A hired killer (Anson Mount) receives a vague assignment in a quiet town nestled within the Pocono Mountains. The question becomes whether he can complete his task while minimizing unintended consequences. Anthony Hopkins portrays his employer, Abbie Cornish embodies a waitress, and David Morse takes on the role of a deputy. "The Virtuoso" (2021) falls into the neo-noir crime thriller category, drawing inspiration from Tarantino’s style. I typically avoid movies centered around criminals unless they offer some sort of compelling twist—like a chance at redemption. "Death Wish," “The Punisher,” and “Taken” are exceptions because their main characters aren't really criminals; instead, they function as (anti)heroes pursuing justice that the system has failed to provide. This neo-noir is skillfully crafted and utilizes an unusual second-person narration style. It avoids constant action sequences and explosions, preferring to explore the assassin’s thought process, his execution of the plan, and his efforts to remain alive. However, the script's increasingly improbable elements become apparent in the final act, making it difficult to maintain a sense of believability. I understand the film’s point, but frankly, I don’t care; assassins who coldly kill people for profit are nothing more than criminals deserving of their own punishment. Despite this, the movie's dark atmosphere is impressive, and the psychological aspects of an assassin’s profession are well-developed. Mount delivers a strong performance as a masculine lead, Cornish is strikingly attractive, the second-person narration proves effective, and the cinematography and musical score are outstanding. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 50 minutes and was filmed in Scranton, Pennsylvania, within the Poconos region, along with Santa Ynez, California, approximately an hour’s drive from Malibu. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB