JOURNAL OF A CONTRACT KILLER (Tony Maylam). 90 minutes. Tonight (Thursday, June 12), 7 pm. Rating: N
Purportedly based on the true story of a female gun for hire, the shoddily made Journal Of A Contract Killer aims high but completely misses the mark.
Stephanie Komack (Justine Powell) is a British Nikita-esque hooker-turned-assassin who abandons her Italian boss – à la Kill Bill – to live in hiding as a waitress with her new daughter. When her past returns for retribution Sicilian-style, she’s flung back into a mess of murders, double-crosses and tragedies.
A British-Italian co-production primarily set in England, with English-speaking leads, Journal is an odd selection for the Italian Film Festival. Writer/director Tony Maylam has neither the budget nor the competence to execute the kind of blood-spattering action and melodramatic intrigue he so eagerly shoots for.
His sloppy direction allows for laughable performances and countless goofs – like the silencers that bang as loud as regular guns. You can’t even get your B-movie kicks from such stupidity because of the film’s “based on a true story” seriousness, making Journal a killjoy in every respect.
TORONTO ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL continuing to Sunday (June 15) at the Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor West). For times, tickets and complete schedule, see listings.
