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I Hired a Contract Killer

  • 1990
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
I Hired a Contract Killer (1990)
ComedyCrimeDramaRomance

Henri is depressed after losing his job, but finds himself too afraid to go through with suicide. He hires a contract killer to do the job for him instead - but what happens if he changes hi... Read allHenri is depressed after losing his job, but finds himself too afraid to go through with suicide. He hires a contract killer to do the job for him instead - but what happens if he changes his mind?Henri is depressed after losing his job, but finds himself too afraid to go through with suicide. He hires a contract killer to do the job for him instead - but what happens if he changes his mind?

  • Director
    • Aki Kaurismäki
  • Writers
    • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Peter von Bagh
  • Stars
    • Jean-Pierre Léaud
    • Margi Clarke
    • Kenneth Colley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    8.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Writers
      • Aki Kaurismäki
      • Peter von Bagh
    • Stars
      • Jean-Pierre Léaud
      • Margi Clarke
      • Kenneth Colley
    • 22User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Photos18

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Jean-Pierre Léaud
    Jean-Pierre Léaud
    • Henri Boulanger
    Margi Clarke
    Margi Clarke
    • Margaret
    Kenneth Colley
    Kenneth Colley
    • Killer
    T.R. Bowen
    • Department Head
    • (as Trevor Bowen)
    Imogen Claire
    • Secretary
    • (as Imogen Clare)
    Angela Walsh
    • Landlady
    Cyril Epstein
    • Cab Driver
    Nicky Tesco
    Nicky Tesco
    • Pete
    Charles Cork
    Charles Cork
    • Al
    Michael O'Hagan
    • Killer's Boss
    Tex Axile
    • Bartender
    Walter Sparrow
    Walter Sparrow
    • Receptionist
    Tony Rohr
    Tony Rohr
    • Frank
    Joe Strummer
    Joe Strummer
    • Guitarist
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Jeweller
    Serge Reggiani
    Serge Reggiani
    • Vic
    Ette Elliot
    • Killer's Daughter
    Roberto Pla
    • Bongo Man
    • Director
      • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Writers
      • Aki Kaurismäki
      • Peter von Bagh
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    7.18.5K
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    Featured reviews

    9daniel-vargas

    a man who don't want to live, contracts a killer who don't want to die.

    Great movie. Based on the story by Jules Verne Les Tribulations d'un chinois en Chine, Kaurismaki surprise us again with his strange humorous style. A story about feelings in an inexpressive way; don't mind how blue you can feel, there's always a place for love and hope. People and their contradictions; a man who don't want to live, contracts a killer who don't want to die. If you have seen any Kaurismaki's films, you should know that they are different; His way of filming and his stories are not "normal" in the commercial way; he seems to keep the distances with the characters, and that could be annoying for some people; but if you like it, you will love all his films. Kaurismaki is a genius, and he is funny too.
    redredred_13

    The suspension is perfectly 'Hitchcokic'& the use of music is great. Lay back, watch and enjoy.

    Do you like classics? Do you have a thing for Hitchcock, or lets say, Jean Pierre Melville? Do you wanna see how does that translate into a more modern progressive movie? Well! here is what you do: You go straight to a club and you purchase 'I Hired a Contract Killer'! It sticks with you; the futility, the humor, and the suspense. This is a picture that no matter what, you gonna remember for ever. The futility is so rich, that itself becomes the core meaning to everything. And the situation gets so baffled that emptiness becomes a survival. The suspension is perfectly 'Hitchcokic'& the use of music is great. It is among the pictures that secures you; makes you sure that still cinema exists; A cinema that tells you a story, a breathtaking one - and damn, Kourismaki is a great story teller; a noble one. One of the few left from the true heritage of motion picture industry and art. Lay back, watch and enjoy. This is pure cinema. As you might have guessed, I fully recommend it!
    9-qz

    A man hires a killer to kill him at undetermined time but suddenly wakes up to a reality where he doesn't want to die anymore.

