By Linda and Al Lerner
With George Clooney and Brad Pitt as lone wolves who are forced to play off each other, this film becomes a slick, stylish throwback to the noir films of the 40’s. You know, the ones with quick banter and bickering, a few raised eyebrows and more than a few dead bad guys. Plus there is plenty of action and more than a few dead guys in this one.
The film begins with a female New York District Attorney with connections named Margaret, (Amy Ryan) in a $10,000 a night hotel room where her night of indulgent fun with a young man turns tragic. Wearing only his tighty-whities, he keeps jumping on the bed, accidentally flying off through a glass bar cart, landing lifeless. We hear Margaret’s desperate phone call to a nameless contact listed in her phone. In walks Clooney, only ID’d as Margaret’s Man in the movie, to clean up the mess. It’s obvious he’s done this many times before. In short order, in walks Pam’s Man, (Pitt) in the same getup, rubber gloves and all, ready to do the same. Pam, voiced by an Oscar winning actress, owns the posh hotel. From then on, it’s head to head to establish who is the real fixer. It’s one-upmanship for who can do it better.
Writer//Director Jon Watts of Spiderman Homecoming, Far From Home and No Way Home is no stranger to action. While still in the apartment, they find bricks of drugs in the kid’s backpack, to which they say “It’s going to be a long night.” There are some continuity breaks within the film, but Watts wisely knows not to let anything get in the way of the on-screen chemistry of the two stars. He and DP Larkin Seiple give us loads of two shots for the back-and-forth repartee along with close-ups showing a raised eyebrow or curled lip.
The screen isn’t big enough to contain their charm and charisma, hitting all the right beats as the acrimonious chatter punctuates the activity of getting Amy Ryan a change out of bloody clothes and to nimbly get the body wrapped and ready for transport to the garage. One more twist for the job, delivering the bricks of drugs to whoever they belong to.
But, the good looking dead kid might not be completely, or even mostly dead. This is turning out to be too much for one lone wolf. And when the kid pops out of the trunk and starts running in stocking feet, time to go get him. Super long car chase scenes with Clooney tearing through narrow streets, alleys and curved highway exits are ridiculous with Pitt running after the kid on foot. Watts pulls a remarkable slo mo of the kid somersaulting over Clooney’s car, shot by with perfection by Cinematographer Larkin Seiple (Everything, Everywhere, All at Once). That alone, is worth the price of admission.
Caught, the silent kid finally talks an hour into the movie, delivering a diatribe defending his actions. In a rapid fire monologue, Austin Abrams of Euphoria fame, presents one long breathless explanation that leaves Clooney and Pitt speechless. It’s a light, comical moment.
Hard to believe that the whole movie takes place in one snowy NYC night with Clooney and Pitt going from sleazy motel rooms in Safari motif, complete with less than exotic wildlife, including cockroaches and a rat, then on to a Mob Boss’ daughter’s opulent wedding that becomes chaos. Credit the fixers for getting dragged awkwardly onto the dance floor for a few more laughs. But you know it has to lead to a big gun fight at some point.
As the night wears on Richard Kind, one of Clooney’s buddies, appears in a head-scratching cameo. You can draw a line from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to the ending, already set for a sequel. Pairing Pitt and Clooney in another action comedy thriller is like catnip to the studios. We look forward to seeing these fixers spar again.
Columbia Pictures and Apple Studios 1 hour 48 minutes R
In Theaters Now. Streaming on Apple TV+ September 27th.
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