Panic

A brilliantly observant, darkly humorous and immaculately acted movie about a suburban father (William H. Macy) in the throes of a midlife crisis, Panic is given a fresh, off-kilter twist by the fact that this particular neurotic suburban father is a professional hit man. First-time writer-director Henry Bromell creates an utterly original spectacle of severely tweaked normalcy in this deft and surprising character piece that plumbs the hit man's dysfunctional psyche through hesitant sessions with a shrink (John Ritter), as well as his growing fixation with a sexually conflicted nymph (Neve Campbell) that's turning his life upside-down. Not only does Macy maintain an awesome balance between family man stuck in a rut, skilled killer, and acquiescent milksop who has never learned to stand up to his domineering father (Donald Sutherland), but every other member of the cast also gives a thoroughly compelling, complex, career-topping performance. The best movie nobody saw in 2000, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Blackwelder)