Hit Man, Streaming Now on Netflix, Is Already One of the Best Movies of the Year
These are the must-see films to check off your list before the end of the year.
Challengers
If the outfits on the international Challengers press tour weren't enough to convince you to see director Luca Guadagnino's steamy tennis drama, then let the movie speak for itself. The film stars Mike Faist, Zendaya, and Josh O’Connor as top-tier athletes with a very complicated back story who find themselves, for the first time in years, reunited in a situation that's as uncomfortable as it is thrilling. Faist plays Art, a champion who's coached by Zendaya's Tashi, a former ace turned coach, and Art's better half, when O'Connor's wayward Patrick—a former friend, competitor, and rival for Tashi's affection—comes roaring back into the picture. It's a smart, tense, and hot story that absolutely lives up to the hype.
Civil War
Alex Garland’s latest film is not about politics—one might think so, what with the polarizing state of our country and Jesse Plemons’ militia bro asking, in the trailer, “what kind of American are you?”—but actually, it's about war photographers and stars Kirsten Dunst as the exhausted and (in her circles, celebrated) Lee Smith who is intending to “capture” the President of the United States in the twilight of civil war. Black and white stills illustrate the more graphic violence, Garland choosing silence and a camera shutter over gratuitous blood and gunfire (though there is plenty of that in a bracing finale). Cailee Spaeny shines as Jesse, a glimpse of what Lee would have been like as a young and eager photographer. Another standout performance is from Wagner Moura as Joel, his bravado and thrill-seeking juxtaposed with his silent screams as he and his colleagues enter the heart of darkness. Both Garland and his on-screen avatar Dunst define the phrase “war-torn.” They photograph some of the most horrific scenes with complete stoicism and professionalism—can’t get involved, can’t take sides, just do the job—and use the medium to send home a warning, one our very real country would be wise to heed
Dune: Part Two
In Denis Villeneuve’s second Dune film, the sandy action for the displaced princeling Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) ramps up so marvelous that any chance of a sophomore slump is left in the—sorry!—dust. In this installment of the franchise, based on Frank Herbert’s books, the young Atreides has been living alongside the warrior Fremen, honing his skills for battle and preparing for nothing less than a fight for the soul of the universe. The story—as seen in the numerous adaptations that have come before—makes for a truly compelling movie, and the film’s starry cast (Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Charlotte Rampling, and more) and top-tier production design give it a brilliant polish. Is one movie in a franchise like Dune required to more or less set up the next? Sure. But Villeneuve’s Part Two is far more than a placeholder; instead it’s a thrilling, sweeping chapter in a tale that’s been captivating audiences for years, and proves that it’s indeed worthy to tell once more.
Hit Man
Gary Johnson isn’t really a criminal; he just pretends to be one—usually. In this dark comedy from director and co-writer Richard Linklater, Glen Powell plays Johnson, a philosophy professor who works with the New Orleans police posting as a professional killer to help catch real ones. When he falls for Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman trying to leave an abusive relationship, however, the line between his real life and the one he pretends to live blurs, and this (kind of) true story becomes as bizarre as it is thrilling.
Jim Henson: Idea Man
This Ron Howard-directed documentary follows the life and career of the late Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and director of landmark films including The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. It's a deep, glorious dive into Henson's creative process and the worlds he built on and off screen, featuring remembrances from Henson's friends, colleagues, and family. And while the doc's driving purpose is celebrating Henson's work, it also pulls back to look at the eternal struggle between art and commerce, and the pitfalls that can accompany following your dreams. Overall, the film is a touching reminder of how rare genius is, especially when its put to good use.
Scoop
Nearly five years ago, Prince Andrew sat down for an interview with BBC’s Newsnight to discuss his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The interview, and how the BBC secured it, is the subject of a riveting Netflix film, starring Rufus Sewell as the Duke of York, Gillian Anderson as interviewer Emily Maitlis, Billie Piper as producer Sam McAlister, and Keeley Hawes as Amanda Thirsk, Andrew’s private secretary. Even though you may know what happens (Prince Andrew stepped back from royal life shortly after it aired), Scoop is a thrilling retelling of what goes on behind Palace doors.
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