Another retiring hit man description. Sigh.
I passed this by dozens of times, never quite in the mood for what I assumed was a pat plot with pat action and another standard fare on an oft-repeated general story. But somewhere along the line, Mads M had become one of the few actors whose inclusion, much less the main character, made it worth (at least) a chance.
Opening looked good ... for about 40 seconds until I see Johnny Knoxville. While okay for his brand of rinse/repeat portrayals, I almost backed out from the start ... until the story began and was silently celebrating. So grateful Knoxville's part was not a major one. Instantly got my respect.
From then on it was an entertaining ride, consistently offering better takes on each assumed "trope" and keeping me pinned to the end. Except for some of the more brutal scenes I just didn't care to wallow in but Got The Point.
Without spoiling it, this was also the first time something was depicted around a certain type of pet that disturbed me in any other movie without exception, actually generating a laugh.
The only raised eyebrows came with minor details that usually pass by unnoticed today, such as how certain flamboyant bad guys/gals in leather outfits and war paint like a Marvel villian could even get from Point A to Point B in even this Clown World today without getting noticed... when I would think keeping a low profile would be endemic to their whole existence.
There is, of course, no such Montana town as depicted, at least as far as I've seen, being in residence for decades from Glacier Park to now a remote ranch in Powder River County. However, the town was authentic as well as the cabins depicted. I could believe it. Others (not here on IMDB I've seen) have commented to the valid effect of how such wonderful places could be for rent and not run as a million-dollar vacation home (on location, not size) but they ARE out there... such as this 1880s cabin I miraculously found with an entire ranch attached for the unbelieveable price of $300/month. 8 months in and finally realize it's NOT a ruse or having the expectation of one night looking out to see a crowd of hooded figures with torches. Tons of work involved just to maintain the grounds and at least here, only 1 nearby town with food prices higher than an airport gift shop. Talking $4.89 for a can of chili (beef cheap and others okay but overall YIKES). Requires a monthly, 100-mile trip to the nearest IGA for reasonable grocery prices. This is due to a long roundabout way to get here vs. The other town (Broadus) that has a paved highway down from the major interstate further north.
But that's digression; they portrayed that part accurately. Mads only stregthened my admiration and this film is well worth the watch. Oh yeah ... even in such a movie like this, it's good to see realism as a foundation with people lacking John Wick-style superhero powers, luck or coincidences. Bravo.
I passed this by dozens of times, never quite in the mood for what I assumed was a pat plot with pat action and another standard fare on an oft-repeated general story. But somewhere along the line, Mads M had become one of the few actors whose inclusion, much less the main character, made it worth (at least) a chance.
Opening looked good ... for about 40 seconds until I see Johnny Knoxville. While okay for his brand of rinse/repeat portrayals, I almost backed out from the start ... until the story began and was silently celebrating. So grateful Knoxville's part was not a major one. Instantly got my respect.
From then on it was an entertaining ride, consistently offering better takes on each assumed "trope" and keeping me pinned to the end. Except for some of the more brutal scenes I just didn't care to wallow in but Got The Point.
Without spoiling it, this was also the first time something was depicted around a certain type of pet that disturbed me in any other movie without exception, actually generating a laugh.
The only raised eyebrows came with minor details that usually pass by unnoticed today, such as how certain flamboyant bad guys/gals in leather outfits and war paint like a Marvel villian could even get from Point A to Point B in even this Clown World today without getting noticed... when I would think keeping a low profile would be endemic to their whole existence.
There is, of course, no such Montana town as depicted, at least as far as I've seen, being in residence for decades from Glacier Park to now a remote ranch in Powder River County. However, the town was authentic as well as the cabins depicted. I could believe it. Others (not here on IMDB I've seen) have commented to the valid effect of how such wonderful places could be for rent and not run as a million-dollar vacation home (on location, not size) but they ARE out there... such as this 1880s cabin I miraculously found with an entire ranch attached for the unbelieveable price of $300/month. 8 months in and finally realize it's NOT a ruse or having the expectation of one night looking out to see a crowd of hooded figures with torches. Tons of work involved just to maintain the grounds and at least here, only 1 nearby town with food prices higher than an airport gift shop. Talking $4.89 for a can of chili (beef cheap and others okay but overall YIKES). Requires a monthly, 100-mile trip to the nearest IGA for reasonable grocery prices. This is due to a long roundabout way to get here vs. The other town (Broadus) that has a paved highway down from the major interstate further north.
But that's digression; they portrayed that part accurately. Mads only stregthened my admiration and this film is well worth the watch. Oh yeah ... even in such a movie like this, it's good to see realism as a foundation with people lacking John Wick-style superhero powers, luck or coincidences. Bravo.