Why Glen Powell’s ‘charismatic’ performance in ‘Hit Man’ makes him a Golden Globes frontrunner
“Glen Powell delivers one hell of a performance.”
That is the headline of Connor Jameson’s (The First Picture House) review for Netflix’s “Hit Man,” the critically acclaimed comedy directed by Richard Linklater. In the film, Powell plays Gary Johnson, a professor moonlighting as a hit man for his city police department, descending into dangerous, dubious territory. Gary adopts numerous personas throughout the film, and that is what provides Powell with the opportunity to shine. The actor not only rises to the occasion as a leading man, but makes the movie work with his “entrancing” performance.
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With raves like that (and the movie’s 95% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it’s no wonder that Powell is leading Gold Derby’s odds to take home the Golden Globe for Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor.
Anthony Francis (The Movie Revue) writes, “Glen Powell has never been as charismatic, nor has he shown as much range as he does [in ‘Hit Man.’]” In unpacking that statement, it’s impossible to understate Powell’s charm. Whether he’s playing with puppies during a Buzzfeed interview, showing his parents off on set and nabbing them cameos, or covering Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue amongst the A-list elite, his likability and magnetism soar off the charts. So, if his turn in “Hit Man” is the peak of his charisma, it’s nothing short of magic. Coupling that with the best acting of his career, it will be hard for awards bodies to resist.
The Comedy/Musical Actor field at this year’s Golden Globes is a mixed bag of contenders, none of whom rank in the top five for Best Actor at the Oscars. Those slots are currently held by dramatic performances from Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), and Daniel Craig (“Queer”). That means the Globe is up for grabs, and the fact that “Hit Man” was one of Netflix’s biggest hits this year gives Powell the advantage of visibility.
John McDonald (Film Focus Online) lauded Powell by asserting that “Hit Man” has proven that he is a bonafide movie star. He writes, “If there was any doubt that [Powell has] the aura or skill to be a Hollywood leading man, then this film is what surely cements his place as one.” He also called “Hit Man” a “strong contender for the best Netflix film of the year,” which is especially notable since the streamer has a strong slate of awards hopefuls this cycle. If “Hit Man” is able to lead the pack, and Powell is the driving force behind the admiration of the film, then the potential for him to be singled out can’t be understated.
“Hit Man” currently ranks eighth for Best Comedy/Musical Film, but it trails movies with female leads like “Anora,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked,” “Challengers,” and “The Substance.” Powell’s true test will be staying in front of Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”), Gabriel LaBelle (“Saturday Night”), Sebastian Stan (“A Different Man”), and Michael Keaton (“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”). But for now, he remains the frontrunner.
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Powell has been on the kind of streak most actors only dream of. After starring in the undeniable juggernaut “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) and last year’s box office hit “Anyone But You,” his star meter has only continued to rise. This year, he not only delivered this lauded performance in “Hit Man,” but he also led the summer blockbuster “Twisters” to commercial success. Alissa Wilkinson (The New York Times) took note of Powell’s string of achievements while praising his “Hit Man” turn. She wrote that his performance is “a genuine star-clinching turn for Glen Powell, who’s been having a moment for about two years now.” It’s likely that this moment will materialize as success at the Golden Globes.
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