The Best Movie of 2024 so Far
3 min read
We are not even halfway through the year and 2024 is already shaping up to be a great year at the multiplex. There is no denying that 2023 was a smash, thanks to movies like Barbie, Oppenheimer and Past Lives et all. But, it does not mean that this year is lacking. A long-awaited Dune sequel, an Alien franchise resurrection, George Miller returning with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga are just a few of the movies to be excited about. But, which one is the best movie of 2024 so far?
Richard Linklater’s ‘Hit Man’ is undoubtedly one of the smartest movies in years. Just like its protagonist is able to change identities according to the situation. This, film knows just what the viewers require. It manages to shift from comedy to thriller to romance to a philosophical study of the human ability of change.
The Introduction
Based loosely on a true story, the movie stars Glen Powell who takes on the role of a nerdy professor Gary Johnson based in New Orleans. He moonlights as a technical adviser for the police. He doing menial jobs like connecting wires in the surveillance van and planting bugs. Austin Amelio’s Justin is a slimy undercover agent who gets suspended due to some violence involving teenagers, prompting Gary to step in and improvise.
It turns out that Gary is really good at it, as he manages to convince Mike Markoff’s Craig, a sleazebag, that he is a professional killer. Sanjay Rao and Retta play Gary’s colleagues and they suggest that he become their undercover hit man. It is an assignment that Gary does not take lightly. He researches the people who are looking for a murder for hire and is capable of transforming himself into right man for the job. His background in philosophy helps him in reading people and taking on various roles.
The Twist
Gary takes the role of Ron who meets Madison in a diner named ‘Please U Café’. Adria Arjona’s character wants to hire a hit man to get rid of Ray, her abusive husband. Instead, Ron decides to save Madison from herself by suggesting she uses the money to begin a new life. The two then begin a romantic relationship, but it becomes difficult to predict what will happen next. The unpredictability makes ‘Hit Man’ downright brilliant because the script is constantly one step ahead.
It leaves viewers eager to see what will happen and takes them by surprise. The twisting journey is wildly entertaining and extremely sexy. The chemistry between Powell and Arjona is like a bolt of lightning, which is very refreshing. From this point on, the movie shifts from a goofy comedy into thriller. It explores some very daring places narratively that few filmmakers and studios would have done.
The movie is about how people are often defined by their jobs, but one of the best things humans is that they can often surprise themselves. It is a well-made flick with a runtime of 115 minutes. You can watch it in theaters from May 24th, 2024 and it will be available on Netflix one June 7th.
