Assassination Tango is a little film about assassination and Tango that you're probably not going to like if you're not a fan of Robert Duvall's. Then again who doesn't love Robert Duvall - from To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather to Tender Mercies and on and on? Duvall wrote, directed and stars in this love letter to the art of Tango dancing that is refreshingly free of any kind of formulaic clichés.

Duvall plays John J. - a self-styled Brooklyn contract-hitter who plays by his own rules who is fast approaching the age when it's time to hang up his holster. John J. has already paced his career into something of a 9 to 5 affair, having recently settled down into a marriage with a woman (Kathy Baker) who brings to the table a 10 year old daughter, whom he dotes on to a fault. The assignments he typically takes-on are small-time local jobs given to him by Frankie (Frank Gio) a small-time player/boxing mogul who also runs a dance studio. A few days before his daughter's tenth birthday, Frankie offers John J. a bigger and much more lucrative hit that will require him to travel to Argentina. Under the solemn understanding that the job will only take a few days and will allow him to be back in town for the party, John accepts the proposition and is soon on a plane to Buenos Aires.

This time out the hit involves a much-maligned and murderous military figure, who is far more powerful and well-protected than the individuals John is typically paid to visit. Still his contacts in Argentina - two brothers Miguel (Ruben Blades) and Orlando (Julio Oscar Mechoso) assure him that he will be able to carry out his assignment under the time constraints involved. Again the story-line of the film meanders and may frustrate those looking for a typical action/thriller, but Assassination Tango is far more interested in taking it's time and exploring the world through the eyes of this quirky character that Duvall has dreamed up.

John J's other contact in Argentina is a fight-promoter named Tony Manas (Raul Outeda) who conveys his doubts about Miguel and Orlando and before long it becomes clear that Duvall is merely a pawn in this game and really has no one in his corner that he'll be able to count on in the clutches. We find out early on that he is being watched, and a fortuitous turn allows John J. in on the fact that things are probably not as they appear. The biggest set-back comes when his mark is taken ill, and won't be following any of his daily routines that the brothers have outlined for him. John phones Frankie and vents his displeasure about this wrinkle in no uncertain terms, yet John has no choice but to stay put and wait it out, even if it means letting his daughter down.

Now with plenty of time on it's hands, the film is allowed to pursue it's true passion. While out and about on the streets he is drawn to a dance hall where he happens to observe a statuesque latin dancer (Luciana Pedraza) engaged in a kind of authentic tango dancing that has him dazzled beyond words. Mesmerized by her savage grace and singular, mannish beauty, John J. is swept up in this dream-like microcosm and soon the delay in his plans have become smething of blessing. Emboldened by his worship and conversant knowledge of the dance form, he finds the opportunity to approach the dancer, who finds the well-weathered stranger and his straight-forward manner attractive and before long they are discussing tango, and his interest in getting a few personal lessons, over coffee. Pedraza (to coin a tired expression) is a revelation here - her candid nature and unusually sensual bearing gives the film the boost it desperately needs during the second act.

Duvall knows better than to over-romanticize this character, he sleeps with a hooker, before meeting Pedraza and, to her, confesses that he is much more in love with his step-daughter than his wife and when she turns the conversation in the direction admits to a few infidelities. For her part, Pedraza openly confesses her interest in him sexually and it looks as if the two may do more than share the dance floor. John J. spends time with her family, all of whom are aficionados of tango and, in so doing, compromises the professionalism of his business.

Things continue to devolve where the hit is concerned, which forces John J. into a bit of improvisation, this causes a great deal of fallout where his contacts are concerned and things begin to unravel badly. I found this portion of the film to be satisfyingly suspenseful and his quest to make it back to Brooklyn with only his wits and experience to fall back on are mostly effective.

Whether or not this film will impart in it's audience the adoration Duvall evidently feels for the art of tango dancing will depend a lot on the individual, but I found myself sufficiently won over by Assassination Tango to give it a strong enough recommendation. Duvall is not completely confident behind the camera, but for all of it's crooked trajectory, his confidence in capturing this character manages to hit the mark.