The Hitmen Diaries: Charlie Valentine

Before I get started, let's just suffice to say that I loved this movie. I screened it at the AOF Festival in Pasadena 2009 and not only did Jesse Johnson do a great job making a film about a terrifically flawed but outstanding character; he did it in a way that kept the tension, excitement and power of the film moving, moving, moving. Raymond Barry was fascinating to watch as was the rest of the stellar cast, from Keith David to James Russo, Tom Berenger and one of my favorites Steven Bauer. The cast alone is worth the price of admission and if you get the chance to see Maxine Bahns in Conjurer, don't pass it up, she is great. The story follows Charlie on the lamb and in a seemingly desperate attempt to bond with his son in the process, a son who desperately wants to be like his father; or so he thinks. No spoiler here but what happens is fun to watch and a pleasure to see. I know the director and stars usually get all the credit but in this case someone needs to give a little love to the producers who took a chance and gave me one of my best viewing experiences of 2009. Great job guys!

Studios spend tens of millions of dollars to distract us with explosions, effects, and big names. The Hit men Diaries doesn't have that. What it does have is strong writing, great cinematography, powerful acting, and some names from actions films of the 90's. Raymond Barry does a great job as the lead, playing a ready to retire gangster.

I saw this film at AOF and everyone was at the edge of their seat at the gritty dialog. A well evolved film that shows us, a good script and good acting, makes for a good film. The story drew in the audience. The duality of the character intrigued. The director did a great job retelling a classic style heist film. All the pieces came together for this.

Despite the rating here this one is one more popular original films written and Directed by Jesse V. Johnson. Like many of his works it is a study of a flawed character in a violent world seeking some personal redemption. The film is a little longer than it needs to be. It looks like a Guy Ritchie film at parts. It has its good share of violence and sex. I like the actors and the supporting characters, especially Dominique Vandenberg, who would go on to star in a greta film. The Mercenary. I like Raymond Barry in the lead role; however, I don't like the character and that was toughest part for me. I am aficionado of Johnson's work and you must see this in his Library of films but I like The Butcher better as an older on and I loved The Beautiful Ones. This is good. Johnson is the master of making the most of a conservative budget.

...but the bad is pretty distracting.

Though the cinematography is slick and attractive, the editing is extremely flawed. This leaves the film disjointed and choppy; certain scenes become complete non-sequiturs, some of the action gets muddy, and jump cuts occasionally get ahead of themselves. Another round in the editing room could seriously improve the storytelling, because the right elements for an extremely compelling and rewarding character drama are there, they're just poorly communicated. The structure of something great is present, but it isn't filled out.

My second biggest problem was Raymond J. Barry. He was dull and often awkward as the eponymous gangster, there's only the occasional flash of the charisma and appeal his character is supposed to have. He delivers almost all his dialogue in an unsteady, disinterested mumble, and gritty realism may be unintelligible, but realism of that kind certainly puts a damper on the plot and characterisation. The other actors were uniformly excellent, especially Michael Weatherly who shone brilliantly in the last quarter of the film, though none of them have quite as much to do as they should. Danny and Charlie's Parole Officer both needed more development as individuals and a little more background would have helped the father/son relationship a lot.

Give me a reason why Danny admires Charlie so much and I would have been more willing to go along for the ride with them. Their reunion and Charlie's allure and charm as a successful gangster was rushed past and barely present, respectively. Danny's first defining character trait is uneasiness with authority and a fervent desire to remain out of prison. Why does he then turn around and become a disciple of his father without any kind of intermediate process of rationalisation? Yes, he wants to hold on to his father at any cost, but where is the indecision and what about Charlie's behaviour resolves him? As it was, his hero worship and abandonment issues must be extrapolated and his anger with his father is more prominent than the idealisation that makes him want to follow in the old man's footsteps. I know where the story is coming from, because it is such a classic story, but I would have preferred to actually see it on the screen instead of inferring it.

Basically, a clearer emotional progression was needed for Danny and frankly, I didn't find Charlie likable enough for his place in the story to function. He's despicable, but he should be charmingly despicable and I was not convinced he was charming.

I've seen Jesse Johnson's third and best movie (so far) at the "Action On Film" festival in Pasadena California. This little known cinematographic gem harvested the festival Best picture, Best action Picture, Best Cinematography and the Best Musical Score. Quite a feat for the team led by the talented screen writer and director Jesse Johnson who managed in only 18 days of filming (and with a budget that is considered petty cash in Hollywood) to come up with an action drama movie that isn't only well acted, captivating and entertaining for the action movie fans, but also adds a very human dimension to the classic gangster movie of the old days. Think of the main character Charlie Valentine as an aged Scarface who's ruthlessness and killing instincts are fading away with age and with the realization that in life there are other more important things than money, power and sex. The characters are well rounded and played wonderfully by the main characters, Raymond J. Barry (Training Day) and Michael Weatherly (Gun Shy). The cinematography is top notch - a special mention for the great camera work and image quality. And most importantly, it certainly looks like Jesse Johnson, the screen writer and director of Charlie Valentine who did an excellent job putting this story on screen, is becoming the new flag bearer of the British Invasion in American cinema. Rent or buy the DVD - you won't be sorry.