Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” acquired a spirited five-minute standing ovation on Tuesday evening, because the director handed out excessive fives.
The motion comedy, which stars Glen Powell, acquired cheers from the start, with the gang clapping all through the movie throughout numerous scenes.
In the course of the standing ovation, Linklater seemed overwhelmed by the applause, mouthing “thanks a lot” and holding his hand to his coronary heart. After the applause lasted a number of minutes, Linklater exchanged excessive fives with these close to him, together with his companion Christina Harrison and their daughter.
Linklater spoke on the movie’s Venice press convention about working so intently with Powell on “Hit Man,” saying, “We by no means stop engaged on this film. We labored all weekend, we labored all evening. We had been taking pictures in New Orleans and we by no means went out. I feel we went out to eat as soon as.”
“Hit Man” acquired robust opinions out of Venice, with Selection movie critic Owen Gleiberman calling it “a true-life screwball underworld romantic philosophical thriller comedy noir concerning the world’s unlikeliest secret agent.” He added: “Powell has an offbeat leading-man vibe; he appears to be like like Man Pearce flecked with Ryan Gosling, with a barely goofy grin that radiates the purest sincerity.”
Linklater and Powell co-wrote the “Hit Man” screenplay based mostly on Skip Hollandsworth’s Texas Month-to-month article of the identical title. In keeping with its official logline, the movie follows an undercover police officer in Houston who poses as a hitman as a way to arrest these making an attempt to rent him and save a lady in want. Apart from Powell, “Hit Man” additionally stars Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Molly Bernard and Mike Markoff.
Linklater, identified for helming “Dazed and Confused,” the “Earlier than” trilogy and “College of Rock,” has beforehand been to Venice along with his 2001 animated movie “Waking Life.” Powell and Linklater are frequent collaborators, with Powell having starred in “Quick Meals Nation” (2006), “All people Needs Some!!!” (2016) and his most up-to-date movie, “Apollo 10 1/2: A Area Age Childhood” (2022).
Powell is coming off a breakout yr after his function as Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin in “Prime Gun: Maverick,” and he’s additionally starring within the buzzy upcoming rom-com “Anybody however You” alongside Sydney Sweeney. “Hit Man” marks Powell’s first characteristic movie writing credit score.
After its Venice premiere, “Hit Man” will display screen on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant on Sept. 11.
