Movie Review: You Kill Me

Movies Reviews

By Maura Reilly Jun 22, 2007, 9:35 GMT

John Dahl has assembled a singular cast for his killer comedy ‘You Kill Me.’ The story about an alcoholic hit man sent to detox in San Francisco rarely misfires with smart humor and flawed yet relatable characters.

Frank Falenczyk (Ben Kingsley) has a drinking problem and its interfering with his work as an assassin. His uncle ({Philip Baker Hall}, his boss and the head of the Polish mob in Buffalo, NY has no choice but to send Frank to San Francisco to get clean. Under the watchful eye of his new sponsor Tom (Luke Wilson) Frank starts to undertake the steps towards sobriety and meets the sassy Laurel (Téa Leoni) whose support becomes crucial as he must return home to attend to some unfinished business. You read that description and it doesn’t seem possible that the movie described could be a comedy. Well it is a black comedy so I imagine that helps a bit. In the vein of ‘Prizzi’s Honor’ (1985) and ‘Grosse Point Blank’ (1997) ‘You Kill Me’ looks at the stereotype of the hit man and humanizes him. You take the sheer ridiculous nature of the work these individuals do and juxtapose it to something as every day as seeking therapy or dating and you’ve got instant comedy there. Ben Kingsley is tremendous as Frank. Inevitable comparisons are made to Kingsley’s character in ‘Sexy Beast.’ Well, Frank is intense, just not that intense. He’s withdrawn, suspicious and vulnerable. But at the same time he has a sardonic, quiet and honest humor that makes him likable.As Frank opens up you start to root for him. (Odd considering he ices people for a living.) The Laurel character harkens back to the types of roles that Rosalind Russell and Audrey Hepburn did in the 40’s: smart, sexy, funny and equal in respect as their male counterparts. She passes no judgment on Frank and his “shortcomings”, a refreshing theme that runs throughout the film. Like Rosalind Russell, Tea possesses this great ability for physical comedy. It lends a kind of zaniness to the proceedings.Though Luke Wilson and Bill Pullman have less time on screen than our couple, their performances are fun to watch. Wilson plays Tom with a dry wit and as with Laurel, without judgment on Frank. Bill Pullman plays a weasely real estate agent keeping tabs on Frank for the boss back in Buffalo. I’m thinking whichever writer is from Buffalo (either Chris Markus or Stephen McFeely) they schooled Bill on what a correct Buffalo accent is because he had it down pat.Hats off to Director of Photography Jeff Jur, the visual effects and production design teams who with the addition of a few exterior shots of San Francisco managed to make Winnipeg resemble Buffalo and the City by the Bay.‘You Kill Me’ is a subtle, intelligent adult comedy. That’s something very rare in a summer filled with blockbuster fare for the younger set. Releases June 22, USA. MPAA: Rated: Rated R for language and some violence.

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