The Hitman (1991)

Chuck Norris is a good cop "killed" by his corrupt partner who ends up being reborn as a hitman for the mob. Actually he's working undercover with a plan to bring down the two biggest crime families at the same time. Things become complicated when an Iranian gang moves in and Norris's ex-partner recognizes him.

Good but unremarkable Chuck Norris film is seems to be be one of his more violent affairs with lots of mob style violence. Whether this is true or not is not for me to determine, but does seem to be the case. Perhaps its partly the result of the dark state of the plot. We are really down among the bad guys and the slightest mistake will get someone killed.

The problem with the film is that it is essentially a story we've seen any number of time before. Sure we're watching Norris be a bad guy, but its tempered by his taking care of the kid down the hall. If this film really wanted to be daring they would have just had Norris be a bad ass hitman. I like the film, but watching it again for the first time in a decade or so I realized why it's not remembered much-its too similar to better films.

Still if you're a Norris fan or want a thriller that isn't too taxing THE HITMAN is  worth a shot(more so because its frequently in the cheapo DVD bins)