Directed by Aleksander Bach (in his directorial debut) and starring Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice, The Young Victoria, Starred Up, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Hannah Ware (Oldboy, Shame), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Margin Call).
Action; 96 mins; 16+
Based on the Hitman video game, Hitman: 47 features an elite assiassin who has been genetically engineered by a non-defunct extensive research programme. Each agent engineered is better than his predecessor, so Agent 47 (Rupert Friend) is more powerful than agent 46, etc., in strength, speed, stamina and intelligence.
His latest assignment is the opposition, a corporation that wants the secrets to Agent 47 and the research programme, to create their own army of killers.
In order to get to the bottom of it all, both sides try to locate the main research scientist behind the original project and who has apparently disappeared. In order to do so, they search first for his daughter Katia (Hannah Ware), with Agent 47 and John Smith (Zachary Quinto) both vying for her trust.
The storyline sees them cross the globe and end up in Singapore where the action sequences intensify as per the stakes. The helicopter scene is particularly well done. And the soundtrack is quite impressive too. Rupert Friend is excellent as Agent 47, tattoed neck and all, but Zachary Quinto is well outside his Star Trek comfort zone.
On a deeper level this film, while not a philosophical or even pyschological examination whatsoever, examines one's background and choices we make in order to become better individuals. Emotionless and ruthless, yet with significantly higher-than-average fight scenes.
