Venice Film Festival Showcases Hit Man Films
At this year’s Venice Film Festival, hit men are taking center stage. Films like David Fincher’s “The Killer” and Woody Allen’s “Coup de Chance” are exploring the world of contract killers. Now, Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” is stealing the buzz from both of those movies.
Based on a true story, “Hit Man” tells the tale of Gary Johnson, a part-time college teacher and tech consultant for the New Orleans Police Department. When a veteran cop gets suspended, Gary is tapped to go undercover as a contract killer. But why would they choose someone with no crime-enforcement experience? It’s presented as a fluke, and Gary becomes the unlikeliest undercover agent.
Glen Powell delivers an outstanding performance as Gary. With his offbeat leading-man vibe and sincere grin, Powell brings Gary to life as an eager dweeb who becomes cool and mean when he steps into the role of a hit man. He draws on all the popular culture he has seen and acts out the movie of his mind.
However, the film raises questions about the New Orleans police’s motives for targeting regular citizens. Gary’s job becomes wearing disguises and luring people into traps. But when he meets Madison, who wants to kill her abusive husband, things get complicated. Gary, posing as the laidback and confident Ron, starts to fall for Madison. But there’s one problem – Gary and Ron have separate motivations that keep getting in the way, and his colleague Jasper starts to suspect something is up.
“Hit Man” is filled with delicious moments, but it suffers from a sprawling plot and overstays its welcome. While it explores the theme of identity, the film ultimately falls short in its exploration. In the end, Gary simply becomes cooler and learns to dress better. One can’t help but wonder if a “Queer Eye” makeover would have accomplished the same thing.
Despite its flaws, “Hit Man” is a standout film at the Venice Film Festival, showcasing the talents of Glen Powell and Richard Linklater’s unique storytelling. With hit men taking the spotlight this year, audiences are eager to see what other surprises the festival has in store.