Richard 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“Hitman’s” overriding themeline is put both succinctly and indirectly during Gary Johnson’s teaching efforts with his classroom students.
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.
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.
While it may not be a perfect movie, “Hitman” is a perfectly nuanced satire.
“Hitman” comes at right time.
If only we could have such movies without the presence of guns. I suppose that’s a big part if this movie’s premise.
Richard Linlater’s resume just keeps getting better, and better, and better.
Rated R. 115 mins.
