Customer Reviews

Assassination

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Charles Bronson plays a Secret Service Agent assigned to protect the First Lady, who is played by his then real life wife Jill Ireland. When the First Lady becomes the target of an assassin, she and Bronson go on the run, dodging bullets as he tries to find clues as to who is behind it all. This 1987 offering from Cannon studios was nothing special. Director Peter Hunt had previously helmed the James Bond thriller On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the Charles Bronson/Lee Marvin action/chase thriller Death Hunt. Both are far superior to this movie, which features action scenes and assassination attempts that are as unbelievable as they are uninspired. The chemistry between Bronson and Ireland is nice, and the movie does have a sense of humor about itself, but that doesn't stop it from being the most mediocre of the Cannon/Bronson movies.

Charles Bronson plays a Secret Service Agent assigned to protect the First Lady, who is played with snootily comic verve by his real life wife Jill Ireland. When Mrs. President becomes the target of an assassination conspiracy Bronson takes her undercover (no, not like that), dodging bullets as he tries to find clues as to who is behind it all. Nothing special, just painless fun for die hard Bronson fans.

This is one of the lesser Cannon/Bronson collaborations(though many would say that they are all "lesser"). It was made in the final hours of Cannon before bankruptcy and it shows. Bronson's the agent assigned to protect the first lady, a real you-know-what. Many attempts are made on her life, forcing her and Bronson on the run. Soon, we see her softer side, they become pals, tra-la, tra-la. Pretty by the numbers plot. This was a tame PG-13 effort from Cannon, so all the gratuitous violence and nudity are gone, making it not quite the Cannon we all love. Bronson and Ireland do exchange some funny lines from time to time, but that's about as entertaining as this film gets. If you collect Bronson flicks, this should be the last one you get, if at all.

What's with all the bad reviews everybody? It's a Charles Bronson action picture for goodness sakes. We have explosions, we have action, and we get to see Bronson act with his beautiful wife, Jill Ireland. What we have here is an hour and a half of fun on the silver screen. Bronson will be remembered as one of the best action film heroes. SO, don't go into this film, with your brain turned on, turn it off and you'll enjoy it more.

The films of Mr. Charles Bronson require a different rating scale than other movies. This is why I previously granted "Death Wish 3" five stars. I'm not saying it compares to "Singin' In the Rain" or "Mean Streets" or "Nashville" but as far as Bronson films go, it's vital. This one not so much, though if you thought the "casting couch" had vanished in the late 80's, get a load of the gal who plays Charlie's young girlfriend! This is certainly no "In the Line of Fire" but it's short and stuff blows up. I remember when this was released theatrically and Mr. Bronson and his late wife Ms. Ireland were on TV plugging it. Charlie voiced his dislike of the extreme violence in "Death Wish 3" (i.e., the tons of violent footage Michael Winner added to the climactic scenes). Shame he didn't recognize the movie for the masterwork it has become.

I SAW THIS MOVIE BACK IN THE 80s 'I REALY LIKE THIS MOVIE BRONSON PLAY'S A HIRED ASSASSIN AND HE BECOMES THE FIRST LADY BODYGUARD ALSO STARRING JILL IRELAND IT'S ALOT OF FUN AND HIGH IMPACT ACTION THRILLER..

Very good Movie. If you like Charles Bronson you will like this movie. I Liked it very much course he is one of My Favorite Actors.

Thankfully the last of Charles Bronson's co-starring vehicles with Jill Ireland, 1987's Assassination feels a bit like a second stab at Love and Bullets but with Bronson's cop now a secret service agent and Ireland's airheaded gangster's moll he's protecting from hitmen now the deeply unpleasant First Lady who's being targeted by a terrorist-for-hire to stop her ruining her husband's re-election prospects. It's all rather silly stuff even at a rushed 86 minutes - after an exploding motorcycle and a massive explosion destroying her yacht, Ireland still doesn't think someone wants to kill her - and director Peter Hunt's a long way from the glory days of OHMSS here (even his legendary editing skills can't hide the worst piece of stunt doubling of the 80s, where Bronson is suddenly replaced on an exploding motorbike by a Lee Horsley lookalike), but a more relaxed Bronson seems a bit more involved in proceedings than in most of his 80s films and shows a pleasingly light touch in his scenes with Jan Gan Boyd. Unnecessary, but a painless timefiller if you're in an undemanding mood.

No extras apart from a brief trailer.

Great Movie with Great Action and plot for that time which can be watched by a whole family,Charles Bronson Looks Great in this movie

I've seen most all of Bronsons movies at this point and Assasination is by far and above the worst of them all. This is the only time I've actually been embarassed for old Chuck. Even the presence of Mrs. Ireland doesn't help. The script and dialouge stinks, the supporting cast was way below B grade and 'by the numbers' lame action scenes rehashed from Bronsons other films kill this one. Even more sickening was the CONSTANT sexual innuendo dialogue between the elderly Mr. Bronson and Charly(?!?),his late 20's Asian assistant who is trying to get Bronson to sleep with her. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a bad Bronson flick as much as the next guy but this one is altogether unacceptable. A dirtbike with a mini machine gun mounted on the handlebars? I'm surprised I haven't seen more mention of the cheesy CGI explosion matted in over the picture. This movie makes Death Wish 5, Chino and Breakout look like a five star films. I would really rather watch Kinjite again then to sit through this one twice. If you're trying to add to your Bronson collection with his more obscure films, make sure you have From Noon Till Three, The White Buffalo and The Stone Killer first. Also, be sure not to pass up St. Ives. I still feel St. Ives is one of Bronsons highest overall quality films which deserved a franchise of it's own. Long live the legend of Charles Bronson!!!