Watch The Hit For Free

Simply A Masterpiece

A lot of fun.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

There are various ways to describe the British film "The Hit". For many, it might be interpreted as a comedy film. Some viewers might think of it as a thriller film. There might also be viewers who might like to view it as a road movie. There could also be liberal views which could state that it is a fine as well as well balanced mix of all kinds of different genres. Making good use of picturesque locations found in Spain, director Stephen Frears has made a film about criminals and their desire to take revenge. It is at this juncture that viewers learn that a kidnapping and an act of killing have gone completely wrong. It is not only the British people in Spain who are ridiculed for the viewers. It is also the turn of Spanish side to face ridicule as its police force always comes to the scene of crime late. As a 'road movie' this film boasts of good views of rural Spain. Apart from fine performances by leading actor John Hurt, Terence Stamp and Tim Roth, there is a mellifluous soundtrack by Paco de Lucia. It is a good idea to popularize this film which is not so much known by many admirers of good quality British cinema in England and elsewhere.

Mr Corrigan would have done better to hire a no-nonsense cleaner, someone like Leon, or Lee Marvin. Although, maybe not. There would hardly have been a story if the job had been efficiently executed. There's no doubt, however, that this is a reflection on The Killers, 1964. Hell, there's even a shot of Stamp's reading matter, which includes a tome by Hemingway, although I couldn't quite make out if it was "Men Without Women", which would have clinched the allusion. Or was it "Death in the Afternoon" ?The real point is that both tales are about the man who does not fear death, because he is already dead. We know why Johnny North is already dead. But why is Terence? Is it because he has chosen to live a comfortable, but unproductive and solitary, apparently celibate life, with only a tyro minder looking after him? He spends his time reading books: anyone who does that to excess gets to thinking about life's meaning, and pondering on death, and what it is like to die. Shooting through, Blue, as the stockman put it.Terence reckons he has solved the riddle. Others have felt the same way. John Donne, for instance. That, Terence, is truly the right way to recite a poem. I salute you. JC noted that it was strange that men should fear, seeing that "death, a necessary end, will come when it will come". Bill put those words in his mouth, at any rate.The message gets to Hurt. He seems rather troubled, worn and weary. Stamp's attitude seems to be bothering him. What is the point of killing people ? They're going to die anyway. What exactly is gained by whacking Terence? In the end Hurt accepts, and that wink is a winner.There's another resemblance to The Killers, 64, and that's the highly dumb, and definitely annoying, trainee. Pain in the neck. He exits the scenery as simple collateral damage.What a terrific film this is ! Beautifully written, shot and acted ! I really liked that shot down the staircase, as the kidnappers break into Stamp's hideaway. The film is full of those lovely bits and pieces. Especially the pulchritudinous senorita, who is definitely not ready to go. I wasn't sure if she was inside or outside her first dress.I've also been looking at IMDb's top 250 list, and just don't get it. Only about 30% of those titles are any good at all. Brilliant work like this isn't on it. 7/10 is an intellectual disgrace. 10/10, and more, from me.

Two hit men go to Spain and pick up a fellow crook who went into hiding years before. They are suppose to drive him back to Paris, however as they hit the road, it quickly becomes clear that things are not what they seem and that the hit men are in for more than they ever bargained for.Tightly plotted and neat little thriller that works thanks to its three stars. Terrence Stamp kicked his career into high gear once more with his turn as the man hauled off for execution. So calm in the face of death its almost unnerving and its not hard to see how he can begin to play his captors like a violin. John Hurt and Tim Roth are his equal as the two hit men who never saw what they were walking into. This is ensemble acting at its finest.This is a great little film. Its worth seeking out.

I can't believe that this film had gone for so long without me knowing it was around. I'm a big fan of the crime/drama genre so when I stumbled across the fact it was going to be on some free to air digital channel at about one in the morning a couple of months ago, I thought I'd give it ago. In fact, I'd never heard of it before nor have I since. No one seems to know of it and it's a damn shame as this is a VERY underrated film, especially surprising given the fact John Hurt, Terrance Stamp and Tim Roth are in it.The film deals with human interaction between a 'grass' from ten years back, a rookie gangster and an old-time gangster in almost superior form to many other films. The fact it takes a 'road movie' approach gives us more time to develop with the characters, as well as the characters themselves to do a bit of bonding. What follows is some fascinating dialogue between the three (and between a young Spanish girl on a lesser extent) and some very interesting relations building up. The stone cold presence from Hurt, the silent but 'you know he's up to something' Stamp and the, almost, 'comic relief' character in the form of Tim Roth all combine in a truly mesmerising mixture of events. I was glued to the screen.The narrative also takes on a mysterious, almost multi-layered approach when talking about the police hot on their tail. The fact we never hear the detectives talk or any of the police communicate leaves us with a sense that we know what's going on but we're not actually there, almost as if the three male characters in the car are dreaming up the scenes themselves as to what MIGHT be happening at their last point of call if the police had yet arrived.The action and dialogue is well spaced, even though the script is great anyway, and you truly struggle to work out what might happen next. The disturbing way in which Stamp seems to say nothing at all yet communicates with Roth like he's known him for years twinned with the fact panic hits him like a train later on in the film and he suddenly becomes a chatter box is an amazing juxtaposition which really adds to the experience.Another attractive aspect of the film is the setting. This also acts as a juxtaposition as the beauty and heat that oozes from the screen really counterbalances the disturbing reality that Hurt and Roth's characters are there to 'get' Stamp and make him pay for his previous actions as well as the sadistic interior that makes up Hurt's character. You can't get too caught up in the setting which you only really see when the journey is being killed off, and you know that with every second that rushes by on the road; Stamp is apparently closer to his death - clever stuff.The film is simple. The narrative is easy, there aren't too many characters to deal with, there aren't too many on screen distractions (unless you count the girl) meaning you have more reasons to focus on EXACTLY what's going on and although the film looks a little aged, I can guarantee it's thoroughly enjoyable.