Most unusual hit man ever

PANIC (2000)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

William H. Macy is one of the few actors alive that can adapt himself to any role and succeed. But there is more to this master thespian - he makes us care about him. Playing a hit man is a big stretch for Macy, but he accomplishes the role with style, panache and pathos. Frankly, this is the most unusual hit man I have ever seen on screen.

Macy is Alex, a hit man who works exclusively for his father, Michael (Donald Sutherland). His father has a family business to run, mainly to kill certain clients. Alex is his dutiful son and number one killer, and has served him ever since he was a teenager. Alex is married to Martha (Tracy Ullman), has an inquisitive young son (David Dorfman), and a nice big house. His wife and his son have no clue what daddy does for a living (he runs a home mailing service as a cover). The main problem that sets the story in motion is that Alex's new assignment involves someone he knows. But Alex is getting tired of his job and is not happy - he has either lost the enthusiasm or does not want to work for his father anymore. He loves his family but he needs something more, some sort of escape. Alex sees a psychiatrist (John Ritter) and confesses to his real profession (a big mistake). Then there is the young, depressed bisexual Sarah (Neve Campbell), who is also seeing a psychiatrist. Alex wants to have an affair with Sarah but she is reluctant to being treated as some sex toy.

"Panic" unfolds as a drama with some black humor, but nothing that happens come as much of a surprise. The psychiatrist angle has been done already in "Analyze This" and in the HBO series "The Sopranos," and the last climactic act is lazily written off as a simple shootout. The biggest surprise in the film is Macy, who makes this hit man as normal as he can, without the shady glasses or any shady features for that matter. He is not remorselessly evil, just someone who has been used and abused by his father for so long that he no longer sees the purpose in his job. A professional killer may not be a credible character for Macy to play - he can pass for someone who hires a hit man to off his wife (as he did in "Fargo") than the genuine article - but he makes it work so well that I couldn't think of any other actor that could do it as convincingly.

Macy does have a nice rapport with Neve Campbell's sad Sarah, though it is resolved a little too abruptly. I also like the scenes with Donald Sutherland as the aging, aloof head of the family business who laughs at his own human depravity, and counts on his son to prolong the business (including a nifty subplot that did come as a surprise to me). Also worth noting is Barbara Bain as the hateful mother of Alex, who has been through the ups and downs of the business. John Ritter is effective if underused as the righteous psychiatrist, who is ready to call the police if he knows of any future hits (naturally, all his ethics are getting screwed up).

"Panic" is often more blackly funny than dramatic but its tragic overtones do not mix well with its comedic tones. The resolutions seem rushed, and the characters are left with situations that seem manufactured out of hasty, last-minute rewriting. But what holds it together is William H. Macy, playing Alex like a torn man who no longer knows how to keep his emotions in check. He brings a level of humanity and purpose (not to mention credibility) to a largely unbelievable character.