Banderas, Stallone pose in action-packed `Assassins'

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RATING: * * *

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by Packy Saunders

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Stallone is Robert Rath, an assassin who wants out of the killing lifestyle. The film begins as Rath takes a fellow agent into a secluded, wooded area. Dressed like an English gentleman, Rath "retires the mark." For all of you non-assassins out there, that means that only one of the two leaves alive.

The next contract comes (via e-mail) to Rath. Because the money is just too good, he decides to go for it. Seconds before pulling the trigger on the next victim, the man falls dead in front of Rath's eyes. Being the astute assassin he is, Stallone's character looks around and sees a groundskeeper speedily walking away.

The groundskeeper turns out to be Miguel Bain, Banderas' character. After this first run-in with the opponent, Rath loses out on the six-figure pay-off for the hit. So he pursues Bain through the city until they have some sly dialogue.

If you folks are thinking that this movie is predictable and too formulated for flair, think again. Yes, Antonio Banderas is pretty and almost pathetically charming. But in Assassins he transforms some of that energy into charming humor.

Banderas repeatedly goes through tics and spasms after each near-miss. These are punctuated with an "ay-ay-ay" or two. At the screening, the audience responded with laughter each time. Assassins had its comedic moments.

You can thank producers Richard Donner (also the director) and Joel Silver for those moments. These two gentlemen keep the film flowing in a positive direction. There is little gore in the assassinations. It is almost made to look like art.

What helps drive the film are the characters. The plot occasionally focuses too intently on Stallone's drama. He is much better at action than brooding.

Julianne Moore is the female lead. Her character, Electra, is a surveillance expert who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fortunately, her helplessness is not a demeaning drawback. Although she is Stallone's love interest by the end of the film, her clothes stay on.

Not that Moore is unattractive; it is just refreshing to see an action movie (especially considering some recent movies featuring Stallone) where sex and nudity are spared. Only a kiss passes between the two.

Assassins did for me what a movie should -- entertain. It is not breakthrough cinema and never pretends to be. You get what you pay for: some action, a little suspense and a whole lot of one-liners and visual humor from Antonio Banderas. This action flick is a welcome departure.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the October 13, 1995 issue.

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