I wanted to see ‘The Debt’ because of my love for Helen Mirren, an actress that only grows more talented and beautiful with age. I was also excited to see 2011’s breakout star Jessica Chastain (‘The Help’ and ‘The Tree of Life’) when I first saw the trailer.

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The film begins in 1997, when three former Israeli secret service agents (played by Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds) are being celebrated for capturing and killing a horrible Nazi war criminal about 30 years prior. Two of the agents accept the accolades, another doesn’t feel comfortable being in the public eye.

Most of  the story takes place back in the ‘60s when the young trio (played by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas and Sam Worthington) plans and then finally executes their dangerous mission. The intense complications that follow brings the trio together and relentlessly pushes them into a love triangle.

This film is structured by director John Madden (‘Shakespeare in Love’) so that the audience sees two actors play each role. The young characters are motivated and charged by their mission, while the older characters live with an obvious weight on their shoulders caused by a secret they have carried ever since. When you see Jessica Chastain, you see the shadow of Helen Mirren and vice versa. It is a true success when two actors can mimic each other and play off each the other’s scenes.

Another stellar performance is that of Jesper Christensen who plays the Lucifer-like Nazi doctor. To put several decades of hate and villainous qualities into a single character cannot easy and Christensen proves himself worthy.

What sets this apart from other suspense dramas is the compassionate and contemplating relationship between the three main characters. It’s rare when a film has a gripping script full of suspense, drama and character development. A little slow in the beginning, ‘The Debt’ switches to full nail-biting speed midway through and becomes something that shouldn’t be missed.

Something must be seriously wrong with “Killshot,” the straight-to-video flick starring the resurgent Mickey Rourke. The movie features not just Rourke, but rising star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Diane Lane, Rosario Dawson and Thomas Jane – reputable actors, all.

And it’s under the direction of John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”), working from an Elmore Leonard story. And it still rocketed past every movie theater save one in Arizona earlier this year, netting a measly $18,000?

The film, heading to DVD May 26, deserved a better fate.

Sure, it’s not as snarky as a great Leonard adaptation like “Get Shorty,” but it’s vigorously entertaining and another sign Rourke’s artistic rebound is the real deal – even if the film was shot before the actor’s comeback saga started.

The ex-”Wrestler” plays Blackbird, a killer for hire who shot one too many people on his latest assignment. Now, it’s his turn to run, but a chance encounter with a puffed-up thug named Richie (Gordon Levitt) stops him cold. The kid reminds him of his own little brother who died during a botched hit when he didn’t follow his older brother’s professional code.

Hit men take said codes very seriously.

Richie is all mouth and attitude, but he touches something inside the hardnosed hit man.

Their paths end up crossing a separated couple (Diane Lane and Thomas Jane) trying to see if their marriage deserves a second chance.

The storylines here need more room to breathe, but they aren’t the main attraction in “Killshot.” It’s the fine cast, an eclectic assortment of stars who rise above the narrative gaps. The weakest link might be Gordon Levitt, working so hard against type the cords stand out in his neck. Yet somehow the performance still clicks, mostly because he shares his scenes with Rourke.

The former ’80s mainstay finds another role uniquely suited to his battered visage. He’s playing Hollywood’s latest cliché, the conflicted hit man, but Rourke finds the humanity – and danger – lurking within the stale concept.

“Killshot” sounds like a grade-B thriller right down to its cheesy title, and its DVD debut only reinforces that impression. But the format’s lower expectations, and a cast worthy of a theatrical release, provide some unexpected rewards.

“The Informers,” a drama with a similar grade of actors, earned a wide theatrical release last month. So why couldn’t the far superior “Killshot” get the same level of respect?

Christian Toto is a contributing reporter for The Washington Times, MovieMaker Magazine and The Denver Post. He blogs about film at whatwouldtotowatch.com

After 30 years in the TV broadcast booth, John Madden announced his retirement from professionally commenting on a game he once professionally coached.  Even a casual or non-fan can review Madden’s resume and appreciate his accomplishments and lifetime commitment to the game of football.  He was a high school and college stand-out player.   Though his professional career as a player was cut short due to injury, Madden spent nearly 20 years as a college and professional coach before spending the next three decades on all four major television networks.  If you’re doing the math, that’s over 50 years of football for the 73 year old.  He won a Super Bowl and never had a losing season as a head coach.  Not to mention the endorsement deals and the multi-million dollar football video game franchise bearing his name.

