Coldblooded

The 1995 film, Coldblooded, starring Jason Priestley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Peter Riegert, is a curious blend of dark comedy and crime-thriller genres that provides a unique and captivating cinematic experience.

In this film, Jason Priestley, well-known for his 90210 fame, sheds his teen-heartthrob image and plays the role of Cosmo Reif, a seemingly harmless, introverted bookie working for a mob owned betting company. Cosmo is abruptly promoted to be an assassin, a situation which allows Priestley to express an impressive acting range, convincingly portraying Cosmo's initial shock and reluctance, and his eventual adaptation to this offbeat career transition.

Priestley's character, Cosmo, is a lonely individual with a monotonous life, spending his days in the dingy basement of a nightclub, where he efficiently operates the club's illegal gambling operation. When the resident hitman from Cosmo's organization suddenly dies, Gordon, played by Peter Riegert, ups the ante by imposing on Cosmo the unanticipated responsibility of becoming the new hitman. This twist in the plot introduces elements of surprise and dark humor as the innocent, socially awkward character adjusts to his new role.

Cosmo's training for his new role begins under the guidance of Steve, a professional hitman played by Robert Loggia. Loggia's character offers a contrasting personality to Cosmo, with his detached approach to assassinations and his casually cynical outlook towards life. Through a series of morbidly hilarious interactions and intense scenarios, Cosmo slowly evolves and becomes disconcertingly good at this dangerous profession.

Simultaneously, Cosmo's isolated life changes when he meets Jasmine, played by Kimberly Williams-Paisley. In Jasmine, a yoga teacher who moves into the apartment next to him, Cosmo finds a kindred spirit, also an outsider trying to find her place in the world. A subtle romance develops between them, bringing warmth and light into Cosmo's grim existence.

The film becomes a character study of an ordinary man pushed into extraordinary circumstances as it depicts Cosmo's evolution from an emotionally closed bookie to a cold-blooded yet compelling anti-hero. Director Wallace Wolodarsky, famous for his work on "The Simpsons," craftily blends black comedy into the narrative, balancing the chilling aspects of a thriller with more lighthearted moments. This makes the film not just a thriller but also a comedy of errors, as Cosmo makes his way through one botched assassination to another.

Coldblooded is filled with one-of-a-kind characters, each sketched with a certain amount of quirk and zaniness to keep the audience on their toes. There's the cynical ex-cop Steve, Jasmine’s eccentric yoga students, and then Gordon, the mob boss who isn’t nearly as intimidating as one would expect. Cosmo himself is an unusual anti-hero, innocent yet forced into a dark world due to circumstance.

In regards to the film's presentation, it is shot with a grungy 90s aesthetic that suits the narrative. The cinematography blends seamlessly with the urban setting, creating an almost surreal, melancholic atmosphere that adds depth to Cosmo and the peculiar situations he finds himself in.

To round off, the plot of Coldblooded is an intriguing mix of dark humor and gripping violence, which pulls the viewer into a world of seedy nightclubs, shady characters, and unexpected romance. It explores the transformation of a seemingly ordinary person pushed into extraordinary circumstances and manages to cast an empathetic light on their predicament. The performances, especially Priestley’s and Riegert's, are stellar, adding depth to their characters and making the film an enjoyable experience. Endeavor to catch this film for its unconventional yet successful amalgamation of dark comedy and crime-thriller.