Bullet to the Head
Bullet to the Head is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Walter Hill and starring Sylvester Stallone as Jimmy "Bobo" Bonomo, a seasoned New Orleans hitman who forms an unlikely alliance with Washington, D.C. detective Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang) after their respective partners are killed, leading them to target a ruthless conspiracy led by a corrupt businessman (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).[1][2] The film, written by Alessandro Camon, is an adaptation of the French graphic novel Du plomb dans la tête ("A Bullet in the Head") by Alexis Nolent (under the pseudonym Matz) and illustrated by Colin Wilson, originally published in 2004.[3][4] Premiering at the Rome Film Festival on November 14, 2012, and receiving a wide U.S. theatrical release on February 1, 2013, through Warner Bros., the movie features a supporting cast including Jason Momoa as the antagonist Keegan, Sarah Shahi as Lisa Bonomo, Bobo's daughter and an informant to Kwon, Christian Slater as a sleazy attorney, and Jon Seda as Bobo’s partner Louis.[5][6] With a reported production budget of $55 million, Bullet to the Head grossed approximately $9.5 million domestically and $21.9 million worldwide, marking a commercial underperformance.[7][8] Critically, the film received mixed reviews, earning a 44% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 145 reviews, with praise for its old-school action sequences and Stallone's charismatic performance but criticism for its formulaic plot and uneven pacing.[1] Walter Hill's direction drew comparisons to his earlier gritty crime films like 48 Hrs., emphasizing themes of loyalty, vengeance, and moral ambiguity in a neo-noir style set against the backdrop of New Orleans.[9]Synopsis
Plot
In New Orleans, veteran hitman Jimmy Bobo and his partner Louis Blanchard are contracted to assassinate Hank Greely, a corrupt former police officer, in a seedy hotel room.[9] After completing the job, they are ambushed by Keegan, a brutal ex-mercenary hired to eliminate witnesses; Louis is killed, but Bobo escapes with a gunshot wound and retreats to his tattoo parlor base.[9] Meanwhile, Taylor Kwon, a straight-laced detective from Washington, D.C., arrives in the city to investigate Greely's murder and traces the hit back to Bobo, leading to a confrontation where Bobo saves Kwon from an attack by corrupt local cops.[9] Despite their mutual distrust—Bobo as a cynical outlaw and Kwon as a by-the-book investigator—they form a reluctant alliance to expose the larger conspiracy orchestrating the killings.[9] Their probe reveals Robert Nkomo Morel, a ruthless real estate developer, as the mastermind, using his influence over dirty police and mercenaries like Keegan and attorney Marcus Baptiste to seize control of valuable urban properties through extortion and murder.[9] The stakes escalate when Baptiste kidnaps Bobo's estranged daughter, Lisa, a tattoo artist and former med student who patches up Kwon at the parlor; Bobo and Kwon storm Baptiste's hideout, rescuing her after a fierce shootout.[9] The partners infiltrate Morel's operation, kidnapping Baptiste for information on the scheme.[9] In a climactic showdown amid the gritty New Orleans underbelly, Bobo battles Keegan in a savage axe fight inside an abandoned church, but Kwon intervenes by shooting Keegan dead when Bobo is overpowered.[9] With Morel's conspiracy dismantled and his empire crumbling under exposure, Bobo plants falsified evidence to shield Kwon from an internal affairs probe, allowing the detective to return to D.C. while Bobo resumes his solitary life as a hitman.[9]Principal Cast
Sylvester Stallone stars as Jimmy "Bobo" Bonomo, a seasoned hitman operating in New Orleans who adheres to a strict personal code despite his ruthless profession.[2] Sung Kang plays Taylor Kwon, a dedicated Japanese-American detective from Washington, D.C., thrust into unfamiliar territory as he investigates corruption.[2] Sarah Shahi portrays Lisa Bobo, Bobo's estranged daughter who works as a tattoo artist and former med student, maintaining a strained relationship with her father.[1] Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje embodies Robert Nkomo Morel, a powerful and corrupt property developer entangled in illicit schemes.[2] Jason Momoa depicts Keegan, a brutal ex-mercenary assassin known for his unrelenting ferocity in combat.[1] Christian Slater appears as Marcus Baptiste, Morel's cunning and sleazy lawyer who manipulates legal systems for personal gain.[10]Supporting Cast
