Bulletproof Heart

Bulletproof Heart, also released as Killer, is a neo-noir crime drama film, directed by Mark Malone and released in 1994. This masterpiece showcases Academy Award nominee Anthony LaPaglia in the lead role along with Mimi Rogers and Matt Craven in key parts. The film embodies a unique blend of suspense, action, and psychological depth, taking the audience on a thrilling voyage to the darker side of human nature.

Anthony LaPaglia (New York, I Love You, Without A Trace) delivers a spirited performance as Mick, the professional hitman leading a solitary life. The narrative of Bulletproof Heart revolves around Mick's murky world where murder is a steely transaction, devoid of emotion, until his latest assignment – the beautiful and mysterious Fiona - plunges him into an unexpected crisis of conscience.

Mimi Rogers (Lost in Space, The X-Files) takes up the enigmatic role of Fiona, an alluring woman bearing the curse of certain death, having contracted powerful enemies within the mob. Fiona is not your typical damsel in distress. Instead, she expresses an eerily calm acceptance of her fate, along with the readiness to take command of her destiny, which adds a layer of complexity to her character that adds much depth to the film.

Matt Craven (Crimson Tide, X-Men: First Class) supports with his performance as Mick's associate and handler, George. George, a gruff and pragmatic man is someone who views murder as porous business, and isn't quite prepared for the moral tangle that the latest hit would unravel.

Contrary to the title, the film, Bulletproof Heart resonates with the fragility and sensitivity of the human heart. The movie does not follow a simple linear narrative, but rather dives into the realm of moral paradoxes, emotional transformations, posing various interesting dilemmas, and unraveling individual strengths and vulnerabilities with each advancement in the plot.

As Mick and Fiona intersect paths, what starts as a simple assignment escalates into a night-long odyssey of philosophical and moral discourse for Mick. Their late-night conversations, filled with wit, truths, and parables, build a tangible chemistry and paves the way for convoluted emotions that Mick struggles with. The mere act of pulling the trigger that he conceived as trivial now became the riddle of his existence. These events position Bulletproof Heart as more of a psychological character study than a traditional crime drama.

LaPaglia, with his inherent charm and intensity, and Rogers, with her unmatched poise and vulnerable ambiguity, breathe life into their characters. They bring an interesting contradiction of cold-blooded killers endowed with humanly emotions, holding the audience captive with their performances.

In addition to the heavy dialogues, Bulletproof Heart is also visually stunning. Director Mark Malone, along with cinematographer, Rene Ohashi, deploys a palette of dark, moody colors. The grimy scenes and the gloomy existence bring out the dark essence of the underworld, setting the apt backdrop for the characters and their lives. The music by Lawrence Shragge splendidly augments the plot, providing an additional emotional layer to the cinematic experience.

The screenplay by Gordon Melbourne deserves a special mention. The intense monologues and conversations are beautifully written, portraying the realistic human struggle of good vs evil, choice vs compulsion, and love vs hate – the ultimate crux of any noir film.

Bulletproof Heart is for those who appreciate a deeply philosophical and anguished narrative shrouded in a crime drama's cloak. The pacing of the story may be slow and deliberate, veering away from the action-packed sequences that traditional noir films promise. Still, for the patient viewer, it is ripe with elements of suspense, intrigue, and moral complexity that sets it apart.

In conclusion, Bulletproof Heart, released in 1994, is a unique film that introduces its audience to a subversive vision of crime noir. It illuminates the darkest corners of human psyche and ethics, unearthing the unsettling and ambiguous truths that lie beneath the hardened exterior of professional killers. This film is indeed an exploration of the paradoxical nature of good and evil that resides within the human heart – a heart that may not be as bulletproof as it would like to believe.