The Untold Story of Bruce Willis’ Final Movie—And Why It Deserves a Second Look

Bruce Willis, often regarded as one of the most iconic action stars in Hollywood, displayed a wide range of acting talent throughout his career. From his riveting performances in action films like Die Hard to his critically acclaimed turns in dramas such as The Sixth Sense, Willis proved himself a versatile and beloved actor. However, toward the end of his illustrious career, particularly in the final years before his retirement in 2022, many of his projects received negative reviews. Assassin, a sci-fi thriller released in 2023, was no exception, facing harsh criticism from critics despite some redeeming qualities that make it unfairly dismissed.

Assassin is set in a world where a technology allows individuals to temporarily inhabit other people’s bodies. The plot revolves around Bruce Willis’ character, Valmora, who oversees this project. When a stolen piece of technology causes a deadly conflict, Alexa (played by Nomzamo Mbatha) is tasked with retrieving the technology and saving her loved one. What followed was a series of body-switching adventures and a race against time to stop a rogue agent. Critics quickly pounced on the film, citing plot holes, weak character development, and underwhelming performances as major flaws.

Despite these criticisms, Assassin holds a surprisingly higher audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—68%, which is a stark contrast to its scathing 9% from critics. Some viewers found the story’s concept innovative, with interesting twists and a relatively satisfying ending. While it may not have been a groundbreaking cinematic achievement, Assassin still managed to engage a portion of its audience, providing enough suspense and action to satisfy fans looking for a solid thriller.

One of the most vocal critics was Dennis Harvey of Variety, who described the film as “a rote genre exercise” and criticized it as a “regrettable close” to Willis’s impressive career. Others, like Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times, lamented that the film was part of the unfortunate wave of “direct-to-video and disposable fare” that Willis had been involved with in his later years. While it’s true that Willis’s film choices in his final years were often low-budget and received less-than-glowing reviews, it’s important to remember the context in which these films were made.

As many fans and insiders know, Bruce Willis’s health had been rapidly declining. In March 2022, Willis’s family revealed that he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that impairs speech and communication. This announcement came shortly before Assassin’s release and explained a great deal about the actor’s later career choices. By that point, Willis’s health had significantly impacted his performances, with some directors reportedly reducing his dialogue or cutting lines entirely to accommodate his condition. Out of Death director Mike Burns even admitted to altering Willis’s dialogue to make it more manageable, and by the time Wrong Place was filmed, Willis’s condition had worsened even further.

With this in mind, Assassin should be viewed in a different light. While it may not have been one of Willis’s finest performances, it can be seen as a part of his late-career output when he was clearly facing immense personal challenges. His presence in the film, even if somewhat subdued, remains a testament to his enduring commitment to his craft, despite the difficulty he was experiencing.

Furthermore, Assassin is not the worst-reviewed film in Willis’s career. Films such as Rock the Kasbah (2015), Vice (2015), and even The Whole Ten Yards (2004) received similarly harsh critiques. In fact, some of his most successful films, like G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) and Armageddon (1998), also faced negative critical reception despite being genre-defining blockbusters.

In conclusion, while Assassin may not be a masterpiece, its negative reception on Rotten Tomatoes can be considered too harsh when taking into account the context of Willis’s health and his declining ability to perform at the high level we once expected from him. The film’s concept, though not flawless, has an intriguing premise, and its audience score suggests that there is more to Assassin than critics gave it credit for. Bruce Willis’s final movies should be remembered with empathy, understanding the difficult circumstances under which they were made, and appreciating the actor’s immense contribution to cinema over his illustrious career.