We’re announcing the first series of the new year: Hitmen in Love:
The Assassination Bureau: April, 1969, available on DVD from Netflix; on sale used in DVD and VHS on Amazon; otherwise probably hard to find.
The Big Hit: April 24, 1998; available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Netflix; for sale and video-on-demand at Amazon..
Mr and Mrs. Smith: June 10, 2005; available on DVD and BluRay from Netflix; for sale and video-on-demand at Amazon.
You Kill Me: July 6, 2007; available on DVD and streaming from Netflix; for sale at Amazon..
The Baker/Assassin in Love: May 26, 2008; available on DVD and streaming from Netflix; for sale and video-on-demand at Amazon.
Killers: June 4, 2010; available on DVD and BluRay from Netflix; for sale and video-on-demand at Amazon.
And so you know how we arrived at the list, here’s the annotated list I sent Lani. She agreed.
The Assassination Bureau:
I still can’t find my copy of this–it’s not upstairs so it must be down here somewhere–and I’d like to see it first to make sure it holds up, but it’s older and I think it might be a good place to start, in a kinder, gentler, less snarky time.
The Whole Nine Yards:
The female romantic interest is the one who wants to be a hitman, so that’s a nice switch, but it’s really about the guy trying to survive, so I’m not sure it’s really a Hitman in Love movie. I’d vote no because of that.
The Big Hit:
Several people have mentioned it several times, it’s kind of obscure which is nice, and I remember it as working pretty well. I like doing movies most people haven’t seen.
The Baker/Assassin in Love:
I’m watching this tonight, but again, it’s obscure, so if it’s any good, we can get some good feedback on it. Also Damian Lewis, who is my Robert Downey Jr.
You Kill Me
I’d never even heard of this one, but it’s got a great cast.
Gigli
I’d watch this just because it’s so famous for being awful. On the other hand, it’s famous for being awful.
Mr and Mrs. Smith
I think this one almost has to go on there because people are so divided about it; they either love it or hate it. And my antipathy for it may stem from being Team Aniston.
Killers
This got terrible reviews, but it’s probably the most romcom of all the movies on here.
Wild Target
I’m dying to see this but it’s not scheduled to be on DVD any time soon. So I’d probably put an asterisk by it and say we’ll do it as a one-off if it shows up.
Red
I’m not sure this is a hitman romcom, but I want to see it and it’s out on DVD at the end of January. I think Bruce Willis has the romance, and Mirren is the hitwoman but not the romantic lead. We’ll watch it anyway, but I think we do it as a one-off and not as a Hitman in Love movie.
So I’d vote for:
The Assassination Bureau:
The Big Hit:
The Baker/Assassin in Love:
You Kill Me
Mr and Mrs. Smith
Killers
And of course, we’ll be referencing the Grail of Hitman in Love movies, Grosse Pointe Blank, throughout.
I like doing quirky series that focus on a single trope. Much more fun.
3 responses to “Hitmen in Love Series”
okay, now that i see the annotation of why Whole Nine Yards didn’t make it, I understand.
and how is it i’ve never heard of ‘red’? helen mirren? WOW!
Thankyou for inventing a whole new genre! Seriously, if there isn’t a page on TV Tropes for this yet, there ought to be…I tell a lie, there is “Hitman With A Heart” which is close.
I’ll probably take this opportunity to rewatch “In Bruges” too. It works similar strong relationship themes but between two hitmen. A terribly dark funny film.
When are we starting this series? I’ve only watched one movie on the list, so I’m excited…