Assassination Tango

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Assassination Tango ★★★ 2003 (R)

Aging Brooklyn hit man John J. (Duvall), who dotes on girlfriend Maggie (Baker), and her daughter Jenny (Miller), and likes to hang out at the local dance hall, is sent to Argentina to kill a general. When the hit is delayed, he meets and is enchanted by Tango instructor Manuela, as well as the dance she teaches to him. Deep character study, beautifully shown in Duvall's performance, redeems film's slow, at times maddening pace. Duvall's direction, while not perfect, makes the proceedings interesting to watch, but requires patience. 114m/C VHS, DVD . US Robert Duvall, Ruben Blades, Kathy Baker, Luciana Pedraza, Julio Oscar Mechoso, James Keane, Frank Gio, Katherine Micheaux Miller; D: Robert Duvall; W: Robert Duvall; C: Felix Monti; M: Luis Bacalov.