Search - The Contract [Widescreen] on DVD

Corey Johnson - Davis
Jonathan Hyde - Turner
Bill Smitrovich - Wainwright
Anthony Warren - Royko
Ned Bellamy - Evans

A few pretty good sized holes in the story but how could you not like Morgan Freeman and John Cusak.

We really enjoyed this movie and it kept you on your toes all the way through. Great actors.

When you have an action crime-drama that headlines Morgan Freeman and John Cusack, it's a certified watch. However, "The Contract," which stars both of these actors on opposite sides, sadly disappoints and we're just left with a "good flick."

Frank Carden (Morgan Freeman) is a high-profile assassin, who is working with his own hired crew for big-time client who wants a big-time job done. The job consists of "two acts," and after Act One is done, Carden gets into a bad car accident with a careless driver and once he's rushed to the hospital unconscious, the doctors realize the man is armed and not law enforcement. He's then arrested by U.S. Marshals, as they find out Carden is ex-military, missing in action and is using the alias of a dead child. When Carden recovers, he's then escorted by three Marshals to a Federal prison, only Carden has stolen a cell phone from one of the nurses and has staged his escape during his trip to prison. When Carden kills two of the Marshals, the car runs off a cliff and into a river where Carden shoots the third Marshall and they both escape the car.

Meanwhile, ex-cop and widower Ray Keene (John Cusack) along with his estranged son Chris, are camping in the woods with hopes to bond as father and son again. When Ray sees Carden and the Marshall in trouble in the rapids, he takes it upon himself to save them. The Marshall quickly identifies himself and states that Carden is his prisoner. The Marshal dies from his gunshot and Carden tries to persuade Ray to let him go in good faith, that Ray won't be harmed and Carden will go about his business. Ray refuses to let him go and takes Carden in his own custody, still handcuffed with Ray now armed with the Marshal's gun! Ray's plan is to escort him through the rural Washington town to the nearest precinct, but Carden's hired hands are on their trail and will execute Ray and his son to save their boss and continue to Act Two...and above all...get paid! And the FBI is also looking for these people, with the aid of the local sheriff department.

There's a few more twists and turns here, including a secret operative in the FBI that is aware of Carden and his mission, and also one of Carden's crew being hired to kill Carden himself. During the journey, Ray and Carden get acquainted, but not buddy-buddy, which is interesting, and furthermore what is Act Two?

"The Contract" is a good movie with a decent storyline and a decent director. But I felt that Freeman and Cusack were wasted here. Their names got me set to watch something great...but what surfaces, is nothing more than a decent generic action film.

Check it out, but don't expect to be blown away.

See other review about PLOT.
Rated R for violence, almost all the violence involves graphic gunshot wounds. Morgan Freeman is a professional Contract Hitman, but doesnt love Morgan Freeman? I couldnt hate him. I find it ironic that in Grosse Point Blank John Cusack plays a hitman. So the movie was violent,fast paced, a little predictable, because they gave away info that avoided any twists. I would watch it again. I liked the ending. Worth watching and passing on to the next wishlister on swapaDVD.