Screenshot Hitmen
Jan 31, 2025
Christina Newland, a film critic specializing in crime cinema, joins director Ben Wheatley and academic Ginette Vincendeau to explore the evolution of hitmen in film. They discuss the transformation from simplistic thugs to complex characters, highlighting iconic films like 'Le Samouraï' and the nuances of female assassins. The trio delves into the moral implications of violence in entertainment and the cultural significance of these characters, revealing how the hitman archetype reflects societal norms and challenges genre conventions.
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Hitmen as Complex Cinematic Icons
- Hitmen evolved from cartoonish thugs to psychologically complex, elegant loners after WWII.
- They embody nihilism and operate outside moral codes, making them both disturbing and fascinating cinematic icons.
Hitman as a Global Archetype
- The hitman archetype is globally powerful like gangsters or Western heroes.
- Their dispassionate killing for hire explores human nature and mortality in ambiguous ways.
Postmodern Hitmen and Female Assassins
- Quentin Tarantino epitomizes the postmodern ironic hitman with witty, quipping killers.
- Female hitmen films often blend lethal skills with feminine allure and makeover tropes.
