Hit Man (2023)

Hit Man (2023)

 

6/10

Starring

Glen Powell

Adria Arjona

Austin Amelio

Retta

 

Directed by Richard Linklater

 

I have to be honest, this film has some twists I didn’t see coming. The lead, Gary (Glen Powell), becomes deeply entangled in one of his cases, which unexpectedly escalates into a murder. The complexity of his involvement and the warped relationship dynamics are captivating, albeit baffling. The film operates on a modest budget, but the performances by the cast, especially Powell, compensate for this limitation.

Adapted from Skip Hollandsworth’s book of the same name, the story follows a professor who collaborates with the police to catch individuals seeking to hire hitmen. The narrative emphasizes that there isn’t a long queue of people ready to kill for money; instead, it’s about catching those who think they can hire someone to do it.

Gary is thrust into the role of an undercover hitman after the suspension of a police officer originally tasked with the job. Powell’s performance as the hesitant yet determined civilian stepping into such a dangerous role stands out. Although the premise of a civilian taking on such responsibilities stretches believability, the screenplay by Powell and Richard Linklater ensures the story remains engaging.

Initially nervous, Gary quickly adapts to his undercover persona. He was so convincing in this new persona that he was more productive in capturing people trying to hire hitmen than the officer he was replacing.

However, everything changes when he meets someone he’s meant to incriminate. As you would expect, he meets a woman he likes and then he decided to sacrifice it all to save her. There was a form of instant connection between him and her, and he wanted so much to save her from her circumstances that he was ready to fling his life away.

Their connection made him to act like a counsellor who wants to help her turn her life around than he wanted to help her achieve the idea of killing the person she wanted dead. The police are suspecting this double cross, and now we are left to see how he is going to manage this situation.

The office he is replacing is also on his case, and he also must live a double life not letting the lady know that he is working for the police and not let the police know he is working to save the lady from them.

This is a fun Netflix watch, as long as you’re willing to suspend disbelief and embrace the whimsical narrative.