Tonight on Canal+: the movie that everyone was talking about in the US this summer… and which was not released in French cinemas!

Hollywood is on his feet. After the overwhelming success of Top Gun Maverick, in which he starred alongside Tom Cruise and was voiced by the latter, Glenn Powell has been talking about him a lot… and forever.

Although he turned a few heads in Twisters this summer, the 35-year-old actor is back in the news once again with the release of Hit Man tonight on Canal+. Directed by Richard Linklater, the film received rave reviews at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, where it was previewed.

Until Netflix pulled out its checkbook to acquire and distribute it in the US last June. In France, the encrypted channel has finally restored the broadcasting rights, thus depriving this “romantic thriller” of cinemas…

As charming as it is funny

Glenn Powell steps into the shoes of Gary Johnson, a professor of psychology and philosophy, who lives alone in a small house with his two cats. He leads a normal existence, except that he makes ends meet by working undercover for the New Orleans Police Department.

One day he finds himself on a real infiltration mission. Here he is, the killer! The professor quickly falls under the spell of one of his targets (Adria Ariona) and finds himself in a difficult situation…

If the actor has proven himself to be one of the new masters of action, don’t expect the same with Hit Man. The Texas native brings out the full range of his skills here and shows us that he also knows how to make us laugh.

In this film, the hero has fun creating hitman characters for his infiltration, using fake mustaches and wigs, accents with a cutting knife and other accessories that allow him to disguise himself. And in this game, Powell is as charming as he is funny… and above all, he has a blast on screen!

Well received by critics upon release in the US (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hit Man is a nice little comedy – with romance and suspense – that has the credit of an original screenplay.

Inspired by an incredible true story

Richard Linklater makes it clear from the beginning of the film that he was loosely inspired by a true story to write Hit Man: It’s Gary Johnson. The latter moved to Houston in 1981 in hopes of earning a doctorate in psychology at a local university.

At the same time, from 1980 to 1990, he worked for the city police as a fake killer. purpose? Collect complaints from your targets – get rid of your boss or your abusive ex-husband – record their confessions and turn them over to the appropriate authorities.

His incredible journey was told by journalist Skip Hollandsworth in 2001 This fascinating article from Texas Monthly.

Gary Johnson passed away in 2022, the film will honor him in the final film.

Hit Man, at 21:11 on Canal+.