Hitman 1.8 - The Prodigal Son Returns

Hitman: The Prodigal Son Returns

Genre: Action

Director: Francis Lawrence

Writer: Dwight Gallo

Based on the video game series

Cast: Ed Skrein, Charlotte Riley, Christian Berkel and Will Arnett

Plot: Agent Carlton Smith (Will Arnett) leads Agent 47 (Ed Skrein) to a secret tunnel leading to the basement labs of the asylum. Agent Smith wishes 47 luck on whatever it is he's doing. Smith then flees the asylum, flashing his credentials to the Romanian SWAT officers outside. He tells the officers that the building is empty and that he had been held captive but managed to subdue his captors and escape. He thanks them for their service before asking for a ride back to town. The SWAT officers are skeptical of Smith, not believing that any government would hire him as an operative, and arrest him on the spot. Smith angrily mutters that he was sure that would work.

Agent 47 follows the dark tunnel into the labs where he finds an aged and weathered Dr. Otto Wolfgang Ort-Meyer (Christian Berkel) waiting for him. Dr. Ort-Meyer reveals to 47 that he is the result of a cloning experiment which combined the genetic material of each of his four previous targets, who had all been past associates of Ort-Meyer's, as well as the genetic material of himself. Ort-Meyer says that the goal was to create a flawless human being.

Agent 47 is baffled by the news. Ort-Meyer then tells 47 that he has to be killed as well now that Ort-Meyer has created clones more powerful than 47 at this point, clones with no ability to think for themselves, essentially making them puppets at his disposal. Ort-Meyer laughs as several clones identical to 47 emerge from the shadows. Ort-Meyer introduces 47 to his brothers, the No. 48s. The 48s attack 47. They are clearly physically stronger than 47, but they lack his knowledge and experience.

Agent 47 dispatches his younger clone counterparts one at a time, much to Ort-Meyer's surprise. After killing all of his brothers, 47 heads to confronts Dr. Ort-Meyer. Ort-Meyer hides in the lab trying to avoid 47. 47 searches through the lab, musing about how funny it is that half a dozen of Ort-Meyer's perfect killing machines couldn't even come close to stopping the real thing. 47 says that genetics don't create a soldier. 47 then emerges in front of Ort-Meyer. 47 asks Ort-Meyer if he has any last words. Just as Ort-Meyer is about to speak, 47 shoots Ort-Meyer in the chest, sending Ort-Meyer to the ground gasping for air, revealing he is wearing a bulletproof vest. 47 then coldly snaps Ort-Meyer's neck. 47 takes Ort-Meyer's identification and leaves in Ort-Meyer's car. Down the road he comes across a roadblock. The Romanian police asks to see 47's identification and vehicle registration. 47 shows the officer Ort-Meyer's identification and is cleared to leave.

47 abandons the car on a mountain road along with Ort-Meyer's identification. He sets the car to explode and begins walking into the wilderness. He detonates the explosive on the car, destroying Ort-Meyer's car. 47 continues walking through the mountains. He tosses his weapons into a stream and begins walking south as the sun sets. 47 receives a call in his ear from Diana Burnwood (Charlotte Riley). She asks him if he has finished the job. 47 pulls the earpiece out of his ear and tosses down an embankment and continues walking. For the first time in his life, 47 finally feels free.

Hitman let us know that it wasn't just an action series, flirting with a variety of genres over the course of the season, ranging from thriller, to, surprisingly, comedy. A few performances are worth noting, especially Skrein and the scene-stealing Will Arnett.

I'm was disappointed by the lack of long term storyline at midseason and I'm glad that the writers made me wrong. I found the last episodes interesting, but uneven and the strongest of the bunch of the last episode, probably the most significant of the series

I feel like Hitman doesn't exploit the creativity and freedom that the games offer, with each kill feeling more and more generic as the season went along, altough each victim was more and more significant to the story. I'm interested to see where they go from here, but I was a bit disappointed with the outcome.

