Summary
This review was originally part of our coverage for the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Let’s face it, when haven’t hitman movies been cool?
That’s what makes his decision to not only star in but also to directKnox Goes Awayso damn weird.
Image via Saban Films
It’s not like Keaton is a bad actor, he’s a national treasure.
This is the man who played bothBatmanandBeetlejuicejust a year apart from each other.
This is an actor with some serious range, but he ultimately feels miscast here.
When a contract killer has a rapidly evolving form of dementia, he is offered an opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of the adult son with whom he had been estranged.
However, that’s nothing compared to Marsden’s inclusion in the film.
As for his work inKnox Goes Away, neither Keaton nor screenwriterGregory Poirierquite know what to do with him.
Yet inKnox Goes Away,it’s extremely hard to buy Marsden in the role he’s given.
His charm is completely absent and it’s just painful to see in this kind of role.
Hitmen in movies are always presented as characters who work with precision, and everything is planned out carefully.
At that point, the film feels broken beyond repair.
The film just never knows whether it wants to present itself as a neo-noir or a dark comedy.
It squanders far too much of its potential to even warrant giving the film a try.
Knox Goes Awayis now available to stream on Max in the U.S.
WATCH ON MAX
