Tyra_T

Soul Assassin is about a young man Kevin Burke, (played by Skeet Ulrich) who's the golden boy at his work. It seems like he has everything, nice boss, nice salary, nice girlfriend (a co-worker), and even a healthy rivalry with the bosses' son "Junior" (don't call him that it makes him mad.) It's a big day for Kevin, he's going to propose to his girlfriend - so the boss gives him the afternoon off, the keys to a fancy hotel room and (as it turns out) a promotion to VP of Security.

Kevin and his girlfriend go to the hotel, his future looks bright, everything's going according to plan - unfortunately for Kevin it's not HIS plan. When they arrive at the hotel Kevin tries to set the mood, but his girlfriends a little antsy - - she asks him what the real reason is they're there and looks like she needs to tell him something important when the door knocks, she looks at Kevin..."Go ahead and answer it" (one of his surprises no doubt), she opens the door to reveal a bellboy holding 2 dozen roses with a card that says "Will you marry me?" - - then the bellboy opens fire, and despite Kevin's efforts, the bellboy kills his future fiancee and gets away. Then the story begins...who killed Kevin's girlfriend, and why?

I liked it! :-) A little over-stylized and it felt like a suspense film shot as an action. They used the blue filter so much you wondered why they just didn't shoot in B&W. To be honest, the end was a real hook (and you wouldn't want me to reveal the end would you? ;-))

Skeet Ulrich was amazingly likeable in this role as an ordinary guy, who's pretty much got everything handed to him, but DOESN'T let that interfere with his ability to reason. I've never really liked Skeet until this movie, it was a good choice for him.

My second favorite character was the villain...you don't really know who he is until the end - because everyone's pretty much a suspect but trust me it turns out to be the guy you LOVE to hate. I liked the introduction of the gay hacker, nicely done (and not overdone) - it's rare to see a gay man in a movie who's not totally over-the-top or totally dead-serious. PLUS...they've allowed the gay man to have a brain, which is probably a first.

Some of the dialogue made me smile, like when Kevin' walkin' up the steps to Tessa's apartment dressed in disguise as a delivery guy and some retard's like "Hey, I love your California Rolls" and Kevin says "Thanks, I make 'em myself".

There was a cool bike getaway scene, very nice. A ramp jump to the top of a passing boat saved his life, then he turns around and flips them off. Nice touch (lol). Those bad guys should've trained a little harder in their childhood neighborhood so they wouldn't be left in the dust. I'd also never seen a film made in Rotterdam (that I can remember) so it was a nice different kind of flavor for a backdrop.

Overall a thumbs up, for me it was like "Resident Evil" - the end really pulled it all together and made me think it was a good movie.

Most directors have a gimmick (or a 'hook') and David Lynch in the past ("The Elephant Man", "Twin Peaks", "Blue Velvet" etc...) always had the ability to manipulate an audiences emotions - to take them down a road less travelled and freak everybody out...But with "Mulholland Drive" he fails with his own gimmick - he can't make it work, instead he gives us his drug induced fantasies.

He introduces two female characters one blonde, one brunette ala "Diabolique" who team up to solve the mystery of the brunette's identity. (She was in a car accident and has amnesia)...I know, I know this already sounds like a plot for a Lifetime movie - but it gets worse. Soon, they're best friends, daring each other to dealve further and further into danger. I won't give away the end - but it's fairly predictable if you know Lynch's work. Anyway, the end really isn't the point - it's this long meandering path, like Mulholland Drive itself twisting and turning - - and very, very boring.

The acting is horrible, the two leads compete for camera time, while Lynch plays dress up - - showing them off in Hitchcockian wardrobe to impress those few people who've never seen "Vertigo" or "North by Northwest". They both give wide eyes, coy looks and constant sexual intensity - even while looking at a dead body... sometimes they cry - but only in the "hottest" way, snuggling up close to each other while one tear falls down a cheek....so trashy.

The third lead is a "director" (apparently Lynch himself) who basically has a bad day and goes home to find his wife sleeping with the pool man. Wow! That's original, huh?! (sarcastic). Again, the movie borrows from the untapped cache of Danielle Steele and Lifetime movies of the week. Gold! What a diamond mine! (sarcastic).

In conclusion, I can't believe I watched the whole thing. I was waiting for something Blue (as is his trademark) - - and finally came the Blue Key and Blue Box...uh...so what? Oh ya, there was also the girl with the Blue Hair at the "Silencio Club" The second I saw her I knew she would say "Silencio" and she finally did...yay.

The only people who will like this film are men who want to watch a little girl-on-girl-action with their wife beside them so snuggle up to them and say "SEE?!!! It's art!".