Gauntlet 1.9 - Week 10

Gauntlet - Week 10

Genre: Sports / Drama

Executive Producer: Antoine Fuqua

Writer: Matt Parker

Cast : William Fichtner, Josh Duhamel, Trevor Jackson, John David Washington, Eric Roberts, Saffron Burrows, B.D. Wong, Jimmy Tatro, Clancy Brown and Charles Melton

AFA Commissioner Ted Watros (Clancy Brown) announces at a press conference that the Memphis Pharaohs have been fined and will have to forfeit a 2nd round draft pick after the league has found that the team violated the league's concussion protocol during their last game. Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) is watching the press conference in his office. He throws his coffee mug across the room and storms out of the office. He bursts into the medical office and screams at the team doctor, Dr. Clifford Chen (B.D. Wong). He yells that Dr. Chen has an hour to have his things packed up and be off the team's property or he'll have security escort him out of the building. Dr. Chen tries to explain that Tim Collins asked him to pass him on the concussion test, but Heath doesn't care. Dr. Chen's actions have now cost him a valuable draft pick and has potentially cost his starting quarterback the rest of the season due to further injury. Dr. Chen begins packing up his things, but Coach Heath has security escort him out of the building anyways.

Coach Heath meets with the team and tells them that Collins will be away from the team this week recovering from his concussion, but that he will be put through the concussion protocol again later in the week before their game in New York against the Americans. Most of the team is bummed, but backup quarterback Chase Kearney (Jimmy Tatro) is quietly jazzed, promising his teammates to bust his ass in practice that week to be ready for New York. Coach Heath pulls Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) aside and tells him that the team is his this week. It's his turn to step up and be a leader for the team. Heath tells him that he'll be a captain for the first time this week, a rare honor for a rookie. Heath looks Thomas in the eye and tells him to make sure it wasn't a mistake. Thomas nods and hits the weight room.

Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) is laying in bed half-naked with Jeremy (Charles Melton), who is sleeping next to him, when the phone rings. Tatum answers. It's Coach Heath, who asks if they can meet that week. Tatum agrees to stop by the team facility the next day. Tatum gets out of bed and limps around his house to make breakfast for Jeremy and himself. While Tatum cooks, Jeremy enters the kitchen and holds Tatum.

Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is working out at home to try to keep his body ready to play just in case his head is ready in time. Sharon Matthews calls him, but Collins ignores the call to continue working out. After his workout, Collins heads to see his personal doctor, who takes a brain scan, and advises him to sit out at least another week, if not two. Collins doesn't like the suggestion since the team only has two games left to secure their place in the playoffs.

At the team facility, Lincoln Tatum meets with Coach Heath in his office. Heath asks him how the knee is doing, and Tatum says that it's coming along and that he should be all good for the next season, even if he'll probably have to play a veterans minimum deal to prove he's healthy again. Coach Heath tells Tatum that due to the other injuries on the team he is going to have to officially release Tatum from the team so that they can sign someone to help fill in for some of the other injured players. Tatum's face falls. He's never been cut from a team before. Heath explains that as important as Tatum has been for the team the last handful of years, it doesn't make sense to continue to carry his contract on the roster since he's already been ruled out for the rest of the season, plus he's in the last year of his contract. Tatum tells Heath that he understands and that maybe they'll talk again come free agency. Heath shakes Tatum's hand and wishes him luck on his recovery. Tatum goes back home and tells Jeremy that he was cut from the team. Jeremy tries to console Tatum, but Tatum asks to be left alone.

Chase Kearney is impressing people in practice. Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) heads onto the practice field to talk to Coach Heath. Palmer mentions that Kearney is looking sharp out there, which Heath agrees to. Palmer wants Heath to start looking at some of the quarterbacks set for the upcoming draft. He feels that Collins is done and it's time to look toward the future, unless of course he thinks Kearney is the guy to get the job done. The team is 5-4, and will likely need to win at least two of their last three games of the season to earn a playoff berth.

Tim Collins flies to New York with the team Saturday morning. When they land, he is taken to the league offices in Manhattan. Commissioner Watros tells him that one the of the league's approved doctors will be running the concussion test on Collins to see if he will be able to play Sunday. Collins is escorted to an examination room. After the test, the doctor tells the commissioner that Collins is still showing signs of a post-concussive syndrome and is not cleared to play that weekend. Watros personally breaks the news to both Heath and Collins. They are both disappointed, but understand that Collins can't play. Watros reminds Heath that if the team is found to violate the league's concussion protocol again the team will lose a first round pick.

On game day, Tim Collins watches from the sidelines as Jefferson Thomas leads the offense out onto the field as a captain. 

Call My Agent 1.6 - Character

Call My Agent - Character

Genre : Drama / Comedy / Satire
Director: Jason Reitman
Writer : Dominic Wilkins
Cast: Lesley Manville, Caroline Dhavernas, Rainn Wilson and Margo Martindale

Plot:

Despite feeling superior to everyone else all her life, Miranda (Lesley Manville) took Wilson’s speech personally and she decided that it was time to look at herself in the mirror and to really change, a real wake up call, if you will. She feels like she has disappointed her employees enough already and she intends to write her letter of resignation and disappear of their lives just like she appeared, out of nowhere. She unlocks the door of her office on a Saturday night, where no one is at the office and lets a slight gasp go, out of surprise. Her chair spins dramatically, revealing Margo Martindale (Margo Martindale).

