Streaming on Netflix
One of the many issues with the modern streaming era is finding stories worth your time. This has always been an issue with entertainment, but with different obstacles (misleading trailers, lack of media attention, controversial issues with the creators, etc.), many of which are still prevalent today. I guess this is to say that with the entertainment system being savagely taken over by the algorithm and prioritizing brand recognition over human talent, it has become significantly more challenging to find anything wholeheartedly creative or "original."
Even so, occasionally, you find yourself searching through the trudges of bland and repetitive content shoved in your face by the AI-driven system only to stumble upon what might very well be a hidden gem. Hit Man is precisely that movie, to a tee! This movie has a sharp script, interesting characters, and thoughtful direction, and it goes into places that are challenging to explore. In short, it does what any good movie should do: make you think while being entertaining. While it may take some time to properly process what the film has to say about its chosen subject matter (as it should), it deserves every ounce of praise for ultimately committing to its mission and sticking to the landing.
The story follows a mild-mannered college philosophy/human behavior professor named Gary (Glen Powell), who has a side gig helping the police department with specific sting operations. He helps bring in potential criminal killers by posing as a hitman for hire and recording their marks in their attempts to purchase a murder. Gary finds joy in bringing in potential criminals while using the experience as a means of studying human behavior. Even so, things take an unusual turn when he encounters one potential mark named Madison (Adria Arjona), who rubs him differently. After subtly redirecting her toward a better decision, they begin a secret relationship that turns Gary's life around in ways he could never have anticipated. How long can he maintain this shaky balance between his desires and duty, and how far is he willing to go for those he cares about?
The movie is an overall gem! The cast is engaging, the story is clever, and the exploration of themes like death, human nature, and the greater good (individualism vs. the law) are all handled with grace, maturity, and respect. This movie is well aware of the weight brought on by its thematic elements and narrative explorations and is not afraid to ask much of the audience. It's the kind of storytelling nearly discouraged in any filmmaking circle, especially today.
A significant reason for that is likely the film's co-writer and director, Richard Linklater, late of Before Sunrise, School of Rock, and A Scanner Darkly. Richard Linklater has a natural talent for crafting likable and believable characters with nearly every project. He has an unusual talent for bringing any subject and genre down to earth with an extreme sense of humanity that is sorely missed in most modern movies. He is also one of those easily missed directors, as he seems to pump out a new movie almost every few years with insufficient fanfare. I am also guilty of unintentionally overlooking Mr. Linklater, and I can happily say this recent film has encouraged me to pay more attention.
Hit Man is the kind of movie that would have been laughed out of any Hollywood studio boardroom. Even though streaming platforms like Netflix are technically still part of the overall Hollywood system, especially with overpriced pieces of crap like The Electric State (which I will cover in due time), they are still more capable of producing smaller gems like this. This is the kind of cinema that makes having a streaming service subscription worth the price of admission.
Check it out!
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
P.S.
Please pre-order my upcoming book, The Fox and the Dragons, the much-anticipated sequel to my first book, Come See The Light. From now on, I will post a link to my website with further details and links at the end of every blog entry.
Thank you all 💜
