Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Assassination Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 25, 2016

In the midst of churning out low-budget thrillers during the 1980s, most for Cannon Films, actor Charles Bronson decided to spend some time with his wife, Jill Ireland, his frequent co-star. 1987’s “Assassination” is their first screen pairing since 1982’s “Death Wish II,” and it feels like a production that was more valued for the vacation it provided than the quality of its script. Supremely dopey and weirdly directed, “Assassination” is largely held together by oddity, with the feature transforming the fiftysomething screen legend into a butt-kicking Secret Service superhero who’s irresistible to women, playing up Bronson’s cool genre demeanor and way with a gun. However, it’s the time spent with Bronson and Ireland that’s most compelling about the picture, watching the couple enjoy a chance to collaborate as they dodge explosions, ride motorcycles, and exchanged sharp banter, welcoming character hostilities.

After an extended sick leave, Secret Service Agent Killion (Charles Bronson) is back at the White House, ready to protect the incoming President. However, he’s been bumped from the detail, tasked with keeping a close eye on Lara (Jill Ireland), the new First Lady, as she makes an attempt to establish her impulsive personality. Immediately at odds with his new boss, Killion is dismayed with the gig, forced to endure Lara’s insults and dismissive ways, but his expertise is valued, especially when it becomes clear that terrorist Bracken (Erik Stern) is attempting to assassinate the First Lady. Chasing hunches with partner and part-time lover Chang (Jan Gan Boyd), Killion follows limited clues, trying to predict when the next hit will occur. Lara, pursuing her own agenda, tries to achieve independence on her own terms, only to find Killion even closer, shadowing the President’s wife as they race around America, hoping to avoid enemy detection and keep the First Lady safe from harm.

“Assassination” is scripted by Richard Sale, who tries to conjure a classic Hollywood relationship between Killion and Lara, emphasizing the combustible nature of their pairing early in the movie. It’s inauguration day for the new “One Momma,” who demands special treatment that Killion refuses, commencing their combative back and forth, which quickly makes Lara the most loathed First Lady in a long time, with gathered Secret Service agents lamenting the departure of Nancy Reagan. Bronson and Ireland are no Hepburn and Bogart, but they share obvious chemistry, enjoying a chance to play polar opposites on screen, with Lara’s poisonous attitude humiliating Killion, who simply wants to protect the President, not his awful wife. The spoiler here is Chong, a young agent who aggressively pursues Killion, practically begging him for sex. Not that Bronson doesn’t deserve the attention, but Chong looks about 40 years younger than Killion, making their sensual moments iffy at best.

True to formula, opposites eventually attract, bringing Killion and Lara close together as the First Lady attempts to ditch her Washington responsibilities for the comfort of California and her father’s playground of yachts and mansions. “Assassination” spends a substantial amount of time on Lara’s escape plans, but it takes the feature over an hour to explain why One Momma is so eager to wiggle out of a premiere position of power. It’s an eternity of storytelling slackness “Assassination” can’t handle, quickly losing steam as mysteries evaporate, including the identification of the person responsible for unleashing Bracken on Lara, finding early red herrings discarded by the third act.

Peter Hunt is a credited director of “Assassination,” but it’s hard to believe the man who crafted arguably the best James Bond movie (1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”) put this clunky picture together. The production has immense trouble figuring out the basics of action, offering viewers confusing spatial relationships and strange bursts of violence. Chase sequences largely emerge out of the blue, following Killion and Lara as they sample multiple forms of travel (including a dune buggy) to help them to safety, with motorcycles preferred by the twosome. Things just tend to happen in “Assassination,” which lacks the smooth escalation of a proper thriller, while road trip particulars in dumpy hotels and encounters with eccentric strangers fall flat, including time with a Native American used car salesman using a cartoon celebration of his heritage to sell lemons to the White Man. Hunt also may be color blind, finding a moment of bedside banter between Killion and Lara about her new red wig bizarre as Ireland is clearly wearing a blonde wig during the scene.

Assassination Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is likely the best "Assassination" will ever look on home video, delivering an agreeable but never outstanding level of detail that surveys fabrics and close-ups, while location visits retain depth. However, softness is present, identifying the age of the scan. Colors aren't pronounced, showing slight fade, while skintones run too pink and bloodless at times. Delineation is secure, without solidification. Source is hit with a flurry of debris and scratches during the main titles, but damage settles down soon after.

Assassination Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix was never meant to knock anyone's socks off, but the basics of the track are represented acceptably. Dialogue exchanges often compete with bursts of action, but intelligibility remains, identifying Bronson's purr and Ireland's intended shrillness. Scoring is inherently thin, rarely making an effort to elevate cinematic moods, but the basics in cheapy synth stings are respected. Atmospherics are limited, but crowd scenes are preserved. Violence retains sharp gunfire and explosions.

Assassination Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:57, SD), which immediately gives away the identity of the villain, is included.

Assassination Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The basics of Bronson-esque destruction are presented, watching the agent threaten baddies with guns and, eventually, shoulder-fired missile launchers. He's also good with scowling, but the role amazingly contains more brightness than darkness, urging Bronson to showcase his natural charms, especially around Ireland (this would be her penultimate film, passing away in 1990). He's entertaining to watch, loosening up for a change, but it's difficult to succeed with Hunt's direction, which requires Bronson to be active without providing true direction. "Assassination" isn't particularly raw (towards the end of the movie, it's clear a few murder sequences were softened to help the picture achieve a PG-13 rating), even when it offers exploding ships, missile wars, and deadly terrorists. It's mild work, but one that has the potential to be a rip-roaring chase through the land with secretly lustful participants. Instead of pursuing a snappy tone, Hunt buries "Assassination" in lethargy and confusion, making it difficult to tap into the violent escapism the production seems ready to provide. Charming leads in love isn't nearly enough to elevate the effort.