Director Richard Linklater's Explanation of Hit Man's True Story and Movie Accuracy
Hit Man's director, Richard Linklater, makes clear the proportion of the film derived from a genuine story. Glen Powell plays Gary Johnson in the film, a man who, during the day seems to be a hitman but at night is a professor. Powell co-directed the film alongside Linklater. The storyline for Hit Man is derived from a Texas Monthly essay by Skip Hollandsworth that chronicles the true Gary Johnson's story. Along with Powell, Hit Man's cast consists in Adria Arjona, Retta, Austin Amelio, and Molly Bernard.
Linklater tells Comicbook how closely the film mirrors the real events it is based upon. Linklater said he "got to know [Johnson] a little bit" for the film, thereby confirming Hit Man was from his point of view. Still, despite the final film's "far beyond his own life," surpassing the limited span of the story, Linklater "knew of him [Johnson] personally" had great impact on Hit Man. See Linklater's whole comment down below:
The Popular Success of Hit Man
The way Hit Man's story is derived is not far off from another Linklater picture Bernie. Bernie is based on an article by Hollandsworth in Texas Monthly, much as the Powell picture is based on, and Linklater's approach was similar in that he formed a rapport with the actual subject. Given additional background on Linklater's work, it's fascinating to find how often his story inspirations overlaps. Regarding Hit Man, it sounds as though Linklater spun from the actual narrative to a more surreal degree.
Critics and supporters of Hit Man have thus so far found their story handled to be pleasing. With a 97% Tomatometer score and an equally outstanding 95% audience approval rating, Hit Man has received fantastic marks. Critics are complimenting Powell's script as well as his Gary Johnson leading performance.
The influence of the film
"Oh, that's an excellent question. You know, I have gotten slightly buddies with him. This film, in my opinion, really captures his viewpoint—that of the surroundings, of everything, not only of her. So, sure, that had a big influence. You know, what I personally knew about him and what we discovered from his life and everything around. That's how he saw it.
Still, I think he would find our film interesting as we carried it much beyond his own life. The narrative about him ends, really, when he lets her go. This is thus a tiny thriller we take you from that point ahead. I find it rather funny thus. Indeed, though, we are all here in a sense for him.
Hit Man: An Account
Inspired by a Texas Monthly article of the same name, Richard Linklater's 2023 action comedy Hit Man is On assignment, an undercover Houston police officer pretends as a hitman trying to apprehend a bunch of criminals until he falls for a woman. Deeply into the realm of crime, the Houston officer battles to break free from his new undercover persona.
The plot of the movie is original. Given that it is not often that a police officer poses as a hitman on job, it will most likely fascinate spectators. The film boasts several funny elements as well. With its outstanding cast and intriguing storyline, this film will most definitely be a hit.
With a 97% score, Hit Man ranks among Powell's best-rated pieces of art ever produced.
Coming in just around Top Gun: Maverick's 96% score, Hit Man's 97% rating is among Powell's best-rated works of his career. Hit Man is not Linklater's top rated movie (that honor goes to Before Sunrise), but it is most definitely in the upper tier of his career. Moreover, the picture boasts greater ratings than Apollo 10 ½: A Space-Aged Childhood, Linklater's last feature. Though Hit Man deviates from truth, Powell and Linklater's script work is obviously successful.
Linklater has exploited real events in his works before, hence the film is not the only one in which he does so, but his approach is really interesting. His original approach of narrative and his ability to relate to the individuals he works with help to increase the attraction of the story.
The effect of the movie
"Oh, that's an excellent question. You know, I have gotten slightly buddies with him. This film, in my opinion, really captures his viewpoint—that of the surroundings, of everything, not only of her. So, sure, that had a big influence. You know, what I personally knew about him and what we discovered from his life and everything around. That's how he saw it.
Still, I think he would find our film interesting as we carried it much beyond his own life. The narrative about him ends, really, when he lets her go. This is thus a tiny thriller we take you from that point ahead. I find it rather funny thus. Indeed, though, each of us here is in some sense here for him.
