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- Hitman Is a Character Study Disguised as a Video Game Adaptation
- Timothy Olyphant Is an Excellent Agent 47
- The Hitman Franchise Should Return to the Big Screen
As a long-time fan of action movies and video games alike, I must say that the journey of “Hitman” from the silver screen to our living rooms has been quite the rollercoaster ride! I remember when Vin Diesel was first set to take on the role of Agent 47, and honestly, I was excited. But alas, life has a funny way of taking us by surprise, and Jason Statham ended up passing on the project.
Over the last ten years, I’ve noticed a remarkable resurgence in video game adaptations across multiple platforms, particularly shining in film with hits like “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and on television with critically-acclaimed series such as “Knuckles,” “Fallout,” and “The Last of Us.” The secret to their success lies in their skillful transition from the video game world, emphasizing character development and narrative depth over action and gameplay.
Today’s boom in video game adaptations into films serves as a stark contrast to the questionable reputation these adaptations held in the 1990s and early 2000s, when most seemed destined for failure. This contrast is particularly evident with Hitman, a 2007 film that was an adaptation of the widely popular video game series bearing the same name. In this movie, Hitman, Timothy Olyphant plays Agent 47, the title character who is a genetically engineered assassin with a barcode tattooed on his shaved head.
In its initial release, the movie “Hitman,” earning over $100 million globally, proved to be a financial success given its low production budget. However, it garnered harsh criticism, as evidenced by its poor 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its profitability, this unfavorable response ultimately resulted in the shelving of plans for a sequel.
Initially, the film “Hitman” didn’t receive much acclaim. However, it has now gained recognition on Netflix, making it one of their most-watched movies. This renewed interest in “Hitman” is well deserved, as while it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it outperforms many films from the 2000s and even the disappointing 2015 reboot, “Hitman: Agent 47,” which has also become popular on Netflix, despite its poor Rotten Tomatoes score of only 8%.
Hitman Is a Character Study Disguised as a Video Game Adaptation
Hitman thrives when it chooses not to strive for a faithful video game adaptation and instead emphasizes character development, particularly Agent 47. The movie begins with his backstory, where he is shown as a child being molded into a world-traveling assassin by a mysterious organization called the Organization.
In the movie, the main character, Agent 47 (portrayed by Timothy Olyphant), is instructed by his enigmatic superior, Diana, to carry out an extraordinary task: eliminating the Russian president. Yet, despite appearing to have accomplished this mission, a puzzled Agent 47 learns that Belicoff, the supposed target, miraculously survived the assassination attempt. Upon being tasked with silencing a possible eyewitness to the assassination attempt, Agent 47 uncovers a plot by the Organization aimed at his own elimination.
Similar to the captivating 1967 crime thriller “Le Samourai,” where Alain Delon portrayed a professional assassin trying to unmask his pursuers while dodging the law, I find the film “Hitman” particularly engrossing when it reveals the tension between Agent 47’s mastery in assassination and his underdeveloped humanity. This tension is beautifully illustrated in the movie through Agent 47’s interactions with Nika, a Russian prostitute who serves as a witness. As a fan, I find myself intrigued by how Agent 47 grapples with his limited human connections, given that his past dealings with women were strictly professional as a hired gunman.
Unlike the “Hitman” video games, which primarily focus on placing Agent 47 in diverse exotic settings for him to navigate deadly scenarios by killing, the “Hitman” series, like “Le Samourai,” delves into the psychological depths of the emotionally detached Agent 47, just as much as his lethal activities. The character Nika, portrayed by Olga Kurylenko, becomes pivotal in Agent 47’s life, as he finds a reflection of his own lost childhood in her – a vulnerable, lonely, and needy woman who, like him, is as much a victim as the targets he eliminates.
Timothy Olyphant Is an Excellent Agent 47
Initially, Vin Diesel was slated to produce and star in the movie “Hitman,” a role that would likely have boosted its budget compared to Timothy Olyphant’s version, which had a production cost of less than $25 million due to his casting. However, after Diesel departed from the project, Jason Statham also declined the part because he found it too similar to his character from “The Transporter” series. Notably, many viewers and critics consider Statham’s 2016 thriller, “Mechanic: Resurrection,” as the best live-action adaptation of the Hitman franchise to date.
Although Olyphant didn’t quite measure up to Diesel and Statham in terms of their deep-rooted connection to the action genre, his gravelly voice and intense demeanor made him a compelling and suitable choice for the role of Agent 47. This part requires the same cold intellect and precision that he showcased during his villainous performance in the 2007 action thriller film Live Free or Die Hard.
The Hitman Franchise Should Return to the Big Screen
Although Hitman and Hitman: Agent 47 have regained their popularity, along with the ongoing success of the video game series, there hasn’t been much news about future adaptations since 2017 when it was disclosed that John Wick creator Derek Kolstad was writing a potential Hitman television series for Hulu. The latest update occurred in 2021, when Kolstad shared information about the planned Agent 47 television character, such as the possibility of him having hair instead of his traditional bald look.
It’s possible that if another adaptation arises, the original “Hitman” movie, often criticized as one of the worst video game adaptations ever made, has been undeservingly criticized and neglected since its 2007 premiere. Now, with the franchise enjoying widespread popularity, it suggests that timing plays a significant role in success. Initially, when the film was released, audiences and critics were biased against video game adaptations. However, “Hitman” has found acceptance in today’s era, where exceptions aside, it seems video game adaptations can hardly do wrong. By the way, you can stream “Hitman” on Tubi.
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2024-11-07 03:31