REVIEW: THE KILLER

4/5

The Killer Inside Me.

118 Mins. Starring: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O'Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte & Tilda Swinton. Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker. Director: David Fincher. On: Netflix. 

Tundra cold and as calculated as the alarm clock digits on a plastic abacus, Michael Fassbender is a formidable hit in 'The Killer'. The new Netflix film streaming during the Oscar calendar from 'Se7en' and 'Fight Club' director David Fincher. And you really should talk about it as a general rule of thumb on the trigger. Doing the fingering again like he tongue-in-cheek did as a dual-android on Ridley Scott's 'Alien: Covenant' for all the flutes. And just like that great's forthcoming 'Gladiator' reunion with Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix for 'Napoleon', this is another story concerning the fall of man, who may be gone for some time. It's been a minute since Fassbender was the hot actor with his magnetic turn as 'X-Men' Malcolm X, Magneto. After that a botched 'Assassin's Creed' adaptation left him out in the cold like the 'Snowman'...and we ain't talking about Raymond Briggs. Now, walking in the air again, Fassbender is focused back in the scope of a real hitman who finds himself truly in the cross-hairs after missing his target like he or MJ in the fourth is never supposed to do. How about some overtime for this killer for hire before he clocks out with the glock? 

Michael mesmerizes, WeWorking an opening act of nuanced narration that he follows like an assassin's creed (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist) for the round-by-round rest of the movie and chapter-by-chapter, city-by-city take down of all those who want to take this piece off the board. Whether nailing people like 'The Equalizer' (no 'Shame'), or jonesing off The Smiths like this was '500 Days Of Summer', there is a darkness that never goes out for the boy with a thorn in his side who is still somewhat a charming man. Fassbender and Fincher form a force of a perfect partnership as David's dynamic and decadent direction strikes you in the heart as you X this movie in blood-red as one of the best of the month and top ten of the year that's yet to be out. Adapted by Andrew Kevin Walker from the French graphic novel of the same name by Alexis "Matz" Nolent, with illustrations by Luc Jacamon, 'The Killer' is as classic as the buzz it's received, and as sought after as those iconic oil paint movie posters that let the colours run. This outstanding one-two punch truly gets away with a murder not even committed it in a time the movie world is begging for signs of life. Mirroring everything from the paranoid Parker of 'Rear Window', to the French feeling of 'Leon: The Professional', this star shine subtly shimmers in monochrome over a searing score by who else but Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross putting those nine-inch nails into this compelling coffin collector.

The manhunt is on from the rooftops of a Parisian hotel room to the high-rises of Chicago up there with the wind. Not to mention the Dominican, New Orleans, Florida and New York Beacon in-between. Collecting Netflix budget postcards like he does recycling bodies...with one hilarious joke we all made, but never actually saw coming. Top of the list is the ever versatile, 'Full Metal Jacket', 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park', 'Moneyball' and 'Mank' actor Arliss Howard whose such a chameleon, you barely recognize him. We swear he's never played the same role twice like a typecast. Also, the maverick recent turn of 'Top Gun' and 'Mission: Impossible' franchise friend of Cruise, Charles Parnell continues crafting his career CV behind the desk with one of the most tense scenes in this taught and tight thriller. Yet by his side, it's his assistant Kerry O'Malley's coming out party as a Hollywood actress that steals the show...and breaks your heart. New Zealand stuntman and Sauron in Peter Jackson's 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy Sala Baker gives Fassbender what for in the grittiest and greatest fight scene since his old friend and LOTR for Viggo Mortensen went balls out with 'Eastern Promises'. Whilst it's the 'Passport To Freedom' of Sophie Charlotte who our unnamed protagonist is doing this all for. Between pit-bulls and stirring scenes that really are thee dogs bollocks (is that too many references to male genitalia in one paragraph?), the great Tilda Swinton is on hand like a q-tip in your bathroom cabinet (they said it, not me) to fill your ears with whiskey conversation and the bear necessities of the best joke since Benicio del Toro's John Dillinger highway robbery one on Netflix's own 'Reptile'. As Fassbender sheds enemies like snakes do skin he builds his illustrious and inspired career all the way back up to a new knife point peak. Making his mark, now THAT'S how you kill it. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Fight Club', 'In Bruges', 'The American'.