The lives of many actors depend on the planets aligning. This is the case of the protagonist of this comedy from Netflix, Glen Powell (35 years). After a lifetime in Hollywood, he had only had minor roles and during Covid the accountant warned him that his bankruptcy was very close to him.
However, Texan Powell had an ace up his sleeve. He had a small but relevant role in the sequel to “Top Gun” (2022). I just had to wait for the film to be released. The film was a success and despite being secondary, Glen Powell I was already someone. Just this year she starred in a romantic comedy which has been a commercial success, “Anyone but you”since, with a budget of 25 million, the film grossed more than 200.
And fate has wanted that a new collaboration that has been in the works for years will also premiere this year and that from Friday, June 7, it will premiere on Netflix, “Hitman”. Adored at the Venice festival, this romantic comedy with classical overtones that seems to have been written by Billy Wilder or Ernest Lubitch, is written by its leading actor, Powell, and the legendary director Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”).
Synopsis: Gary Johnson He is the most wanted professional killer in New Orleans. For his clients, he is the ideal hitman. But if you’re paying him to take out a cheating spouse or abusive boss, you better watch out: He works for the police. He also hits theaters on Friday, January 7 only at Cines Golem La Morea
Linklater and Powell They met on the set of “Everyone wants something” (2016), Powell saw a news story in the newspaper and asked Linklater to write the script. During periods of economic scarcity, Powell had already been able to sell scripts before and they jumped at it. The result is a film that at first is deceptive because it has an aesthetic almost like a bad Antena 3 movie but with an original premise. However, every 20 minutes a twist occurs that makes the film gain energy, especially as soon as the actress Adria Arjona appears on the scene. It was a joy to see how the rest of the spectators could not remain silent as the twists occurred (especially those closer to the end) and needed to comment on what had just happened.
Comedies rarely respect their viewers as much as they do. “Hitman”, hence it is such a despised genre. Powell has the challenge here of playing someone who has to play several characters which gives him a tremendous opportunity to shine. However, it is Adria Jordana which also embroiders him as a femme fatale. Finally, the energy between them is what makes “Hit Man” one of the most popular movies of the year. All this while making an implicit and explicit reflection on whether human beings are capable of change, whether for better or worse.
It is incredible that the success formula so seen in film noir films such as “Perdition” maintain such energy more than 50 years later. Of course it requires someone like Linklater to pull it off. Hopefully, Linklater, who has not fallen into any of the typical Hollywood traps (superheroes, franchises), gets all kinds of recognition. The only drawback is that aesthetic in the costume and production design that makes everything look like cardboard. Still, totally recommended.
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