Hit Man Isn’t Just A Movie on Netflix

via Netflix

It’s the wildest thing to watch a movie and at the end, find out that it’s based on a true story. The newly released Netflix film Hit Man is one of those but of course, Hollywood took some liberties.

In Hit Man where Glen Powell plays the role of Gary Johnson and Adria Arjona plays Madison, the client he falls in love with, there is a very interesting quote. When Gary is told that he has to step up and become the hit man, he says, “Hit men don’t exist. What? Are we following made-up rules now?”

Is it all just in Hollywood’s head or does the beast actually exist? Before getting back to the film, let’s explore this myth a little bit. Professor David Wilson of Birmingham City University led a group of criminologists in a study and determined that not only do hit men exist, but they have categories as reported by NBC News.

The Novice is the beginner because everyone has to begin somewhere and if they make it past this stage without getting caught, they could make a life of it. The Dilettante is someone who takes on a job because they needed the money or they were in some other type of crisis. The Journeyman is capable and has chosen killing as a job but they are still capable of making mistakes, the kind that can get them caught. Finally, the Master is the expert who doesn’t get caught. So, the study has very little information on them because as the article says, it’s not as if a hit man would take an interview for a piece in a magazine. That’s the kind of mistake that would get a hit man caught.

via Netflix

So, it’s not a myth. They actually exist. The irony is that the hit men in the study were nothing like what’s portrayed in the movies. Hollywood likes the assassin to be sophisticated and smooth. They slip in and out of places without getting detected and they know their methods. Normally, they use a gun but that’s not the only way to kill someone. So, having other options is always a good thing.

In Hit Man, Gary Johnson is a professor by day who lives a humble life. When he’s not doing that, he’s working with the New Orleans Police Department on a Hit Man Operation only he’s the guy in the van listening in on the meeting. When the normal undercover agent gets suspended for some entanglement with teenagers, Claudette opens up the van door to inform Gary he has to take his place at the meeting. Check out who plays Claudette! It’s Writer, Actress, and Producer Retta from Parks and Recreation and Good Girls.

When Gary takes the meeting, it goes a little awkward at first. But he pulls it off and he finds out that he’s a natural. Then, he starts getting into character. He does his research on the suspects and plays a new role for each one that he knows is going to work. He racks up arrest after arrest. Then, he bumps into Madeline who wants her husband dead.

via Netflix

There aren’t going to be any spoilers here but sparks do fly between them. That’s what makes it a good movie, the complications that take place when their relationship begins to grow. Even for a comedy, the drama is what keeps viewers hanging on from scene to scene to find out what happens.

It’s at the end when a final screen comes up that reads, “Dedicated to Gary Johnson 1947–2022.” That’s right. This is based on a true story.

The next scene shows pictures of Gary as a Vietnam Vet, as a College Teacher, as an Undercover Agent with over 70 arrests, as an animal-loving Buddhist, and as the Chillest Dude Imaginable. There is one final picture of him but that would also be a spoiler. So, watch the movie and find out what that’s about.

via Netflix

The point is that Gary Johnson is a real guy. The sad part is that he passed away before the film was released. He didn’t get to see the movie they were making of him.

He knew about it though because Writer and Director Richard Linklater talked to him about it over the phone. They never actually got to meet. But Richard did get the story even though he had to do his little Hollywood thing with the details.

So, what do we know now? Hit men exist. There is a task force out there dedicated to arresting people trying to hire hit men. Gary Johnson was on such a team and the movie they made about him has twists and turns that will keep you going to the end. Those are the things we now know.

Warning: There Are Spoilers!

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