Key Takeaways:
– Richard Linklater, Director of Hit Man, criticizes Hollywood's habit of marketing films as true stories.
– The director contrasts his film with those depicted as based on true events.
– Linklater uses Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan as an example of blurring the lines between facts and fiction.
Let's dive deeper into Linklater's comments and his criticism of the cinematic industry's approach to real events.
Slashing the True Story Narrative in Hollywood
Glen Powell's Hit Man has generated a buzz, securing favorable reviews from critics and widespread applause from audiences. The film plots the life of Powell's character, a part-time staff member of the New Orleans Police Department, who goes undercover as a hitman. Notably, the film distinguishes itself by carefully setting its narrative in the gray area between real life and fiction, shirking Hollywood's common approach of labeling films as based on true stories. This approach and its implications were recently put under the spotlight by the film's director, Richard Linklater.
An Authentic Approach to Film Directing
Adria Arjona and Glen Powell convincingly brought their characters to life in Hit Man. In promoting the movie, it was made clear that the film was inspired by real events, but not an outright retelling of them. This middle ground offers a unique perspective compared to typical Hollywood films that tout themselves as ‘based on a true story'.
During a recent appearance on the ReelBlend Podcast, Linklater talked about his dissatisfaction with this common Hollywood practice. He finds it misleading when films claim to detail actual events while heavily blending fact with fiction. Linklater explicitly stated that he avoids this practice in filmmaking, striving for honesty, and authenticity.
How Hollywood Bends Truth and Fiction
Linklater also provided the Steven Spielberg-directed Saving Private Ryan as an instance of a film blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Although this epic-war film is widely praised for its stirring depiction of World War II, Linklater expressed concerns about its claim to truth. To him, any historical movie is essentially a construct.
In support of his argument, Linklater quoted Spielberg's acknowledgment that the reality of war had to be significantly toned down for Saving Private Ryan to be acceptable for theaters. Such decisions are often made keeping in mind the sensitivity of audiences. But as a result, films touted as ‘based on true stories' often compromise on factual accuracy.
In Conclusion: Artistic License and Audience Expectation
Linklater's critical perspective challenges the accepted norm of blending narratives with facts in Hollywood. Not all movies can completely embody the truth of the events they attempt to portray. However, films find a balance by adhering to artistic license and catering to audience expectations.
Currently, Hit Man is available for streaming on Netflix while Saving Private Ryan can be viewed on Apple TV.
Remember, every film — even those that claim to be based on a true event — allows for some degree of creative liberty. They offer a chunk of reality sprinkled with elements of fiction, seen through the eyes of the filmmaker — an amalgamation rather than an exact mirrored portrayal of events.
