Hit Man
Yesterday Ted suggested that we go in to San Francisco to see a movie, because it got a good review in our local paper, and because we really like movies by the director Richard Linklater. We didn’t have any plans, so off we went to an old school movie theater. When we lived in San Francisco, we used to go to the movies a lot, and as there were a lot of theaters around town, and this is a good one, it’s in a good neighborhood and there is a local bookstore next door, which is always fun pre or post movie, to peruse the books.
We’ve seen a couple of movies at our local multiplex lately, the new Ghostbusters and the new Planet of the Apes, which we agreed were C- and B- respectively. We were hoping for something better with Hit Man, and happily, we got it. I would give it a solid A. Not A+, I didn’t love it as much as some of Linklater’s other films, but I really enjoyed it. I took issue with one plot point late in the film, but won’t tell you because that would ruin it for you. Overall, it was well written, well acted, well directed, well done.
Hit Man is loosely based on a real man, Gary Johnson, who worked with the police in New Orleans, posing as a hit man to arrest people who are looking to have other people killed. Entrapment? I don’t know, likely not since they contacted him, not the other way around. Mr. Johnson brought next level performances to his meetings, trying to figure out what they might be looking for in a hit man, and playing up to that. The real life Mr. Johnson convince one such potential customer to get out of an abusive marriage rather than hiring someone to have her husband killed. In the film, they take that occurrence and spin it off into a romance, and all kinds of drama ensues. I would say don’t watch the trailers, go in as blind as you can, and just enjoy a fun caper.
We saw it in the theater, but it is a very limited release, and is coming to Netflix June 7th, so if you have Netflix, you don’t have long to wait.
16 Comments
San
An old-fashioned movie date. How fun!
Richard Linklater is a fantastic director. I really love his Before Sunrise Trilogy! And he has other good movies. too
J
Those are my favorites of his work, for sure. I love them so much. I also really enjoyed Boyhood.
This movie is much more action driven than those, but still really well done.
Margaret
I’ve never heard of him but need some decent films to watch. The last couple I’ve seen have been disappointing.
J
Margaret, my favorite Linklater films are a trilogy, ‘Before Sunrise’, ‘Before Sunset’, and ‘Before Midnight’. They are about the relationship between two characters over a long period of time. Very sweet, lots of walking and talking. LOTS of walking and talking in all three.
Lisa’s Yarns
We will wait for this to come to Netflix and watch it there. Sounds like something that will be a good fit for Phil and me. Going to the movies is so fun. I have rarely gone to a movie in the last 10 years so it feels like such a treat. My last movie was Kung Fu Panda 4 – I went along with Paul when he was invited to a friend’s bday party. Before that I saw ‘Just Mercy’ probably in 2019! So I went 5 years between movies.
I wasn’t familiar with the director but see from your comment about that he directed the before sunrise/sunset/midnight. I adored those movies, especially the first 2.
J
I loved those movies as well, SO GOOD. I think the second one is my favorite, followed by the first and then the third. I really like two other movies with Julie Delpy, Two Days in Paris and Two Days in New York. Much more farce than the Before series, but hilarious.
I hope you like Hit Man, it was fun!
Nicole MacPherson
I haven’t watched a movie in a while! Maybe I should watch this, I have always enjoyed your recommendations (Good Grief was SO good!)
J
Oh, I hope you give it a try! The fact that it’s coming out on Netflix soon makes it pretty easy for those of us who subscribe.
Ally Bean
You went on a date! How sweet is that. I’ve heard of this movie and tit sounds interesting. Will look for it. Thanks for the review.
J
Ally, we did! Two dates in a row, since we went to dinner on Friday evening as well. FUN!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Oh this sounds fun. We used to go to the movies so often but now usually watch it all at home. Better sound and iamge…
The movie sounds like something we would enjoy.
Too bad that we decided to unsubsribe from Netflix for a while. The prices are getting redicilously high and during summer we tend to not watch as much. And we do have tone of other subscriptions.
J
There are so many subscriptions, right? Netflix, Hulu, Paramount, Peacock, Disney, Apple, YouTube, on and on. Since you don’t have Netflix, keep your eyes out and see if this one comes to the theater where you are. It’s a smaller movie, so it may not get overseas distribution.
Ernie
I’ve seen bits and pieces about this and I do want to see it. I thought it looked good and I’m glad to know that you liked it. We don’t get to the acutal theater often. Almost never. Glad it’ll be out on Netflix.
J
I have a feeling we will watch it again, perhaps this weekend!
Anne
I… have not watched a movie in a movie theater since the very beginning of 2004. Too many people, too much noise, too, um, gross (sticky floors, bleargh). Worse, I haven’t watched a movie since 2018 (the last HP movie). I am just more of a reader. I also don’t really care for TV, so don’t even have one at this point. I know. If I didn’t have computers and read almost exclusively on an iPad, I’d be living in the early 1900s. 😉
That said, I really like it when others can articulate what their preferences are re: movies and shows, and then focus on those that align. This was really interesting to read from the perspective of a non-movie person! 🙂
J
Anne, you’re kind of like my dad, though he did enjoy movies, so not exactly. But was never interested in having a TV, much more interested in just about anything else, but especially reading. Awfully kind of you to comment when there is no way in hell you’re going to see this movie!