Andrea (Caroline Dhavernas) double checks the address on her napkin to make sure she’s at the right door. She looks around confused and knocks. She’s not surprised to see Robert (Rainn Wilson), in his wifebeater and boxers open the door. He has the opposite reaction, rapidly closing the door and begging her to go away, but she held the door with her feet.

Miranda gets her pepper spray can out of her purse and is ready to attack. She asks her what she’s doing in her office and she doesn’t seem to recognize her. Margo says she’s just here to practice getting into character and there’s no better place to do it than here. She notices that Miranda is on the verge of crying and when she starts to cry, she asks her if everything is going to be alright. Miranda says it isn’t and she won’t be able to do it, she’s just a spineless idiot who can’t do anything except spending money. Margo gets up and pins Miranda down on a chair. She gets right next to her face and she says that all of this is gibberish. She’s a strong, independent woman and that she’s in control of her life. It reassures Miranda a little bit and Margo tells her she can do whatever she wanted to do now, it’s fine. Miranda thanks “the mysterious woman” for her help and she picks up a pen to start a draft of her resignation letter.

Bob dressed up a bit and him and Andrea share awkward looks in his living room, full of empty chip bags and sticky glass mounts. Andrea sarcastically ask how the kids are doing, but Robert doesn’t want to laugh, he’s ashamed, right now. Andrea looks around her, at the mess her colleague calls a living room. She wonders how a man like him can keep a house like that. She’s distracted by the sounds of Robert sobbing. He shakes his head in disapproval and hides his face with his hand.

Miranda is writing her letter of resignation as Margo Martindale is practicing her lines, alone. Miranda looks at her weirdly and she asks Margo who she is. Margo says she’s Fredericka Mandelbaum. Miranda just tells her that she loves her old school outfit and she asks her where she got it. Margo, always the character actress, says that she sewed it herself, of course, nobody in town sells outfits like this and besides, she doesn’t dress like the common people. Miranda says that they are so alike, because she doesn’t dress like normal people too. Margo asks her what she’s writing that’s taking her so long. She grabs the sheet and notices that it’s a letter of resignation. Margo berates Miranda for it and she agrees that she’s just a spineless idiot. Women like them are strong and passionate, they are not quitters. She tells Miranda that she needs to toughen up and stand straight. A woman like her shouldn’t be afraid of petty things and of common people. She’s someone special, just like everyone on this planet and she shouldn’t let adversity get in her way. She needs to show a little character and toughen up. Screw that resignation and own her responsibilities. She’s strong and she can do it. Margo knows that Miranda has it in her. She looks confident, but now it’s time to act like one. Miranda, inspired by Fredericka’s speech, tears her letter in half.

Andrea tries to reassure Bob that everything is alright, he doesn’t need to be ashamed. He says that he had his reasons to lie. Andrea says that whatever his reasons are, they must be good, because it’s not something you usually lie about. He says he’s ashamed of his life, ashamed of his disappointing life. He tells Andrea that he was never able to build a normal life outside of work and that he made up this lie to give the mirage of stability when he met them at the office, because nobody in their right mind would hire a lone, unstable drunkard who lives on chips and ramen to manage high-profile and equally unstable and needy stars and he wanted this job, he wanted to succeed, for at least one thing in his life and living the lie was the only way for him to do so. He’s also ashamed of the sacrifices she made, withholding her salary so they can keep in her job, for his kids, even if he doesn’t have any. He says he’s going to be the one to not be paid and she can have her salary. She’s a good woman and he’s not a good man. She says it’s time for them to leave and he follows her to her car.

Andrea thanks Fredericka Mandelbaum for her help today and Margo says that it was a pleasure, she loves to be the character she plays to help her performance. Miranda holds off Margo at the door and she’s surprised to learn that she’s not Fredericka Mandelbaum. Margo says that of course, she’s not Fredericka, she’s acclaimed character actress Margo Martindale and she’s tired of not being recognized, so she better tell her employees to find her leading roles. There’s one other thing she needs to remember about today. Everything is about character.

Andrea parks her car in a parking lot and asks Robert to follow her. He complies and she opens the door of her condo. She says hi to her two kids sitting on the couch playing video games who look at her innocently. Bob can only say one thing: oh damn….