Film No. 74 (2024) November 1st. 4:00 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 6, Leederville.
"Even if I hated you for telling me, I'd forget soon enough!" (Knox answers his doctor as best he can after receiving some very bad news).
NOMINEE: Local Team of the Year (Michael Keaton & Crew) California On Location Awards.
Are we seeing less and less of these concept yarns? Yarns like MEMENTOand KNOX GOES AWAY (KGA), which give us a challenge, a puzzle to solve? Certainly in cinemas', I think we are.
Michael Keaton directs his second feature. THE MERRY GENTLEMAN, his first, is an edgy drama. So too is KGA. Keaton should direct more often. The fact he also plays the lead in both, adds to the licence he seems to have in creating a moody grit in each scene. His Knox (Keaton) is a hitman. He is dying. Only weeks to live. His condition; dementia, his mind is in a rapid decline. He has a final job. A job which will give closure to a regretful past. Combining strict notetaking and a trusted confidant (Pacino) has Keaton juggling a recipe with an ingredient or two missing, but the dish is tasty.
Knox is a compelling character. Keaton and Pacino are a couple of stars who should work together more often. The yarn has a B grade aura, but it's A grade entertainment. 10GUMS.
