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Good lines, taut action and spine-chilling suspense make
The Contract a must-see, says
Take a cop-turned-teacher Ray Keene (John Cusack) who is having problems with his teenage son Chris (Jamie Anderson) and have the two of them run into a ruthless contract killer Frank Carden (Morgan Freeman). What does the future hold? Possibilities galore. The picturesque Washington state backdrop and perilous heights and abundant greenery make The Contract an action-packed drama replete with thrills and suspense. "I’m contracted to exterminate obstacles to progress," says Carden who has a reputation for efficiency in his business and for that he is sought after by many, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with Ms Miles (Alice Krige) as one of its chief operatives. Ray has just lost his wife through cancer and he goes camping with his son Chris after he has been arrested by the cops for taking drugs. As if all this is not enough trouble, he has to run into the contract killer and his supporting gang of thugs. It is an intriguing plot and the narrative is endowed with an imaginative screenplay by Stephen Katz and John Darrouzet. Moving along more than two fronts director Bruce Beresford keeps his viewers in a trance from the word go. How ruthless are these killers, that’s the big question? To start with Carden’s support gang snuffs out lives like killing flies. It is a two-step contract and for what reason no one knows. Add to this a likely attempt on the life of the United States President. So the action swings from Washington DC to Washington state and the laidback pace of the local cops is loud and clear as they have to contend with the CIA bigwigs. The lush green locales are reminiscent of films like Deliverance which first brought Burt Reynolds into the public eye. Others followed. But the strength of The Contract is the twists and turns in the plot. That the tense situation even helps the father-son relationship is academic and one of the hitchhikers Sandra (Megan Dodds) provides the romantic interest. A producer of TV commercials, she also provides one of the best lines "those advertising guys, they’re the worst." So between good lines, taut action, spine-chilling suspense, one has all ingredients of a fast-paced thriller. Taking back a prisoner or contract killer is reminiscent of Midnight Run. There are red herrings and director Beresford is at his best using the pauses effectively and having the benefit of two talented players like Morgan Freeman and John Cusack who do full justice to their parts. Alice Krige who was a big star two decades ago with such renowned films like Chariots of Fire is given a small cameo and one is at once able to see the change in her occasioned by the passing of time. Megan Dodds may be reminds Krige of her salad days but some other members of the killer gang are adequately chosen. So are the snuffing out anecdotes which provides the film with its authenticity. All in all, The Contract is a first-rate thriller. Not to be missed.
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