Killing Time (1998)

The strongest character in this film is a woman. The director makes this obvious from the beginning and I find this to be an appealing, even sexy, notion. Those who are threatened by this concept are doomed to dislike, or hate, this picture. This is not an overtly feminist tract. In fact, there is a droll sense of humor permeating the dialogue in the film. Bryant's four discount assassins are amusing in their arguments with one another and their near total obliviousness to the danger of their assignment. They would be inept killers in any circumstance, but especially here where they perceive a woman to be easy pickings. Kendra Torgan is very sexy as the Italian mercenary who dispatches her enemies with gusto. Her attempt to learn English via audiotape while assassins infiltrate her suite is amusing and enhances her stature as a superior, cold-blooded assassin. Kendra's final confrontation with the sinister archvillain along a descending escalator is well played as the English instructional tapes subtly make the difference between life or death. This movie was very funny, with some excellent shootouts and a very sexy woman. What more could a guy want? Despite a few lulls, to simulate the waiting a contract killer often does, this was well worth my time. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.