Holt McCallany plays Hank Greely, a corrupt former police officer serving as an initial target in the story's unfolding events.[11] Jon Seda is cast as Louis Blanchard, Bobo's trusted partner in their line of work.[12] Brian Van Holt portrays Ronnie Earl, Bobo's reliable assistant who handles logistical aspects of their operations.[11] Dane Rhodes serves as Lt. Melody "Mel" Lebreton, a police lieutenant involved in the investigation.[13] Marcus Lyle Brown appears as Det. Towne, Kwon's investigative partner from the D.C. police force.[11]Production
Development
Bullet to the Head originated as an adaptation of the 2004 French graphic novel Du plomb dans la tête (translated as Bullet to the Head), written by Alexis Nolent under the pseudonym Matz and illustrated by Colin Wilson.[14] The story centers on a hitman and a detective forming an unlikely alliance, a premise that the screenplay by Alessandro Camon translated into a gritty action narrative emphasizing violence, humor, and the buddy dynamic between the leads.[15] Camon's script maintained the source material's core tension while adapting it for live-action, focusing on authentic portrayals of moral ambiguity and high-stakes confrontations.[14] The project entered development in the late 2000s, with Wayne Kramer initially attached as director around 2007, envisioning a darker tone for the film.[16] However, creative differences led to Kramer's departure, prompting Sylvester Stallone, who joined as star and producer in 2010, to recruit Walter Hill for the role.[17] Stallone approached Hill, a veteran of 1970s and 1980s action cinema known for films like 48 Hrs., to helm the project as an homage to that era's buddy-cop genre, insisting on an R-rating to preserve the story's violent authenticity and blend of humor with intense action sequences.[18] Hill's vision emphasized the mismatched partnership and raw energy, aligning with Stallone's goal of revitalizing classic action tropes.[19] Pre-production advanced under Hill's direction, with principal photography set to begin in Louisiana in June 2011.[15] The film was produced by Dark Castle Entertainment, IM Global, and After Dark Films, with a budget of $55 million.[8] Key producers included Joel Silver, Alexandra Milchan, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Kevin King-Templeton, alongside executive producers such as Stuart Ford and Courtney Solomon.[15] This team facilitated the transition from graphic novel to screen, prioritizing the script's balance of explosive set pieces and character-driven banter to capture the source's noir essence.[15]Casting
Sylvester Stallone was cast in the lead role of Jimmy Bobo in early 2011, drawing on his established status as an action star from films like the Rocky and Rambo franchises to anchor the project's gritty hitman narrative.[20] Jason Momoa was selected for the antagonist role of Keegan around mid-2011, chosen for his imposing physicality following his breakout performance as Khal Drogo in HBO's Game of Thrones, which had elevated his profile in genre roles.[21] In a notable casting change, Thomas Jane was originally attached to play the detective Taylor Kwon but was replaced by Sung Kang in early 2011 at the insistence of producer Joel Silver, who sought to broaden the film's appeal to a more diverse audience, particularly Asian-American viewers, by incorporating greater ethnic representation in the lead duo.[22] For supporting roles, Christian Slater was brought on as the corrupt attorney Marcus Baptiste in July 2011, valued for his ability to deliver charismatic yet sinister performances honed in films like Heathers and True Romance. Sarah Shahi joined as Lisa Bobo, Stallone's daughter, in June 2011, selected to provide emotional grounding amid the action through her experience in dramatic roles from series like The L Word. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was cast as the crime lord Robert Morel in July 2011, leveraging his commanding presence from Lost and Oz to embody authoritative villainy.[23][24] Director Walter Hill approached the ensemble with an eye toward reviving 1980s action archetypes, emphasizing reluctant partnerships reminiscent of his own 48 Hrs., and conducted chemistry tests between Stallone and Kang to ensure their dynamic captured the tension of an unlikely alliance between a veteran hitman and a straight-laced detective.[19][16]Filming
