I Hired a Contract Killer (1990)

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(751 ratings)

In this Finnish comedy, which features all-English dialogue and nary a Scandanavian in it, Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Leaud), is a colorless English civil servant, who was given a speedy retirement when his agency was "privatized," complete with a gold watch. His life is so barren that removing… More In this Finnish comedy, which features all-English dialogue and nary a Scandanavian in it, Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Leaud), is a colorless English civil servant, who was given a speedy retirement when his agency was "privatized," complete with a gold watch. His life is so barren that removing even the empty activities of his job makes it not worth living, so he attempts suicide by sticking his head in a gas oven - just as a gas service strike gets underway. Frustrated, he takes his savings from the bank and heads off to hire a contract killer to take his life from him. Then he really begins to enjoy life - so much so, that now he wants to avoid his imminent demise. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 19 min.
Directed By: Aki Kaurismäki
Written By: Aki Kaurismäki
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 13, 1990 Wide

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

I Hired a Contract Killer must have taken Kaurismäki out of his comfort zone, what with filming in a different country and in a different language but he excelled, quite typically and even goes on to do it again in Russia. It does seem quite apt for I Hired a Contract Killer to be… More
I Hired a Contract Killer must have taken Kaurismäki out of his comfort zone, what with filming in a different country and in a different language but he excelled, quite typically and even goes on to do it again in Russia. It does seem quite apt for I Hired a Contract Killer to be filmed in England though as the humour fits quite well - even though the main character is French, it seems very British to hire a contract killer as means of suicide because you're too clumsy to do it yourself. The rather wonderful and also very British answer from the contract killer; "Why don't you do it yourself and save money". Very funny, not as dark as you might think and very much worth seeking out, although it has taken me about 2 years to get a copy, so If you see one, buy it!