a very effective performance. I did appreciate when Tilda Swinton shows up. I've never loved her as an actress, but I recognize talent. She shows up and immediately begins delivering a fierce, memorable performance. Like the rest of the film, her scenes are understated, quiet, drawn out. However, Swinton takes up space on screen, demands you focus on what she's doing. It's a great performance. I always enjoy seeing Charles Parnell, who delivered a strong performance, too. Fincher keeps the cast quite small here, but he has the right people doing the right things to tell the story.

I'm really of two minds about The Killer. Like I said, I was never bored, never felt the urge to look at my phone. Fincher holds our attention with an interesting story and compelling character. We want to see what happens. He showcases his directorial talent by making us interested in things we normally wouldn't think were interesting. However, the film's slow pace does take a toll on us throughout the nearly 2 hour runtime. As I contemplate the idea of watching this movie again, I shudder a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's impressively crafted, but it's not the kind of film that needs rewatching. When you compare this to some of the brilliant films Fincher has crafted, it's clearly not to that same level. So, while I enjoyed it, I still felt a pang of disappointment that it wasn't better.

That being said, The Killer is still better than most movies like this. Fincher is a great director and although this feels like a slightly odder choice for him, it's at least another success in a career filled with them. I do hope he does something next that feels a little more mainstream, a little more effective. However, I still enjoyed my time with this film and that should always be celebrated.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Mank, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl, Insomnia