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Hit Man (2024) | Movie Review

 

2024. R. 115 mins. Directed by Richard Linklater

Director Richard Linklater has once again crafted another stellar movie. The script, written by Linklater and Powell, is top notch and really works from start to finish. There are numerous scenes throughout with some great dialogue and the script is extremely witty, especially with the character of Gary Johnson. Linklater does a great job at building the character of Gary and letting the audience get to know him. Seeing a montage of Gary posing as a hit man for different clients and putting on different disguises and accents is one of the best parts of the movie. Glen Powell knocks his performance out of the park. This is a perfect starring vehicle for him, and he performs expertly throughout. Adria Arjona gives a fantastic performance as well and her chemistry with Powell is a highlight of the movie. Add in some side characters played well by Austin Amelio, Retta and Sanjay Rao and this is one well rounded cast.

The biggest flaw in Hit Man is the pacing at times. This is a movie with a runtime that is just under two hours, however, it feels like a lot longer just because of how it is paced. That's not to say there isn't plenty to enjoy in the scenes as they go on, it just feels like they move a lot slower at times than they should. At one point the story does get a little convoluted but it is able to clean things up as it moves along. There is a scene that involves Gary visiting his ex-wife and it feels like she may be more of a character but ultimately, she is only in the one scene. It would have been nice to see a little bit more with her but for the purposes of the story it makes sense why she doesn't come back.

Overall, Hit Man hits all the right boxes for a good movie. Between the direction and writing, Richard Linklater never leaves you bored and keeps you wanting to see what is going to happen next. Glen Powell puts in a fantastic performance and the relationship between him, and Adria Arjona's characters is one of the biggest strengths of the movie. This is a must-see movie so catch it as soon as you can.

Grade: A-


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