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ASSASSINATION
TANGO Rating:   Director: Robert Duvall Producers: Robert Duvall, Rob Carliner Writer: Robert Duvall Director of Photography: Felix Monti Cast: Robert Duvall, Ruben Blades, Kathy Baker, Luciana Pedraza Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Joseph
Campbell
3/24/03
Chalk it up to an aging Robert Duvall losing a step after a long and distinguished career. Or chalk it up to the difficulties of creating a film that draws too much from one man's personal obsession. Whatever the case, the end result of Assassination Tango, written, directed, produced and starring the venerable Duvall, is that the film isn't worth too much chalk.
Our protagonist in the story, John J., is a New York hitman by night -- sharp, calculating and unattached from the horrible nature of his handiwork. By day, he is a loving boyfriend and jovial, nurturing father figure to his girlfriend's young daughter. He's also a dancer.
Nevermind the fact that the premise itself is absurdly unconventional and a tough sell on even the most gullible audience. What's more incomprehensible, and at times almost comical, is that this complicated role is played by the 72-year-old Duvall, looking every bit a senior citizen.
Age discrimination aside, the plot only becomes more preposterous. John J. takes a contract hit job on a retired general in Buenos Aires. Unexpected delays prolong his stay in Argentina, and while exploring the urban backstreets of the city, he stumbles upon the esoteric subculture of the Tango. His immediate and passionate interest in the dance is fueled by a sexy young dancer named Manuela, played by Duvall's real-life "friend" Luciana Pedraza.
Meeting very little resistance, John J. convinces the lovely Manuela (who looks about one-third his age) to personally teach him the dance steps. Evidently, his ability to ham it up in Brooklyn vernacular while strutting gingerly down Latin American streets in mobster black is difficult for younger women to resist.
In the course of his lusty apprenticeship with this sultry new dance instructor, and after one of the most difficult-to-watch scenes in the history of all film (no elaboration necessary), John J. begins to fall for Manuela. But don't blink. The feeling is mutual. To sum up quickly, John J. must carry out the hit, find a resolution to his infatuations with the tango and the woman, and get back home to his surrogate family. If only this played out on screen.
Still, the film manages to retain some positives. For one, Duvall's remarkable talent and rangy work ethic are apparent even if a coherent story line to the film is not. His acting is reliable as usual, and his portrayal of John J. gives us brief glimpses into a conflicted man with perplexing inner demons. Unfortunately, because Duvall took the Herculean route of doing everything himself, the shortcomings of Assassination Tango must be attributed to him. These shortcomings are varied and sundry.
As is true in any industry, actors and writers, after attaining a certain level of acclaim and respect, will branch out to showcase their versatility, often by investing themselves in difficult projects that glorify self-righteous visions. Duvall has proved that he can wear multiple hats and still create a solid original film (see 1997's The Apostle for evidence). But his work here smacks of self-indulgence. Gratuitous close-ups and improvised scenes with Pedraza, who had no previous acting experience, and romanticized, unfulfilled talk about the Tango, a subject for which Duvall has publicly professed his zeal, are signs that he let his heart and his ego interfere with the making of this picture.
As a man who has been nominated for Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, and Tony awards, Duvall has earned respect and the right to be forgiven for lapses in judgment. But at his age, he can't afford too many more. Or maybe this critic just has a youth bias.
(A United Artists release. Opens in
New York and Los Angeles on March 28, 2003. Expands to more cities
at later dates.)
OTHER STAFF OPINIONS:
Warren (): An alternative solution for
insomnia, and far less addictive than sleeping pills.
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