a5c7b9f00b Victor Maynard is a middle-aged, solitary assassin, who lives to please his formidable mother, despite his own peerless reputation for lethal efficiency. His professional routine is interrupted when he finds himself drawn to one of his intended victims, Rose. He spares her life, unexpectedly acquiring in the process a young apprentice, Tony. Believing Victor to be a private detective, his two new companions tag along, while he attempts to thwart the murderous attentions of his unhappy client. In London, the fifty-four year-old professional killer Victor Maynard is a lonely and methodic hitman that comes from a lineage of killers and lives in the country. He is considered the best and most expensive killer in London. When the thief Rose lures the powerful gangster Ferguson and sells a fake Rembrandt to him for 900,000 pounds, he contracts Maynard to kill her. He follows Rose and fails in his attempt; but soon he feels attracted for her and spares her life. Meanwhile Fergunson sends his two bodyguards to kill Rose in a parking garage but Maynard saves her helped by the car washer Tony. Maynard feels potential in Tony and invites him to be his apprentice and Rose and Tony believe he is a private detective. They flee from the bodyguard that has survived and Maynard decides to protect Rose and Tony. Soon Victor is pressed by his mother Louisa Maynard that is worried about her family reputation while Fergunson hires two sadistic killers to hunt rose and Victor down. But Victor and Rose seems to be made for each other. From all concerned. Bill Nighy was fantastic and Emily Blunt was a suitably sexy foil to his outdated chic. Stirling support too from the usual ensemble cast of British supporting stars. This kept me amused on a long flight when 3 other films, I won't even mention, to avoid promoting them one iota, bored me rigid. Yes it was pretty corny but it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Two of the other films were US made RomComs. How predictable they are and how badly directed, really stood out badly when compared against this well crafted piece of work. Also predictable I don't recall seeing this advertised anywhere. But not for accidentally finding it on an airline I would never have discovered it. This is a very quirky and strange movie, with lots of black humour. Reminded me strongly of one of those bitter-sweet Ealing comedies like The Ladykillers. And there are definite echoes of The Italian Job! But then it becomes a kind of love story too.<br/><br/>Contains a considerable amount of violence (guns, murder etc), and sexual content (including orgasmic screeching for a full 30 seconds), for its rating. Personally also would rate a 15.<br/><br/>A few of the scenes are just weird (eg Nighy talking to Grint in the bath about being confused, doesn't fit with anything) and the scene probably should have lain on the cutting room floor.<br/><br/>Relationship between Nighy's character and Blunt's character difficult to believe, and Grint is playing gooseberry throughout.<br/><br/>On the plus side, throughout i had a half-grin on my face, and there were some good laughs. Also, Nighy's performance is masterly and believable as the repressed perfectionist.<br/><br/>Would I recommend it? Overall, yes.<br/><br/>Worth going just to see the splendid acting performance of Nighy.<br/><br/>Also to see how YOU react! But perhaps only if you like black humour. An eccentric little comic thriller filled with enough laughs that I was mostly willing to overlook the fact that it makes virtually no sense as a thriller.
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