The Killer (2023) review

"Modernized" Melville: an unnamed assassin (Michael Fassbender), who proudly adheres to his own amoral "code," botches a hit job in Paris and returns to his house in the Dominican Republic to find it's been broken into and his girlfriend Magdala (Sophie Charlotte) is in critical condition, so he hunts down his handler (Charles Parnell), the two individuals who harmed his lady (Sala Baker and Tilda Swinton) and finally the billionaire (Arliss Howard) who initiated the chaos.  This is Fincher teaming back up with screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker to adapt a graphic novel by Matz and Luc Jacamon, and while it (intentionally?) lacks depth and a proper background information (what would lead anyone to this kind of dangerous life?), Fassbender is unflappable and stylistically it's incredibly smooth: students of the medium should pay close attention to where he puts his camera (it's shamelessly privileges style over substance).  Despite the killer's apparent sociopathy and perplexing decision-making - he shoots the innocent taxi driver kid but spares the wealthy bloke? - in the end the only thing he desires is to be with his girl.  After all, he is still human and needs to be loved ... just like everybody else does.