Notes on Hitman (2007)

Director: Xavier Gens
Release date: 30 November 2007

Plot: A gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 hired by a group known only as 'The Organization' is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Russia and Eastern Europe.
User Comments: They captured the personality of 47 near perfectly.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant
Dougray Scott
Olga Kurylenko
Robert Knepper
Ulrich Thomsen
Henry Ian Cusick
Michael Offei
Christian Erickson
Eriq Ebouaney
Joe Sheridan
James Faulkner
Jean-Marc Bellu
Nicky Naude
Abdou Sagna
Ilya Nikitenko

Notes:

Whilst the credits are being shown, classical music is played, this is to create a spooky and emotional mood. Bright lighting is used, to make it feel surreal. In this film the main character doesn't have a name. This indicates he does'nt belong to anyone and has no family, the audience sympathise for this.

The next mise-en-scene shows number 47 with a barcode being tattooed to his head. The blood shows the audience the pain he went through and the red connotes danger. It also makes the audience wonder why they're given barcodes.

Children are used in the opening scenes, this is to recieve sympathy from the audience. In the next mise-en-scene, the children look as though they're being targeted, this indicates they're constantly feeling threatened and watched.

The camera then focusses on the word 'discipline' for a few seconds, which makes the audience aware that these children are part of some sort of disciplined group. It aslo makes the audience question who's disciplining them and why?!

The next mise-en-scene is of a boy pointing a gun. This is used as a shock tactic, as children don't hold guns. White lighting is used, to make the audience feel that someone is looking back on their past.

A close up shot of a surgeon with a needle is used, it's also a point of view shot. This is used to put the audience in this boys shoes, so they understand the fear and pain he went through. The mise-en-scene immediately after this is an extreme close-up of the boys eye. In the eye you can see the reflection of the bright lights. These lights look like bullet holes, which connotes danger and refects on the fact that the boy earlier on was holding a gun and therefore has this on his mind.

close up shot is then used of a gun in a box, which shows this gun is a significant part to the film.

Throughout the film number 47 wears a long black suite. This is used to add to the noir lighting and is a genre signifier. It also tells us that, as a characterm, number 47 is serious, emotionless and dark. Another genre signifier is that number 47 puts a woman in the boot, the boot is often used in thriller films, as it's a claustrophobic place that gives off a sense of feeling trapped.

Also in these two mise-en-scene's above, noir lighting is used. This is a typical thriller conventions and is used to create the dull and spooky atmosphere. Wet roads are also used, to add to the dullness.

A point of view shot is used of number 47. It's very cleverly shot, as they have managed to look at what the table behind are doing, through a spoon. This is used so that we don't get a clear image of what's happening behind number 47, but we see it from his point of view.

The next mise-en-scene is of number 47 walking through a narrow corrider. This connotes him making people feel trapped and indicates that something is about to happen. There's also a close-up shot of Nika, that suggests she's a femme fatal, through her drak eyes and big red lips.

There's then a mise-en-scene of number 47 in the toilet, it shows what's about to happen. Two people are in front of him and slow motion is used to emphasise that number 47 is about to kill these two men.

The last mise-en-scene of number 47 in the film is of him on a tall building with a gun. This indicates he's superior and hasn't been defeated.