Hit Man (2023) – Clever

Genre: Comedy – Based on a true story

Platform: Netflix

Director: Richard Linklater

Cast:  Glen Powell. Adria Arjona. Austin Amelio

 Plot: Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a New Orleans college philosophy professor who moonlights as an electronics technician for the New Orleans police department. When one of the undercover officers Jasper(Austin Amelio) is suspended for using excessive force, Gary is asked to step in and fulfill Jasper’s role – of a contract killer. Gary’s colleagues are amazed how well he acts as a fake hit man and keeps getting one conviction after another for attempted murder. Till he meets Madison Figueroa Masters (Adria Arjona) who wants her husband killed. Gary refuses the job and “advices” her to get a divorce. Soon they are dating and then it is the husband who wants a contract on Madison. Meanwhile Jasper is clearly not happy at being sidelined and he catches Madison and Gary together. Madison’s husband is found shot dead. Things seem to be going downhill for Gary…

The end credits show that Gary Johnson was really a straight squared off guy. The photo below shows you what all he was – and wasn’t.

Obviously, this is great material for a comic thriller and Hit Man succeeds – almost.

Gary is shown as something of a loner, with only two cats for company and nothing beyond his work to excite him. He takes like a duck to the water and is soon in love with one of his possible contractors. Filmy? you bet . Unbelievable? Totally. Funny? a lot – thanks to Glen Powell’s timing. Whenever he pretends to be the contract killer, he is quite funny . The contrast between College Professor, Hit Man and Man in love , is something Powell manages exceptionally well.  IN fact , its Powell through and through and the wickedly clever script gives him plenty of opportunity.

If anything is unbelievable it’s the last part about what the couple do to Jasper. The end credits make that clear that this was not so and the real Gary was a clean-cut guy who didnt murder anyone. There – I have given it away. New Orleans’s classy and grubby areas are photographed suitably to give the required effect to the story.

As for the real Gary murdering anyone; well – that is why they say you can’t believe everything you see in the movies. And Glen Powell doesn’t look like him too.

Real history – 3 out of 5

Script – 4 out of 5

Story – 4 out of 5

Direction – 4 out of 5

Photography – 4 out of 5

Total – 3.8 out of 5