ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

A hitman comes to realise that his life is out of whack (quite literally) in John Dahl's black comedy You Kill Me. There's a steady rat-a-tat of scathing oneliners but Ben Kingsley even manages to get laughs between the lines as triggerman Frank Falenczyk who's forced to enrol in AA meetings after getting drunk and passing out on the job. The film isn't without its flaws, but in defying Hollywood convention, it manages to reach parts other comedies cannot reach.

For once falling in love doesn't offer a shot at redemption. The object of Frank's affection is Laurel (Tea Leoni), a sourpuss who makes eyes at him over her dead father's body. She barely blinks twice when he reveals that he's giving up the booze to improve his aim. There are shades of Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) - and that is a superior film - but Dahl (The Last Seduction, 1994) boldly understates the jokes and Kingsley's performance is a joy, rich with nuance.

"IT'S EASY TO RELATE"

Group therapy is easy to mock but it's Frank's own bemusement at all the sobbing and sober applause that really tickles; a mere pursing of the lips is enough to make his thoughts about it plain. The film gently pokes fun at our self-obsessed, self-help culture where just confessing to your sins is enough to wash them away. That's why, despite the killing thing, it's easy to relate to Frank. Unfortunately, Laurel doesn't come across as strongly. Leoni is inherently likeable, but the script offers few clues as to what makes her tick, and more importantly, why she's willing to date a murderer. The writers also take a major liberty when Frank confesses to his crimes at a meeting, and without so much as a quizzical glance in response. All the wink-wink, nudge-nudge can get a tad wearisome, but more often than not, the jokes hit the mark.

You Kill Me is out in the UK on 7th Dec 2007.