The key about playing the hired assassin Robert Duvall portrays in this film seems to be his newly found happiness in a relationship with Maggie and her young daughter. When he is sent to do a hit job in Buenos Aires, he forgets about the little woman he left in Brooklyn. He has some fun spending a night with a prostitute and he makes her call him "Papito", or "Little Daddy". Maybe John never had children and suddenly feels paternal enough to demand some respect not only from his new step daughter, but from a call girl as well.
Robert Duvall contribution to the American cinema is huge. As a director, his last work, The Apostle, gave him a splashy role plus what seemed to be the beginning of a career behind the camera. Unfortunately, on this new work, he doesn't have much to do. The story is simple enough, but he has added his latest passion, the tango, to the plot. In many ways the film suffers because it keeps us away from the main reason for his character's trip to that South American country.
It is very interesting that when John, gets back to Brooklyn he goes to meet his young step daughter at the end of the school day and on the way home he tries to teach her a few steps of the tango. When Maggie gets curious about this new aspect in his life, he confesses that he had learned it during his visit to Guatemala! Obviously, this goes over Maggie's head, for all she knows, he could have picked it up in Istambul, or Singapore!
This is clearly a vehicle for its star-director. Most of the film is about the setting of the job and some terrific tango dancing. Robert Duvall plays this character well. Luciana Pedraza, on the other hand, makes a compelling Manuela. Their relationship never goes anywhere. The rest of the cast doesn't have anything to do. Ruben Blades and Kathy Baker are a total waste. As a matter of fact, anyone could have played those parts and a budget minded star-director would have saved a bundle.
Lets hope Mr. Duvall's next venture is closer to home and leave the dancing to the pros.
Robert Duvall contribution to the American cinema is huge. As a director, his last work, The Apostle, gave him a splashy role plus what seemed to be the beginning of a career behind the camera. Unfortunately, on this new work, he doesn't have much to do. The story is simple enough, but he has added his latest passion, the tango, to the plot. In many ways the film suffers because it keeps us away from the main reason for his character's trip to that South American country.
It is very interesting that when John, gets back to Brooklyn he goes to meet his young step daughter at the end of the school day and on the way home he tries to teach her a few steps of the tango. When Maggie gets curious about this new aspect in his life, he confesses that he had learned it during his visit to Guatemala! Obviously, this goes over Maggie's head, for all she knows, he could have picked it up in Istambul, or Singapore!
This is clearly a vehicle for its star-director. Most of the film is about the setting of the job and some terrific tango dancing. Robert Duvall plays this character well. Luciana Pedraza, on the other hand, makes a compelling Manuela. Their relationship never goes anywhere. The rest of the cast doesn't have anything to do. Ruben Blades and Kathy Baker are a total waste. As a matter of fact, anyone could have played those parts and a budget minded star-director would have saved a bundle.
Lets hope Mr. Duvall's next venture is closer to home and leave the dancing to the pros.