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Rent For Hire (1999)

For Hire is a taut and complex thriller about the potential evil inherent in every man.Mitch Lawrence (Rob Lowe), a Chicago cabby and would be actor, is a man whose dreams are starting to fade.He's got a loving and pregnant wife, Faye, and a decent clientele, including the successful writer Lou Weber (Joe Mantegna), but overall his life is one of frustration, even desperation.

Then one night after Mich takes Webber home, Webber reveals that his wealthy and ordered lifestyle has some hidden horrors.A drug dealer whose story he exposed in a prior book is stalking him.The cops, he says, are in on it, too.He's got nowhere to turn.

Mitch is sympathetic, but it's not his problem.Then a few nights later stomach pains overwhelm him and he passes out on Webbers front porch.When he regains consciousness, Webber and his neighbor, Dr. Shepard, drive him home.The next day, at Dr. Shepards office, he is diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer, which, as it did with his father, will kill him in a matter of months.

This changes everything. Desperate to set up a nest-egg for Faye, from whom he has hidden his illness, Mitch reconsiders Webber's indecent proposal; enough money to take care of Faye and the baby after he's gone: if Mitch will take care of his problem now.Webber will supply the gun and half the cash in advance, the rest of the money after the Mitch does the deed.Mitch agonises over the decision, but after several days and his time ticking away, he decides to accept Webbers offer.