Hit-man with a conscience

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2008)

This black comedy is not for the faint of heart. It is at times very violent. Also, there is drug use and sex between unmarried adults.
I believe there is a misconception about some reviews I've seen of this movie. This isn't a movie about two hit men. The character played by Colin Farrell is only an attempted-hit-man. My feeling was he was playing a person who did have a violent past, but he was not a psychopath like any professional hit-man would have to be. He likely thought that as a hit-man he would only be killing bad people, but his first "hit" goes terribly wrong and this movie is about the guilt he feels from that. If you've ever made a mistake in your life with terrible consequences, you'll be able to relate to his character. Farrell does a great job in this movie, and nobody does "brooding" like he can.
There is tremendous drama in the movie, but it is still a comedy. Most of the comedy comes from Farrell, but Ray Fienes is also hilarious as the boss who IS a psychopath.
Another movie out this year dealing with hit men is No Country for Old Men. Personally, I think this movie is better.