‘Hit Man’ Has the Best Movie Scene of the Year (So Far)
Hit Man is the kind of movie that would have made bank in the mid-’00s. A twisty, funny rom-com with megawatt performances from Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, Richard Linklater’s latest is a throwback to a Hollywood that, while far from perfect, was at least functional: a Hollywood that made films for adults, that knew how to fashion vehicles for its rising talent, that wasn’t deathly afraid of sex. At this point, it’s no surprise that hesitation from pathologically risk-averse film distributors led to Hit Man being snapped up by Netflix and given a half-hearted theatrical release, but it’s disappointing to see yet another crowd-pleaser denied the chance to please crowds—especially when it boasts what might be the best scene of the year.
(Warning: Spoilers ahead.)
That’s a bold claim to make, especially in a year that already has Dune 2’s sand worm ride, Furiosa’s war rig centerpiece, and Challengers’ sicko-mode ending. But when you see this scene in context, it’s impossible to deny that it belongs in the conversation: with one farcical showstopper, Linklater, Powell, and Arjona neatly tie together Hit Man’s themes of performance, identity, and the power of love to make you the best possible version of yourself.