Name the Film

[over_the_hill]

I know we have had a few of these threads but the PH Brains Trust normally comes through.

This was a 1980's (I think) British film about an unlikely hit man.
Based in London or Essex
The main protagonist was quiet, a bit nerdy and not the "usual type"

Any Ideas

[Digby]

Just checking, but you're not on about Léon, are you?

Doesn't tick all the boxes, but you know how our memories can be.

[over_the_hill]

No it wasn't Leon.

If you have ever seen the movie about football hooliganism - The Firm - from the same period, it had a very similar feel and look.

[Digby]

over_the_hill said:

No it wasn't Leon.

If you have ever seen the movie about football hooliganism - The Firm - from the same period, it had a very similar feel and look.

Have seen that many times. Nothing is coming to mind right now. Will keep trying..

[over_the_hill]

Thanks. Sorry I can't supply more info.
It was one of those things that I just thought of a few days ago and now it's driving me mad.

[dxg]

What car did they drive?

[TCEvo]

A Fish Called Wanda?

It was on TV a few days ago, was set in London in the late '80's & features a bumbling crim turned hitman (Michael Palin).

Main cars featured were a Jag XJ12 & a Lincoln Continental.

[over_the_hill]

No - wasn't A Fish Called Wanda.

It was serous and grimy - proper British crime.

I can remember a scene where the guy met someone he went to school with.
Quick chat about what they were doing now and I think he actually told him he was a hit man.
The other bloke thought he was taking the piss.

[niva441]

If it was the 70s I'd had thought it was Callan.

[TCEvo]

over_the_hill said:

No - wasn't A Fish Called Wanda.

It was serous and grimy - proper British crime.

I can remember a scene where the guy met someone he went to school with.
Quick chat about what they were doing now and I think he actually told him he was a hit man.
The other bloke thought he was taking the piss.

That conversation could be Grosse Pointe Blank - although as that's set in Michigan it's clearly not the film you're after (GPB's excellent though).

[over_the_hill]

Car wise it was around the Escort/XR3i period
Although the hitman tended to walk around a lot from memory

This is doing my head in !!

[TCEvo]

The Little Drummer Girl (1984) featured an XR3i, but the plot/context doesn't seem right, although part of it was filmed in '80's London.

This might help as it's the easiest place to find (some) cars in films: https://www.imcdb.org/

[belleair302]

Is it Mona Lisa or The Hit?