Principal photography for Bullet to the Head began on June 27, 2011, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and concluded in late August 2011.[25] The production chose New Orleans as the primary filming location to leverage the city's post-Katrina urban decay and gritty atmosphere, which complemented the film's noir-inspired tone of corruption and violence.[26] Scenes were shot across various sites in the city, including streets near Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, tattoo parlors reflecting the protagonist's profession, abandoned warehouses for tense confrontations, a lavish mansion representing the antagonist's domain, and a derelict church where the climactic axe fight between Sylvester Stallone and Jason Momoa was choreographed and filmed over three days.[26] Directed by Walter Hill, the shoot emphasized practical effects and stunt work with minimal use of CGI to maintain a raw, authentic feel true to the graphic novel source material.[11] Cinematographer Lloyd Ahern II captured the humid, decaying urban landscape using ARRI Alexa cameras and Panavision lenses, highlighting the film's action sequences through dynamic, grounded visuals.[27] Stallone performed many of his own stunts, including the demanding axe duel, coordinated by the stunt team to echo key panels from the original French graphic novel Du plomb dans la tête.[28] On-set challenges included the intense summer humidity of New Orleans, which complicated outdoor shoots and action coordination, as well as logistical hurdles like securing permits for high-impact sequences in historic areas.[26]Music
Score
The score for Bullet to the Head was composed by Steve Mazzaro, marking his first solo feature film credit, with production oversight provided by Hans Zimmer.[29][30] The music integrates approximately 42 minutes of original material into the film's 91-minute runtime, primarily supporting the action sequences and character development.[31] It emphasizes a bluesy rock edge through prominent electric guitars, bass, drums, and harmonica, creating driving rhythms that align with the story's New Orleans setting and gritty hitman narrative.[29][32] Key elements include the opening track "Here's the Story," a gritty blues-infused theme for protagonist James "Bobo" Bonomo, featuring raw guitar riffs, harmonica wails, and percussive pulses to establish his tough demeanor.[29] Action cues, such as those in "Staying in the Game" and "Just Another Soldier," deliver punchy percussion and electric guitar-driven energy for fight scenes, heightening tension without relying on full orchestral forces.[29] The score also incorporates electronic suspense motifs and a tango-inspired set-piece in "The Fox and the Hound" for specific confrontations, blending rock instrumentation with subtle atmospheric layers.[29] Stylistically, the composition pays homage to 1970s action thrillers through its raw, instrumental blues-rock foundation and rhythmic intensity, evoking the era's blend of tension and high-stakes propulsion while fitting director Walter Hill's throwback aesthetic.[29] Tension-building motifs underscore the hitman-detective dynamic, using sparse electronic elements and guitar swells for suspense, while combat scenes feature high-energy drum patterns and guitar leads to amplify the film's visceral confrontations.[29][33] The score was composed and recorded post-filming in 2012 at Remote Control Productions in Santa Monica, California, utilizing a rock-oriented ensemble rather than a traditional orchestra to achieve its compact, focused sound.[34][35]Soundtrack
The Bullet to the Head soundtrack album, featuring the film's original score, was released digitally on January 29, 2013, and as a physical CD on February 19, 2013, by Varèse Sarabande Records.[36] Composed by Steve Mazzaro and produced by Hans Zimmer, the album contains 15 instrumental tracks totaling approximately 42 minutes, emphasizing blues-infused rock elements to complement the film's gritty action atmosphere.[36][29] The track listing is as follows:| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Here's The Story | 5:03 |
| 2 | Staying In The Game | 2:41 |
| 3 | Just Another Soldier | 2:57 |
| 4 | On The Road | 1:46 |
| 5 | Don't Touch My Gun | 1:57 |
| 6 | The Fox And The Hound | 1:24 |
| 7 | This Is My City | 3:15 |
| 8 | Ambushed | 1:27 |
| 9 | The Only Life He Had | 1:57 |
| 10 | Guns Don't Kill People | 0:58 |
| 11 | Change Of Plans | 2:11 |
| 12 | End Of The Line | 6:41 |
| 13 | Vikings | 1:15 |
| 14 | It's All Over | 3:06 |
| 15 | Bullet To The Head | 5:24 |