The Virtuoso
Violent assassin thriller lacks logic; sex/nudity, language.
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The Virtuoso
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Virtuoso is a violent noir thriller about a hit man. The title refers to the assassin's cool-headed precision and seems to suggest that murder can be an art form. Following a common noir formula, the lead character (Anson Mount) narrates in between the action sequences. Director Nick Stangliano has described the movie's violence as "jaw dropping," and that's an excellent description: Expect bloody shootings, graphic stabbings, and brutal physical fights -- including an extreme close-up of a massive wound. A recurring flashback shows a mother on fire, her body engulfed in flames. A soldier's firsthand account of a cruel, sadistic siege on a village isn't accompanied by images, but it's disturbing nonetheless. Characters have simulated sex in a couple of scenes; bare breasts are shown. Language includes "pr--k," "f--k," and a racial slur.
Community Reviews
Don’t be fooled by David Morse and Anthony Hopkins involvement
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What's the Story?
THE VIRTUOSO follows an unnamed, methodical assassin (Anson Mount) who's received an assignment cloaked in mystery. He's been given the time and location of where to make the hit, but the name of the target has ambiguity. As he gathers clues in the small town where he's assigned to eliminate his target, the killer known for his detached and level-headed skill set finds himself distracted by a beautiful, warm-hearted waitress (Abbie Cornish).
Is It Any Good?
Taking a cue from its characters' wardrobe, this neo-noir is the black turtleneck of thrillers: It's self-important and pretentious, and it doesn't hide the flaws it thinks it does. Silk-throated Mount narrates his inner thoughts, but, unlike a '40s gumshoe thinking through the case to viewers, he speaks (to himself? to us?) in second person. Are we supposed to be a cool-headed assassin in this scenario? It serves no purpose other than to sound cool and edgy, and no doubt director Nick Stagliano and writer James C. Wolf thought the device was terribly clever. Terrible, yes. Clever, no. In fact, it may spark memories of a Choose Your Own Adventure book.
The film's other elements also prove that there's a fine line between brilliant and ridiculous. The characters are nameless, identified as The Mentor, The Waitress, The Loner, etc. The violence is intentionally gratuitous, and it's easy to picture the filmmakers giddily thinking up how the kills would go down, perhaps even seeing themselves as "virtuosos" as well. And the sex scenes are rather blunt. While it must've been fun to create a noir story set in the modern age, it's all so preposterous that the end result feels like parody rather than an homage.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Virtuoso's violence. How is it used to tell the story? Is any of it gratuitous? Does it feel thrilling or shocking?
What are the hallmarks of the noir genre? How does this film compare to others in the noir or neo-noir categories?
Is the main character a "hero"? Are viewers meant to find him sympathetic even though he's a criminal? What makes villain characters compelling?
Do you find the use of second-person narration effective in The Virtuoso? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 30, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: May 4, 2021
- Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Anson Mount, Abbie Cornish
- Director: Nick Stagliano
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, sexuality/nudity and language
- Last updated: December 7, 2022
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