Confessions of a Hitman (1994) User Reviews

former hit-man must face self and past

[shearn-2 · 5/10 · 28 June 2006]

If you're interested, this is exactly what a B movie looked like in 1994. It features creaky, platitudinous dialog, predictable situations and acting that is at times reminiscent of porn movies in its stiltedness. I offer this warning to save you some time. Three characters at complete loose ends with their lives meet in symbolic Death Valley--two men, one white, one black, and a pretty blonde babe who's left a picky, uptight lover behind--she's a wild spirit who carries a phallic camera. Oh, and the two men she meets are a "guinea" and a "black" and we are instructed that those groups, as everyone knows, traditionally don't get along. The ever popular motif of having the characters smoke a lot of cigarettes is used to signify existential despair, toughness,recklessness, and romance. Is this film with its paint by numbers plot barely watchable? I didn't think so by the end.

Amateurish

[dan-1315 · 2/10 · 5 February 2006]

The acting is amateurish, the dialog is poor, and the photography looks like it was shot in 16mm. Seems like its director, Larry Leahy, has been trying for decades to break into the business, with a Transformers script and producer of a low-budget sci-fi flick in the 1980s, and as a script coordinator on Road to Perdition in 2002. This was probably his big break, and the only fun is watching how far this movie will wobble before it falls down. Even actor James Remar, who has had a long career as a character actor, is uneven here. Everyone in the cast looks a little strange and walk around like they're on Valium. Interestingly enough, this film popped up on my local UHF station, probably because all the big-budget studio pictures are tied up on cable.

I really enjoyed this quirky little film

[Maciste_Brother · 7/10 · 17 September 2003]

I had the video lying around in my apartment for a long time and I never really bothered to watch it because it didn't look too promising. But one night I finally decided to watch it and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed CONFESSIONS OF A HITMAN. The best thing in the movie is James Remar, who creates a very interesting character that's funny, touching, annoying and a little dangerous. The other actors are also good, certainly the driver, but Remar makes the movie. The cinematography was, at certain points, beautiful. Death Valley never looked so beautiful. And the music was excellent. The story is filled with quirky little details which create an intimate narrative I rarely see in movies these days and though the film might prove underwhelming for those who are used to being hit over the head with Hollywood's sledgehammer-style of filmmaking, I thought the low key approach of the direction was refreshing, certainly for a story about the mob. Thumbs up!

great flick

[killtop40 · 10/10 · 23 September 2005]

I was lucky enough to happen to catch this movie on a Saturday afternoon. I'd never heard of this movie, which is surprising once you see what a quality movie this is. The acting is good, most of the minor characters seemed as if they left off a comic book page but are believable in the world created by this awesome writer. The supporting characters are endearing and seem real. Remar is a wonderful lead character as Bruno a hit-man struck by a disease that leaves him little time to live. Of course he wants to set things straight. Hes really believable as a despairing person. this movie was captivating. Also sometimes dark humor and cinematography reminds you of other great 'outsider/alternative' films made around this time in the 90s i would highly recommend this movie to anyone that liked 'Doom Generation,' 'Clerks' and stuff like that

love this film! (i love to capitalize 4 emphasis but they still call it shouting here) :/

[fromthereddesk · 9/10 · 5 May 2015]

i give it a 9 cause i know it wasn't a big budget film, but the finish product for me, was great...i knew someone who worked in the film, so later on, when my mother saw it on HBO South America, i asked her to make me a copy..it hadn't been release here yet!.. So i saw it and loved it! it's fun! funny, corny, poignant, artsy..the desert shoot amazing, the music COOL!..love James Remar, and he's a nice guy! down to earth, played villains most of his life-actor..the priest was a super nice guy and even the kid playing Remar as a child was adorable.. Sure is not a pro big budget film but i screened like 10 times for friends and they all loved it! and it makes me sad at the end every time!..i got to the experience from Frank Mazzola, a Hollywood player who had been in films like "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame" as a child!he went on to work in "East Of Eden" and "Rebel Without A Cause"..i was in awe being around a living actor who was with legends like James Dean! (Mazzola just passed away at age 79, the last survivor of Rebel Without A Cause" cast. :( RIP Frank and thank you for bringing me to this film!