Yet if one knew nothing about the man but what could be found on sports blogs or heard on sports talk radio last week, it was as if his impressive credentials didn’t exist.  John Madden was often portrayed a doddering goofball with nothing of substance to offer his viewers.  His on-air commentary was simply “a statement of the obvious,” they said.  “He’s overweight and disheveled.”  He’s an “oddball” because he rides a chartered bus instead of flying.   They were annoyed by his “kindergarten-ish drawing on the screen.”  Sniped one commentator, “Unless a new person needs basic information on how the game is played, he is un-needed.  Shut up and let Al Michaels do his job.”

The story of Susan Boyle grabbed headlines and stirred passions last week as well.  Boyle was a contestant on a British version of “American Idol” called “Britain’s Got Talent.”  Her appearance became a viral internet sensation with over 20 million views on You Tube.  The video features Boyle belting out her rendition of the song “I Dreamed a Dream.”  Her performance dazzled the slack-jawed panel of judges and moved the live audience to tears.   American morning television quickly took notice, and raced to secure the first exclusive with the overnight sensation.     

Many who’d never heard Susan Boyle perform though, wouldn’t give her a moment’s listen, much less a glance.  Ms. Boyle’s physical appearance and her admission she’d never been kissed was met with snickers and mumbling by an audience with all the sensitivity of medieval dentist.   The British newspaper The Daily Mail reported, “At least two members of the show’s judging panel have said they judged Boyle on her looks when she first appeared on stage before them. Based on the somewhat disheveled state of her baggy dress and wild hair – they admitted they didn’t expect much.”  

Last week was also the national deadline for American taxpayers to square what they owed Uncle Sam.  This year’s deadline featured evening news coverage of a decidedly different event than the traditional “long lines at the post office” live shot.  Growing outrage from average Americans over recent hurried, reckless, unapologetic, and historic spending by members of Congress and two Presidents sent hundreds of thousands across the country to the streets to protest. Non-partisan, and largely apolitical, the volunteer coordinated “Tax Day Tea Parties”  gave a voice and venue to frustrated Americans of all walks of life who share a common belief in the Constitution, free-market principals, and less government spending.  At the same time it was a public declaration of their love of God and country.  A celebration of the guaranteed freedoms and individual liberties they derive from both.

Assume a visitor from another country with no working knowledge of the United States government or its history was watching news coverage of the tea party protests last week.  Were that the case, that individual would have to conclude these American protesters were simply voicing their anger at paying taxes – period.  Other coverage suggested protesters were just sour grapes on display because their candidate didn’t win the last election.  Racists, right-wingers, radicals – take your pick.  Various media coverage of the tea party protests suggested all of those things and more.

Last week created a bright, white line between elitism and individual exceptionalism.  On display were individuals who cared not one wit about what their critics presumed to know about their skill set or their intentions.

John Madden was asked shortly after his debut on Monday Night Football if he ever went back and reviewed his performances.  Madden responded, “Nothing that we do is scripted. You’re supposed to be yourself.  So what do you do if you don’t like it? What’s the opposite of being natural, not being yourself?”

Susan Boyle was recently asked by CNN if she would consider a makeover to polish her look.  She replied, “I wouldn’t want to change myself too much because that would really make things a bit false.  I want to receive people as the real me, a real person.”

The New York Times reported Texas Governor Rick Perry is “stirring furor” and “conjures the specters of the Civil War, slavery and racial segregation.”  His loud- and- clear reaffirmation of state’s rights struck a chord with not just those in Texas, but across the country much to the chagrin of newsrooms and editorial boards.  “My hope is that America, and Washington in particular, pay attention,” Governor Perry said. “We’ve got a great Union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that?”

Elites will never understand what truly inspires a people and leads to individual happiness, prosperity and success.  They believe success comes only in the form of slick speech, beautiful bodies, Ivy League degrees, and collectivist central planners lording over their personal welfare.  

It is interesting to note that one of the most popular funeral songs requested today is Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”  The lyrics resonate because they celebrate the individual.  They declare a sense of pride and self satisfaction in personal accomplishment despite missteps, criticism, and flaws along the way. 

Last week John Madden, Susan Boyle, and tea party protesters across the country “took the blows,” just like Sinatra did in his song.   But let the record show – they did it their way.