The Hitman ** (1991, Chuck Norris, Michael Parks, Al Waxman, Alberta Watson) – Classic Movie Review 12,955

The 1991 action thriller film The Hitman is a routine affair, with Chuck Norris as a cop who sets out for revenge by going undercover as a hit man. But it is saved by the action, stunts and fights, which are exciting and impressive.

‘He’s so far undercover he may never get back.’

Director Aaron Norris’s 1991 Canadian-American action thriller film The Hitman is a bad-tempered, tedious, routine affair, with Chuck Norris as a cop who sets out for revenge by going undercover as a hit man and joining a drugs mob to bust it open.

Chuck Norris stars as Seattle cop Cliff Garrett, who survives being shot by his corrupt partner Ronny ‘Del’ Delany (Michael Parks) in a drug bust gone bad. Police Captain Chambers (Ken Pogue) gets the hospital to hide his survival, and Garrett is given a new identity as hitman Danny Grogan, who a year later infiltrates the mob of mafioso Marco Luganni (Al Waxman).

With all the violent action clichés trotted out in the predictable script by producer Don Carmody, Robert Geoffrion and Galen Thompson, everything is on remote control, except the action, stunts and fights, which are exciting and impressive. Let’s hear it for the boys: Bill Ferguson is stunt coordinator / stunt player, Dean Raphael Ferrandini is action co-ordinator, and Craig Reid is fight choreographer.

It is directed by Chuck’s brother Aaron for Twilight productions for release by the Cannon studio.

Also in the cast are Michael Parks, Al Waxman, Alberta Watson, Salim Grant, Ken Pogue, Marcel Sabourin, Bruno Gerussi, Frank Ferucci, and James Purcell.

Aaron’s wife Rebecca Norris appears as Waitress, and Aaron’s daughters Amanda Norris and Meagan Norris appear as Lacombe’s twin daughters.

It is shot in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Seattle, Washington, US.

The Hitman is directed by Aaron Norris, runs 95 minutes, is made by Twilight Motion Picture VII Limited Partnership, is released by Cannon Films, is written by Don Carmody (written by), Robert Geoffrion (written by), and Galen Thompson (story and screenplay, uncredited), is shot by João Fernandes, is produced by Harry Alan Towers (as Peter Welbeck) (executive producer), André Link (executive producer) and Don Carmody (producer), is scored by Joel Derouin, and is designed by Douglas Higgins.

The cast are Chuck Norris as Detective Cliff Garrett / Danny Grogan, Michael Parks as Detective Ronny ‘Del’ Delaney, Al Waxman as Marco Luganni, Alberta Watson as Christine De Vera, Salim Grant as Tim Murphy, Ken Pogue as Captain Chambers, Marcel Sabourin as Andre Lacombe, Bruno Gerussi as Nino Scarlini, Frank Ferrucci as Shahad, and James Purcell as Sal.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,955

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