I found the first two-thirds of The Contract pretty enjoyable. The story was interesting and it moved at a nice pace. The movie was filmed in some beautiful locations and the three main players (Cusack, Freeman, and Jamie Anderson) were well cast as they played well off each other.
Unfortunately, that's about all the positives I can find in this film. Although I really liked the premise of the story -- A man and his son who take a camping trip to bond with each other. Inadvertently they must take into their custody an assassin, who kills the sheriff guarding him -- the writers and/or directors choose to water down the movie toward the end which created a lot of plot holes and gaps in the story. One hole in particular is after the assassin (Freeman) escapes with the son (Anderson), it is difficult tell how much time elapses. Cusack is seen nonchalantly hanging out in his house. Freeman appears at a funeral with a sniper rifle. It just doesn't seem to capture the situation correctly. The next thing we know, Cusack figurers out Freeman's assassination plan based on a news report he is watching and then finds Freeman at the funeral and thwarts his efforts. Prior to this, the film was nicely developed. It's as if the director and/or writers just said to heck with the whole thing, let's just get this movie finished. I could go on with more gaps, but you get the point.
This film is watchable, but you will probably be disappointed in the ending as I was. I'd love to have a good writer or director clean up the mess and do a remake. Rating 5 of 10 stars.
Unfortunately, that's about all the positives I can find in this film. Although I really liked the premise of the story -- A man and his son who take a camping trip to bond with each other. Inadvertently they must take into their custody an assassin, who kills the sheriff guarding him -- the writers and/or directors choose to water down the movie toward the end which created a lot of plot holes and gaps in the story. One hole in particular is after the assassin (Freeman) escapes with the son (Anderson), it is difficult tell how much time elapses. Cusack is seen nonchalantly hanging out in his house. Freeman appears at a funeral with a sniper rifle. It just doesn't seem to capture the situation correctly. The next thing we know, Cusack figurers out Freeman's assassination plan based on a news report he is watching and then finds Freeman at the funeral and thwarts his efforts. Prior to this, the film was nicely developed. It's as if the director and/or writers just said to heck with the whole thing, let's just get this movie finished. I could go on with more gaps, but you get the point.
This film is watchable, but you will probably be disappointed in the ending as I was. I'd love to have a good writer or director clean up the mess and do a remake. Rating 5 of 10 stars.