Movie Recap (06.09.24)
Hit men, euthanasia, and puppets
This week’s reviews feature a professor moonlighting as a hitman, an euthanasia program with an environmental bent, and a documentary about Jim Henson.
Hit Man
R | Crime/Comedy | 1h 55m | Netflix
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Glenn Powell, Adria Arjona, and Retta
The Gist of It: The life of a philosophy professor, who moonlights as a hitman for the New Orleans Police Department, turns upside down when he becomes attracted to a woman who enlists his services.
What Works: The cast showcases its impressive range and comedic timing, but it’s Powell who keeps us engaged with his oddball charm and nerdy confidence. Sparks fly when he and Arjona share the screen. Director Linklater skillfully mixes (and remixes) multiple genres, from film noir to screwball comedy. The result is a dynamic film that shifts and twists, consistently feeling fresh and highly amusing. The light sense of humor might not make you laugh out loud, but it helps maintain a playful tone and brisk pace.
What Doesn’t: Glenn Powell’s chiseled jaw, piercing green eyes, and muscular chest work against him here. I'm not saying he is as completely out of place playing a philosophy professor as Denise Richards was playing a nuclear weapons expert in The World Is Not Enough (1999), but his good looks break the spell every so often. Still, paradoxically, the movie succeeds precisely because we can’t take our eyes off him.
My Verdict: Hit Man is a sly film. On the surface, it’s a goofy caper, in the vein of Catch Me If You Can (2002). But if we take in the generously spread out winks and nods, we’ll discover a bittersweet, fable-esque meditation on the performative nature of our being. Kudos to the filmmaking team for not succumbing to extreme didacticism or sacrificing fun on the altar of self-importance.
Humane
R | Horror/Thriller | 1h 33m | Rent
Directed by Caitlin Cronenberg
Starring Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, and Peter Gallagher
The Gist of It: In an effort to avoid environmental catastrophe, the government unveils a voluntary euthanasia program to reduce the world’s population by 20%. A family dinner spirals out of control when a father's plan to enlist in the new program goes horribly wrong.
What Works: The premise is cool and the first 20 minutes show potential, even if it all eventually crumbles under the weight of its own coolness. It could have thrived as a horror-comedy satire about elite pieties and upper class hypocrisy, but it never achieves the right tonal balance.
What Doesn’t: The movie stumbles in every attempt at satire because it eschews subtlety in favor of an inexplicable in-your-face attitude. Every character operates based on one single trait and we rarely get to revel in the absurdity of the whole situation. As a result, their relationships and motivations ring hollow. The conflict could have gone in so many original and wicked directions, yet director Cronenberg took the path of least resistance.
My Verdict: Humane is yet another example of an unconventional and intriguing concept given the most conventional and tedious treatment. Whatever goodwill the movie generates in the beginning quickly evaporates in the second half. I tend to be more forgiving with horror movies, but others would probably rate this lower.
Jim Henson: Idea Man
PG | Documentary | 1h 51m | Disney+
Directed by Ron Howard
The Gist of It: This documentary explores the life and artistic contributions of Jim Henson, creator of Sesame Street, The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, and many other beloved family-oriented entertainment.
What Works: The documentary features never-before-seen footage, ranging from some of Henson’s early experimental works to an appearance in the never-released pilot of The Orson Welles Show. Film and pop culture buffs will find the latter fascinating and genuinely funny. Interviewees share intimate details about Henson’s professional life, his ambitions, and his creative process.
What Doesn’t: I guess I can now call myself infamous for complaining about overlong films, but in this case, the opposite is true. Jim Henson’s life is so storied, so rich, and so consequential that two hours aren’t nearly enough to do it justice. As a result, a couple of sections of the film feel underdeveloped.
My Verdict: Although director Ron Howard sprinkles biographical notes throughout the narrative, overall, he pursued a more heterodox approach, crafting an upbeat, wholesome, and inspirational portrait of an artist. It’s both an exploration and a celebration of the chaotic power of our imagination. This is a treat for the whole family to enjoy.
