At this year’s Venice Film Festival, hitmen seem to be the unofficial theme, with acclaimed directors like David Fincher and Woody Allen exploring the enigmatic world of contract killers. However, Richard Linklater‘s “Hit Man” enters the scene with a unique twist – it’s a true-life screwball underworld romantic philosophical thriller comedy noir, and its hero is anything but your typical hitman.
The film is based on a 2001 Texas Monthly article, blending fact and fiction to tell the extraordinary tale of Gary Johnson, a part-time college teacher turned unlikely undercover agent for the New Orleans Police Department. Why would an unassuming college professor find himself impersonating a contract killer? It’s a fluke, according to the film, when the original undercover cop is suspended, and they need someone to step in at the last minute.
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Enter Glen Powell, the actor behind Gary Johnson. Powell’s performance is a mesmerizing sleight-of-hand trick, portraying Gary as a geeky, divorced teacher who finds contentment in his house plants, bird feeders, cats, and thoughts. Tall, slim, and exuding an offbeat leading-man vibe, Powell brings a unique charm to the character.
As Gary takes on the role of a substitute undercover agent, something surprising happens. He transforms from a babbling nobody with zero crime-enforcement experience into a cool, hardened, and convincing contract killer. The audience can’t help but chuckle at how a person can become adept at this line of work by drawing from their knowledge of movies and popular culture.
Yet, the film reminds us that hitmen are more fiction than reality, and the targets they encounter are ordinary people with misguided intentions. The film raises questions about the ethics of law enforcement using questionable tactics to apprehend these individuals.
However, Gary’s journey takes an unexpected turn when he meets Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants her abusive husband eliminated. Gary assumes the persona of Ron, a sleek and confident man, and their flirtation turns into a passionate romance. This twist leads to a noir-style plot with tangled motivations and mounting obstacles.
“Hit Man” is peppered with delightful moments, but its sprawling plot and extended runtime slightly dampen the overall impact. While it raises thought-provoking questions about identity and change, the film might have benefited from a tighter narrative. In the end, Gary undergoes a transformation, shedding his geeky exterior for a cooler, more stylish persona. Yet, the movie leaves us pondering whether a “Queer Eye” makeover might have achieved similar results.
“Hit Man” is a delightful cinematic adventure that explores the unexpected journey of an unlikely undercover agent, offering humor, romance, and a dash of philosophy along the way.