    Finnish movies are often blamed (at least by Finns themselves) for containing very weak emotions and total lack of good humor. In my opinion, this movie gives a great deal of both.

    The main character is an immigrant who loses his job and while swimming in depression, he tries to kill himself (and fails on it, too).

    The movie gets great after the point where our hero hires an contract killer to kill him. Since his life is already lost (and the killer is going to kill him anytime), he begins to sink more and more into misery just when... he falls in love.

    Suddenly, life isn't so bad anymore - too bad that the killer is still shadowing him and just trying to finish the contract they've made.

    I just simply LOVE this movie, it is so funny and yet so good parody about all Finnish customs and traditions.
    9MaxBorg89

    An intelligent crime comedy with an intriguing premise

    Over the course of seven movies, Aki Kaurismäki explored various sides of Finnish life and culture, from the inexorably tragic (The Match Factory Girl) to the upright hilarious (Leningrad Cowboys Go America). For his eighth feature film, he decided to try something new: he moved to England, ditched all of his regular actors, cast his all-time idol (New wave star Jean-Pierre Lèaud) in the lead and came up with one of the most brilliant and bizarre comedies of recent years. Well, not that recent, but it's genius, I can assure you.

    The story takes place in London, and begins in what seems to be a very boring office (or at least the work is boring). Because of financial difficulties, some employees have to be made redundant. For some other reason, foreigners are the first victims. In other words, Henri Boulanger (Lèaud) is out of the game. Having lost the only thing he really cared for, he thinks there's nothing left for him in life and therefore tries to kill himself. Repeatedly. And with mediocre results (hanging? The rope is tron apart; putting the head in an oven? Gas strike all over the city).

    This makes Henri even more miserable. So sad, in fact, that he eventually asks a professional assassin (Kenneth Colley) to do the job. While waiting for his final hour to come, he goes to a pub. And there the unexpected happens: he meets a woman (Margi Clarke), rediscovers the joy of living and changes his mind. Pity the killer won't...

    In someone else's hands, this film could have been an absurd, grotesque, unrealistic parody of gangster movies. Kaurismäki, however, keeps it simple and believable, largely thanks to the controlled performances: Colley stays cold and unaffected throughout the whole film, even when he's coughing blood, while Léaud never abandons his everyman role, doing nothing more than occasionally raise an eyebrow when things take unpredicted turns.

    The film is almost perfect, weren't it for one factor: Margi Clarke. With all the talented British actresses available, Kaurismäki had to pick an unknown with no charm and a dreadful accent. This slight casting mistake prevents I Hired a Contract Killer from being an undisputed masterwork, but like all the other movies on Kaurismäki's CV, it's still worth your attention.
    fefe23

    Grows on you

    I only saw this movie once, over a decade ago. It was horrible. Noone laughed or even smiled in it, all the scenery was bleak, the story was depressing, and it almost made the audience feel suicidal as well (like the protagonist).

    But, with each passing year, I like this movie more. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it again. It actually is a great comedy, but it took me years to understand that.

    Should you see it? Definitely. I still remember this obscure movie after over 10 years and although I hated it at first. It inspired me enough to write this comment here. About how many movies can you say that?

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Aki Kaurismäki: the man who sells the sunglasses to Henri.
    • Quotes

      Henri Boulanger: Do you want to leave your home?

      Margaret: The working class has no fatherland.

    • Connections
      Featured in Uuden aallon jäljillä (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Time On My Hands
      Music by Vincent Youmans

      Lyrics by Harold Adamson and Mack Gordon

      Performed by Billie Holiday

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    FAQ16

    • How long is I Hired a Contract Killer?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 1990 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Finland
      • Sweden
      • Germany
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Finnish
    • Also known as
      • Unajmio sam placenog ubicu
    • Filming locations
      • Holborn Viaduct, London, England, UK(Henri's office)
    • Production companies
      • Villealfa Filmproductions
      • Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)
      • Finnkino
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 19m(79 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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