I love movies where people someone is targeted to get “whacked”. The best of these films always employ a great hitman–someone with character and a certain way of conducting their business. There are hundreds of examples out there, but let’s try to narrow it down to the best.
My nomination goes to Mr. Shhh (Steve Buscemi) in Things You do in Denver When You’re Dead.
Physically, Mr. Shh isn’t intimidating in the least. However, he has that great reputation for being the one guy you don’t want coming after you. As with many hitmen, he is clean cut, cold, and calculating.
Also, if you’ve seen the movie, you know Mr. Shhh keeps on coming–even if he’s taken a few serious shots.
My Honorable Mention Award goes to Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction.
It doesn’t get any better than Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction !Except maybe “Stick Walker” in The Muppet Movie: “Tell 'em what you do, Stick!” “Kill frogs”
[QUOTE=Push You Down]
Is Malkovitch’s character a hitman or just a guy who wants to kill the president?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen it but I seem to recall a scene where Mailkovich’s character discusses other kills he’s made. If being a hitman means taking money for a kill than I guess he’s not a hitman, just another humdrum psychotic killer.
As I recall, Frank Leary (Malkovich’s character) was a former CIA operative who likely did a fair share of hits for Uncle Sam before he was discarded at the end of the Cold War and forced to go freelance.
Anyway, my pick? I’m going old school and picking Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) in This Gun for Hire.
James Fox’s Jackal in The Day Of The Jackal {the fantastic original, not the dreadful remake} is an absolutely compelling character: mesmerisingly cool in his inhuman professionalism, yet absolutely despicable in his utter disregard for life. Needs a place to hole up and avoid the cops? He’ll seduce a woman, then efficiently murder her in the morning to let his trail go cold for a couple more hours. Half of you wants him to succeed in his assassination, the other half is yelling, “For Christ’s sake, stop him!” Nice car, too.
I’m going to have to go with Geraldo Rivera. Not only is he a journalist, he’s an assassin. So, he’s a Journassassin. And he’s an executioner, so his title is Assicutioner.
