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The Hard Way

Play trailer Poster for The Hard Way 1980 1h 26m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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A hit man wants to retire, but his boss gives him one last job.

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The Hard Way

Audience Reviews

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Alain E Well photographed in the tradition of film noir but the story has huge holes. A professional hitman is persuaded to come off retirement in order to assassinate an African leader who is visiting Ireland. He is paid way above his usual rate and the money will go to his estranged wife. Prepares meticulously for the assassination, but backs off at the very last moment raising the wrath of his employer. His wife has to board a commercial ship in the middle of the night and presumably his two daughters are in danger as well. Mayhem ensues. Now, why a professional killer will suddenly be concerned more about his victim than his own family is never explained. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/17/24 Full Review The Covid P Gritty , quiet, realistic , brutal, life of true professional assign McGoohan at the top of his game playing another strong , quiet , caring , highly intelligent , character who decides he's had enough but ' the man ' won't let him. Direction, photography , sound track and darkness create a calming but threatening / foreboding nature throughout, as with ' The Prisoner ' this should be a cult classic. Far more realistic than all the action / violence normally seen , requires more than one viewing for certain. My screen name is based on ' The Prisoner ' for the deceit , abuse of our freedoms over the last three years that now will never stop. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/10/23 Full Review Michael K An underrated addition to the spy/assassin genre, featuring McGoohan and Van Cleef doing their thing as tough guys with the fog-laden Wicklow mountains for a backdrop (Interesting fact on that latter point, it remains one of the only movies to be shot in Glendalough's monastic site.) The Hard Way combines the gritty, "this-looks-like-how-they-really-do-it" qualities of its better known contemporary The Day of the Jackal, with a satisfyingly simple plot devoid of distractions or showiness. The dialogue is minimal to the point it could easily have been a silent movie, an aesthetic choice that complements the storyline, though character building doesn't suffer from it. Had it received a theatrical release it would have been a classic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant screenplay Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hard Way

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A hit man wants to retire, but his boss gives him one last job.
Director
Michael Dryhurst
Producer
Michael Dryhurst
Screenwriter
Kevin Grogan, Richard Ryan
Production Co
Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
1h 26m
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