The film 'Killing Season' sees the first time iconic Hollywood stars Robert DeNiro and John Travolta teamed together on screen, and I have to say the chemistry between the two works like gangbusters, with sparks flying every which way as they play adversaries in this violent story which ultimately contains an anti-war message at it's core. Both actors play veteran soldiers from the Bosnian War. DeNiro is Benjamin Ford, an American trying to wash from his memory the sheer hell, horror and savagery he encountered during the bitter conflict, while Travolta is Emil Kovac, a former Serbian soldier who also is fighting his own personal battles over the war which claimed many lives.
So scarred and disillusioned is Ford (DeNiro) with life that he lives alone in a cabin deep in the Appalachian Mountains, in an area both remote and unforgiving. He guards his solitude with such might that he even refuses his son's offer to attend his grandson's christening. He cooks his own meals, listens to Johnny Cash records and gets by with aspirins to dull the pain from an injury he received on active duty. While on a journey to get more (much needed) pain killers Ford's truck has engine trouble, but by chance a lone man (with a heavy Serbian accent) in the woods offers to fix the problem and soon this stranger is sitting in Ford's cabin, enjoying a meal, drinking and swapping stories with this recluse. What Ford does not know is this man is trained killer Emil Kovac (Travolta), who is not there by accident, but has his own hidden agenda.
So scarred and disillusioned is Ford (DeNiro) with life that he lives alone in a cabin deep in the Appalachian Mountains, in an area both remote and unforgiving. He guards his solitude with such might that he even refuses his son's offer to attend his grandson's christening. He cooks his own meals, listens to Johnny Cash records and gets by with aspirins to dull the pain from an injury he received on active duty. While on a journey to get more (much needed) pain killers Ford's truck has engine trouble, but by chance a lone man (with a heavy Serbian accent) in the woods offers to fix the problem and soon this stranger is sitting in Ford's cabin, enjoying a meal, drinking and swapping stories with this recluse. What Ford does not know is this man is trained killer Emil Kovac (Travolta), who is not there by accident, but has his own hidden agenda.
Robert DeNiro and John Travolta in 'Killing Season' What then follows in this exciting, thoughtful tale is a deadly game of cat and mouse as the two men engage in a series of violent confrontations against the harsh backwoods of the wilderness. However, what raises this piece above the usual 'who will win?' battle of wills are the strong performances from the two leads (who are both on screen pretty much throughout the movie with hardly any other actors), the precise direction by Mark Steven Johnson, the stunning cinematography by Peter Menzies Jr. and the superior screenplay by Evan Daugherty, in which we are allowed to explore the inner demons fighting within these two ex-soldiers. We can see and feel their own physical and psychological turmoil within themselves brought about being involved in the sensless slaughter of so many people, all in the ridiculous name of war.
The result is very interesting as we watch this man to man battle and slowly come to realise these two men are not that dissimilar, decent men at heart, unfortunately placed in certain circumstances which has found them doing unspeakable acts. Indeed, on their first evening together you could feel there could be a bond between the two. However it is war that brings them together and it is war they are raging between each other, but as the film displays, is there really any winner? DeNiro was excellent as the American lost within himself, however I was most impressed with Travolta, who I felt had the more difficult role. Not only did he have the Serbian accent to deal with (I thought he did a great job), but he had to find the humanity in this killing machine, and this he did. An action packed film worthy of bringing these two acting superstars in one strong package.
Alongside the trailer, I have included a 3 minute clip of John Travolta talking about 'Killing Season':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-l08kni5M
The result is very interesting as we watch this man to man battle and slowly come to realise these two men are not that dissimilar, decent men at heart, unfortunately placed in certain circumstances which has found them doing unspeakable acts. Indeed, on their first evening together you could feel there could be a bond between the two. However it is war that brings them together and it is war they are raging between each other, but as the film displays, is there really any winner? DeNiro was excellent as the American lost within himself, however I was most impressed with Travolta, who I felt had the more difficult role. Not only did he have the Serbian accent to deal with (I thought he did a great job), but he had to find the humanity in this killing machine, and this he did. An action packed film worthy of bringing these two acting superstars in one strong package.
Alongside the trailer, I have included a 3 minute clip of John Travolta talking about 'Killing Season':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-l08kni5M
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