A based on true-events crime-comedy featuring excellent chemistry between Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, Hit Man has director Richard Linklater delving into the idea of identity and ego while subtly spoofing biopic filmmaking.
Movies can justly be labelled an emotionally manipulative artform, and the biopic is a clear example. From Braveheart to Vice, these depictions of real-life events are less about authenticity and more a skewered reaction moulded on the biases of the filmmakers.
Hit Man is indeed based on the true story of Greg Johnson, a college professor who moonlighted for the Houston police as a faux contract killer, snagging perspective “clients” looking to pay for murder. Director Richard Linklater (Boyhood), however, plays fast and loose with the facts to explore how ego and identity can influence storytelling from both the author and audience perspective. Much like his previous true-crime comedy Bernie, Linklater delivers fine work based on the philosophy to never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Current Hollywood “it-man” Glen Powell stars as the previously mentioned Johnson, a professor of psychology in New Orleans who finds he has a talent for undercover work when he stumbles into the role(s) of pretend hit man for the police. When disguised as the charming contract killer Ron, he meets and falls in love with Madison (Adrian Arjona) who approaches “Ron” to murder her abusive husband Ray (Evan Holtzman). A potential murder-for-hire instead turns into a steamy romance, complete with a complex identity crisis with Madison embracing her true nature while Greg slowly morphs into his fictional creation.
The fact that the real-life Johnson did not take part in any such dangerous and unethical relationship does not take away from the entertaining and thought-provoking work that Linklater delivers in Hit Man. Equally playful and thrilling, Hit Man especially works due to the palpable chemistry between Powell and Arjona. While Powell is all kinds of entertaining in his various disguises, it is his time as Ron alongside the simply stunning Arjona that makes the screen crackle with electricity, with Arjona delivering a magnetic performance of primal sexuality and great comedic timing.
The directions in which Linklater takes this true-crime dark comedy will be perplexing for some, and it all revolves around the question of what part murder plays during our morally evolved modern times versus the brutality of humanity’s past. The steady stream of potential murderers for hire that Gary portrays strongly suggest that the niche business-of-killing is thriving, as are the appetites of consumers who love nothing more to watch murderous violence on the screen, which is no doubt why some will watch Hit Man in the first place.
While the portrayal of the true story in Hit Man is false at best and unethical at worst, Linklater’s “based on true events” rom-com crime caper taps into more truths about humanities craving for murder and the lies we will swallow to fulfil our appetite.
