I suppose I had to enjoy Alexis Bledel eventually, didn’t I? No. Probably not. But I enjoyed her here as a mall-hoppin’-soul-searching killer-for-hire. First time for everything, I s’pose. Try our new hitmen! Now, in teeny-bopper flavor!
Violet & Daisy opens with the two girls dressed as pizza delivery nuns strolling down a hotel corridor while exchanging mundanities. When their delivery turns into standard Catholic school discipline (nuns open fire with handguns), we realize writer/director Geoffrey Fletcher spent a lot of time watching Pulp Fiction. There are many, many worse films to emulate.
Violet (Bledel) is number eight. Daisy (Saoirse Ronan) is number nine. In their particular circle, you are numbered by the number of folks you’ve murdered. The girls wear their numbers proudly, as on sports jerseys and on sleeves when the NFL look won’t cut it. Yes, these girls are hitwomen. And presumably good at it, reason being is Violet seems to have no soul and Daisy doesn’t know enough to be anything else. After the Nunsense gig, the girls want a break, but then discover they haven’t the money to pay for cool dresses to attend a Barbie Sunday concert.
Have you ever killed for a dress? Like, literally? I don’t think anybody is going to confuse Violet & Daisy with reality, especially after the girls take the job, tandem-ride a tricycle to the show, break into the victim’s apartment and … fall asleep on his couch. Michael (James Gandolfini) is there when 
they awake, greeting the girls with cookies and milk. “Just so we’re clear: we’re here to kill you,” offers Violet. “Yes,” Michael agrees.
This sets up the main relationship in the film, the lethal parentless waifs taking advantage of the largesse provided by their intended mark. I’m fond of Saoirse Ronan, but I’ve never found magic in either Alexis Bledel or James Gandolfini for that matter, until now. No, I never saw “The Sopranos.” I can only go by his movie career, which kinda blows. I like them both here. And I’m very interested to see if Geoffrey Fletcher will become a bigger name. Admittedly, this film ain’t for everybody. After a big killin’, the girls have a game. I didn’t quite catch the name of it. The “Expunge Game”, maybe? Anyhoo, it involves hopping on the recently bullet ridden until blood spurts out of orifices. Admittedly, it’s not a game most will enjoy. It’s possible this is a movie most won’t enjoy. It’s possible a parent like me would be horrified by the emotionless display of violence coming from somebody who could be your daughter. It’s possible you’ll condemn this as a gift of Satan. Don’t care. Gimme more.
Violet & Daisy sittin’ in the hall
K-I-L-L-I-N-G all
First comes kindness
Then many a question
Finally, some introspection
Rated PG-13, 88 Minutes
D: Geoffrey Fletcher
W: Geoffrey Fletcher
Genre: Li’l hitmen
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Young girls who can’t decide between the exciting careers of housewife and serial killer.
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Mob folks. I imagine the real life killers find this condescending.
editor’s note: this review was written just days before the untimely death of James Gandolfini. In my mind, he joins Heath Ledger in a very exclusive group of actors I didn’t fully appreciate until it was too late. I’m sorry, James.
