Review of Assassination Tango

Introduction

Hollywood heavyweight Robert Duvall wrote, directed and starred in this unusual drama, produced for Francis Ford Coppola`s American Zoetrope, about an ageing hitman sent to Buenos Aires to liquidate an Argentinian General. The hitman initially thinks of the hit as just another job until he meets Manuela (Luciana Pedraza) who introduces him to the tango (the dance, not the drink).

Duvall exercises his acting chops as a man with an icy, ruthless side and a passion for sultry, South American dancing. The two sides of his life are normally compartmentalised, but his encounter with Manuela while on a contract complicates his life.

The film was a personal project of Duvall`s, and he carries the film entirely - a feat considering his directorial chores in addition. In spite of his profession you warm to the character of John J, and find yourself caring deeply what happens to him in the course of the movie.

Video

The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in an anamorphic widescreen transfer. Beautifully shot by Felix Monti, and in excellent condition as a recent movie should be, there is little if anything to complain about.

Audio

Not a showy movie by any stretch, the sound has still been given the blockbuster Dolby Digital 5.1 treatment which at least makes the music sound great.

Features

We`re very poorly treated with this Region Two edition of the film, as it comes completely bare-bones. The film comes with nothing more than a theatrical trailer and multilingual subtitles where the Region One came with an audio commentary, deleted and alternate scenes as well.

As I`ve only seen this movie available for rental to date, I wonder if perhaps MGM prepared the disc as a rental-only title and didn`t tell anybody it wasn`t for retail.

Conclusion

An earnest, character-driven piece from an assured old hand both behind and in front of the camera. Robert Duvall turns in a sympathetic performance as a man who just happens to kill people for a living and was hoping he had retired. The dancing - more the focus of the movie than the assassinating - features women of the variety found on that BBC1 ident whose legs give the impression of detaching themselves and waving about autonomously.