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July 28, 2024

HITMAN

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ColeSmithey.comRichard Linklater and co-screenwriter/actor Glen Powell craft an enticingly funny and sexy social satire inspired by an unlikely true situation.

Leave it to Texas to hire a nerdy math and philosophy college professor to pretend to be a real-life hitman in order to catch those seeking unsavory assistance in the dispatching of an enemy.

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That was back in the '80s and '90s, before texts, emails, social media posts, and search engine requests provided most of the background evidence in such cases.

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Although the narration categorically informs us that hitmen don't really exist; that little bit of exposition is, well, absolutely untrue; it's just that everyday civilians don't usually have access to such skullduggery.

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Rather than Houston, where the actual events took place, Richard Linklater sets the action in New Orleans. It reminds us of what a cool location New Orleans is for movies to be filmed. If there's one city in America that is palpably sexual, it's The Big Easy.

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Glen Powell makes a splash as Gary Johnson, a mild mannered math teacher who finds his true calling, and a main squeeze (played by Adria Arjona), when he goes undercover to participate in sting operations against those wishing to purchase the services of a cold blooded killer, namely one poorly disguised Gary Johnson.

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"Hitman's" overriding themeline is put both succinctly and indirectly during Gary Johnson's teaching efforts with his classroom students.

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How well do we know ourselves?

What is our facility for changing our behaviors?

Gary tells his students to seize the identity that they want for themselves.

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These burning questions catch fire as we are introduced to archetypal characters in search for illicit relief from personal problems further clouded by misinformation and America's twisted social norms.

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While it may not be a perfect movie, "Hitman" is a perfectly nuanced satire.

"Hitman" comes at right time.

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If only we could have such movies without the presence of guns. I suppose that's a big part if this movie's premise.

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Richard Linlater's resume just keeps getting better, and better, and better.

Rated R. 115 mins.

5 Stars

Cozy Cole

ColeSmithey.com

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