Killing Time (1998) Reviews

• Clever...

  dung_rat2002-04-24

  It makes quite a welcomed change to see a 'gangster' film that isn't completely ridden with tacky cockney (or 'mockney') accents and the obligatory cliches that come with this. It seems that too many have commented on this film for being unrealistic to an extent. The fact that the killer is a hired assassin should allude to the fact that she should be totally unscrupulous in what she does and how she does it. Actress Kendra Torgan employs minimal acting which helps to create a nice air of enigma about herself, and man; she's as hard as nails! She makes a great femme fatale and she is the sort of person who knows just what to do and how to do it: no quibbles, no fuss. She is the true essence of what an assassin should be. The film works equally well as a black sort of comedy, yet in a rather harrowing sense. To joke about somedoby who has a bullet through their forehead is a classic example of this. The violence portrayed is rather intense and there is no particular lack of bloodshed. The inclusion of a classy score (containing, amongst others, 'Portishead') is also a nice touch. The story does work rather well...it's not one of the most ingenious ever but it is cleverly composed and does tend to make you pause and think what is going on - this, for me, is always a good thing. The 'masturbation' scene is a good example of this. It is, to quote my title, 'clever'. Just because the film isn't overly complex doesn't mean to say that it is weak in anyway whatsoever. To couple this, it is a stylishly directed piece containing some good, appropriate cinematography; it helps to coincide with the overall ambience of the film itself. It is decidedly slick and polished. To close, this is a decent British film. It is somewhat of a shame that it never really received the attention that it duly deserves. Perhaps there are still others who are yet to hear it. My advice: try it. For me it provided a great deal more entertainment and 'grit' than any Guy Ritchie film ever could. Hopefully with time, and slightly more attention, this may gain the title of being a 'cult' film.

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• Must see Assassin Movie---Gorgeous Assassin, Realistic Action, Fast-Paced Storytelling

  Jdeleon1999-09-14

  Kendra Torgan is far more attractive than either Anne Parillaud (La Femme Nikita) or even Bridget Fonda (Point of No Return). It is a shame that she has not done any other films. As Maria, she is simply the hottest cold-blooded killer around. Speaking Italian through most of the film only adds to her mystery and allure. Her pistols do most of the talking for her. Admittedly she is not a well rounded killer. She does not seem to have any martial arts skills. Heck, she can't even do a push up. But she is gutsy, smart and not afraid to shoot first, then shoot again. There is just enough firepower to keep your blood pumping and no more. This movie does not need to resort to Hollywood explosions to keep people interested. No tricky storylines or cop-out Deus ex Machina endings in this movie. This story moves quickly and not a minute is wasted. The action and changes in moods are paced by a great soundtrack. All the original music and the alternative songs add a haunting beauty to the film. If you like the Female Assassin genre, this is a must see.

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• Tongue-in-cheek Action/Adventure

  edgy1998-12-09

  The strongest character in this film is a woman. The director makes this obvious from the beginning and I find this to be an appealing, even sexy, notion. Those who are threatened by this concept are doomed to dislike, or hate, this picture. This is not an overtly feminist tract. In fact, there is a droll sense of humor permeating the dialogue in the film. Bryant's four discount assassins are amusing in their arguments with one another and their near total obliviousness to the danger of their assignment. They would be inept killers in any circumstance, but especially here where they perceive a woman to be easy pickings. Kendra Torgan is very sexy as the Italian mercenary who dispatches her enemies with gusto. Her attempt to learn English via audiotape while assassins infiltrate her suite is amusing and enhances her stature as a superior, cold-blooded assassin. Kendra's final confrontation with the sinister archvillain along a descending escalator is well played as the English instructional tapes subtly make the difference between life or death. This movie was very funny, with some excellent shootouts and a very sexy woman. What more could a guy want? Despite a few lulls, to simulate the waiting a contract killer often does, this was well worth my time. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

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• Appropriate title, interesting setup

  Yonhap S2000-04-13

  Forget the acting, the pace of the story, logic, and plotholes what makes this film interesting is the setup. The title Killing Time can go both ways: one that sounds like Time to Kill, or just wasting one's time away. Maria the Assassin is to kill a mob boss. The first place of her attack, the boss is not around and will be on the subway late afternoon. With nothing to do in the meantime, she's stays in the hotel to kill time. The structure and setup of the plot is interesting. You will notice a translator tape being played and only later does it show its importance. The verdict: 3.5 of 5 stars.

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• Could have been a classic

  helltopo2005-07-16

  I rented this movie mainly on the strength of the cover image of a lycra clad Kendra Torgan holding two pistols. In the tradition of 'B' movie video packaging,she of course never wears this outfit in the movie. However it's a film which could have been much better. The director Bharat Nalluri, like so many in the wake of 'Reservoir Dogs' attempts to pad out the film with dialogue between the characters which really adds nothing to the plot. Tarantino can carry this device off with aplomb, but not the director of this movie. 'Killing Time' feels like a 15 minute festival short which was at the last minute padded out to make a movie. The lead actress Kendra Torgan is not bad as the invulnerable Italian assassin, but her obvious impunity to any kind of harm removes any kind of suspense from this movie. Just like an episode of 'Alias' or 'VIP', you know that the beautiful heroine is not going to pick up a scratch and leave a pile of male bodies in her wake. When she is in a bath, she hears one of the incompetent morons hired to kill her moving outside. Now a genuine master of 'B' movie sleaze like Albert Pyun or Cirio H Santiago would have had Korgan leaping out of the bath and taking out her attacker naked. In this movie, in the space of under a minute, she manages to get out of the bath, dry herself completely, get fully dressed, climb into the roof cavity & surprise the guy in the space of a few seconds!. This scene alone exhibits the feeling I have that the filmmakers did not really know what target audience to aim for. Killing Time tries to be intellectual and an exploitationer at the same time and fails to be either.

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