By writnkitten
June 27, 2007
BlogCritics Magazine

Spike TV’s new original scripted series, The Kill Point, stars actors John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg on opposing sides of the law. The eight-hour series, which premiered on Spike TV on Sunday, July 22 from 9 to 11 p.m. ET/PT, was created by James DeMonaco (Assault on Precinct 13 and The Negotiator) and is directed by Steve Shill (Showtime’s The Tudors).

The plot of Kill Point centers around a bank heist gone wrong and the hostage negotiations that inevitably ensue. Leguizamo, who is clearly leading the robbers and is referred to as “Sergeant”, is accompanied by a crew of men with the nicknames “Cat,” “Mouse,” “Pig,” and “Rabbit.”

When Sergeant makes a public statement, on camera and in front of the gathering crowd outside the bank, detailing his demands, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary bank robbery, and this is no ordinary group of robbers. They are in fact American Iraq War veterans.

While the subject matter is heavy, dealing with post-war veterans, politics, and societal views on war/veterans, there are moments of humor woven throughout the show, such as when two co-workers decide to have sex in a closet in the bank and end up hiding in said closet during the robbery (the robbers don’t know they’re in the closet), and then as time passes and nature calls, the woman doesn’t want to pee in front of the guy she just had sex with. Because I guess peeing is too intimate.

Leguizamo’s previous credits include TV’s Miami Vice, ER, and My Name is Earl, and the films Carlito’s Way, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Summer of Sam, Moulin Rouge!, Assault on Precinct 13, and Land of the Dead. He also won an Emmy, in the category of outstanding performance in a variety or musical program, in 1999 for Freak, his semi-falsified, one-man stand-up performance/autobiographical story.

Donnie Wahlberg’s previous credits include the films Ransom, The Sixth Sense, and more recently horror films Saw 2 and Saw 3, as well as the TV mini-series Band of Brothers and TV’s Boomtown.

The Kill Point takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and infuses quintessential cops and robbers with a political morality play. Part Robin Hood, part Joan of Arc, The Kill Point is an updated take on an old story. The twist here is deciding who to root for, because as of hour two, my sympathies lie with the robbers.

Great acting, particularly on the part of Leguizamo, is sure to make The Kill Point one popular summer series. I already can’t wait to see what happens next.

Originally appeared at: BlogCritics Magazine