Assassin’s Plan

Director: Michael Keaton
Starring: Michael Keaton, James Marsden, Al Pacino, Marcia Gaye Harden, Joanna Kulig and Suzy Nakamura
Distributor: StudioCanal
Runtime: 115 mins. Reviewed in Oct 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Strong violence and coarse language

When a contract killer has a rapidly evolving form of dementia, he is offered an opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son.
A surprisingly interesting human drama. Even more so when we realise that the central character is a long time, very successful professional hitman. And, the film was directed by its star, Keaton, playing the hitman, in an intense performance.
The film was released locally with an alternate title, Assassin’s Plan, indicating violent action. While there is some violent action, the assassin’s plan itself is not what we might expect, quite some twist as the film comes to a conclusion.
The original title, Knox Goes Away, is the more telling title. While we see John Knox take on a commission (generally commissions are to eliminate drug dealers and other thugs), we see him momentarily hesitant, just trying to remember, the thought going out of his head, a touch of insecurity. He is covering himself, flies to California for a consultation with a neurologist who gives him a sombre diagnosis, a special kind of dementia diagnosed and not long before it takes over. There are signals throughout the world film as each successive week comes on.
Incipient dementia has a disastrous effect on the hit. The local detectives, led by the tough Emily Ikari (Nakamura) note the inconsistencies at the murder scene, and a lead to John Knox. But, the screenplay becomes even more complex with the arrival of John Knox’s long-time alienated son Myles (Marsden), with a violent story of his own. It involves a sleazy trafficking dealer and his relationship with Myles’ daughter.
One of the entertaining aspects of the film is the presence of Pacino, long-time coordinator of crimes and hits – a perfect Pacino role. There is a later guest appearance by Marcia Gaye harden as John Knox’s long-suffering wife.
So, there is double interest in the latter part of the film, John Knox’s relationship with his son, the reason for the alienation, his attempts to rectify the situation. The other interest is Knox’s declining memory, increasing failures, the inevitable onset and its repercussions. While we can’t admire Knox as a person, we can have some compassion as we empathise with the dementia. A film Michael Keaton can be proud of.