base on the elmore leonard novel of the same name and killshot suffers from a lack of focus and direction and and creativity all element which the original story likely have and and negative test screening force severe edits and ( include the complete excising of a character ) result in a film that feel almost nothing like a leonard story . far too many character populate a storyline too simplistic and straightforward ( not a typical trait of the author work ) and the focus continually switch between two hit men who be difficult to like and a troubled couple who do not command our sympathy . while the story itself provide precious few twist and turn and sadly by the end of the film it appeal still remain a mystery . wash up hit man armand the blackbird degas ( mickey rourke ) follow a strict code during his mission that inadvertently sour his late assignment . now on the run from his former employer and he haphazardly join force with inept misfit criminal richie nix ( joseph gordon levitt ) to gain some quick cash by extort a wealthy realtor . when struggle couple carmen and wayne colson ( diane lane and thomas jane ) be privy to the thief blunder plot and they be force into hiding a the crazed killer will stop at nothing to silence the two witness . killshot prove that be base on an elmore leonard novel isn not ground for immediate success or even a promising adaptation . the character and situation and and even resolution in the film be all tired and unoriginal and only very randomly hint at something more . it not that there wasn not potential and especially when rourke black garbed and calm and collect assassin perfectly execute a hit during the opening scene purpose and principal be just continually abandon a each minute tick away . the style and manner in which each character be introduce be the most intriguing while visually the role of bird and even wayne be flesh out befittingly and give immediate interest and depth to personas that typically end in a creative impasse . the pairing of the cold and calculate black bird with the irrational and explosive richie be an entice combination ( comparison to fargo would be extravagantly too kind ) and except that each character seem to slowly lose track of the trait that keep them initially interest . a richie start pick up the more experienced killer habit and bird loosen his grip on his own method of murder . regardless of what he see in his momentary lighthearted fling with donna ( rosario dawson ) and it hard to imagine that his final confrontation with panicky carmen would provoke a confession of his true nature and subsequent carelessness that drastically affect his outcome . likely or not and this be killshot unfortunate downfall and little entertainment can be garner from these character who steadily lose their originality by continually contradict the habit that once make them intrigue . the massie twin .