I have been a fan of filmmaker Richard Linklater since 1993’s Dazed and Confused. His work as a director has been an even blend of comedy and drama since then, running the gamut from School of Rock to Boyhood. His trilogy of Before films are romances to savor. Now, he has melded those genres into one thoroughly entertaining film. Hit Man will make you laugh a little, it will make you gasp a little, and it will make you swoon a little. It’s a treat.
This film begins with a title card that tells us it’s based on a true story– kind of, at least. Glen Powell plays Gary Johnson, a psychology professor who seems like a boring guy. Excitement enters his life when his work helping the police with tech for recordings turns into him pretending to be a hitman. Johnson was a real person and he did work for the cops. (The script is based on a Texas Monthly article.) The story dramatized here, though, is the stuff of entertainment. Effective entertainment. What happens in the film may be an exaggeration but, after watching, you hope real-life Gary had some of the good stuff of his onscreen counterpart.
Hit Man succeeds at more than just its story, though. It’s a showcase for Powell as a leading man, whose chemistry with costar Adria Arjona is palpable. And Linklater’s confident direction ties it all together, even when things get unpredictable.
“A human being aids in moments of weakness.”
Gary is divorced and drives a Civic. That’s the image he projects to the world when the story starts. Then the cop who usually plays the fake hitman is suspended from duty and they ask Gary to step up. This moment is deftly played for humor, in part thanks to Gary’s cop colleagues played by Retta and Sanjay Rao. To everyone’s surprise, Gary is a natural. He is good at fitting into whatever image the suspect has in their heads of what a hitman is supposed to be. He assists in the arrest of a lot of suspects.
Powell earns his paycheck with these scenes. Gary doesn’t just use physical disguises, he changes his accent and voice as well. A Russian accent and black leather coat work best for one suspect, while an imitation of Christian Bale’s character from American Psycho works best for another. Powell also has to pull off multiple professor lectures. He accomplishes that too. This role proves Powell’s movie star potential and I hope he gets more opportunities like this. It’s worth noting that Powell also co-wrote this film with Linklater, revealing another aspect of his talents.
Gary’s adventures take a turn when he meets Madison, played by Arjona. She wants to hire Gary (who’s posing as Ron) to kill her husband. Her situation isn’t like the other people Gary has caught. Her husband is abusive, and she is more conflicted than any of the other suspects we see. Gary ignores the usual protocols and encourages her to forget having her husband killed. He tells her to take the money she was going to pay him and get away. He leaves without securing her arrest. But that is not the end of their story.
“Chivalry may be dead but I didn’t kill it.”
Gary and Madison’s interaction when they first meet has a wonderful rhythm to it, so we are not surprised when they see each other again. She took his advice and is now divorcing her husband. Their interest in each other quickly takes on a romantic angle. It’s not long before they’re in bed together. Powell and Arjona’s chemistry is strong, so these moments are sexy. Of course, there is one thing hanging over this happiness. Madison still thinks Gary is Ron the hitman. They agree not to get too personal but that’s not the same as the whole truth.
I have a feeling that this is where the film starts to deviate from the real Gary Johnson’s story. The way Madison does find out the truth and the way things are resolved with her ex-husband goes to some unexpected places. Without careful execution, Gary and Madison could become unlikeable. But that doesn’t happen. And there is one particular example of teamwork between them that emphasizes they should be together. The epilogue of the film wouldn’t be out of place at the end of a romance novel.
I would call this movie more of a love story than anything, but the comedy and (to a lesser extent) thriller elements are undeniable. That mix makes Hit Man one of the most entertaining viewing experiences so far this year. Linklater and Powell’s combination of abilities makes them a formidable team, and this film is a testament to the strength of their collaboration. It is early in Powell’s leading man era but let’s hope more work with Linklater is in his future. Especially if it’s anything like Hit Man.
4 stars out of 5
Hit Man is streaming on Netflix.