Toronto International Film Festival 2023: HIT MAN & DREAM SCENARIO

Stories about college professors are popular at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, with both Hit Man and Dream Scenario being examples of this (with American Fiction and The Holdovers being other examples that come to mind). The following two films feature delightful performances from its lead actors (Glen Powell and Nicolas Cage), and are infectiously entertaining in their own unique way.

Hit Man (Richard Linklater)

Without question, Richard Linklater has crafted one of the funniest and most enjoyable films of the year. Written and produced in collaboration with his ever-so-charming leading man, Glen Powell, Hit Man is simply a delightful experience at the movies.

Based (somewhat) on a true story, Powell stars as Gary, a philosophy professor who volunteers for the police department in undercover sting operations by posing as a hitman for hire. Gary excels in this role, until he meets Madison (Adria Arjona), a soft-spoken woman looking to call a hit on her husband. During their initial encounter, he goes off books and convinces her not to go through with the hire, and later forms a relationship with her while still in his hitman persona. While not an obvious premise for a comedy, hilarity ensues as Gary and Madison get entangled in each other’s lives.

The chemistry between Powell and Arjona is almost combustible, and more sizzling than anything I can recall from recent memory. Aside from the very obvious and palpable romantic/sexual tension, their shared sense of comedic rhythm is also a winning factor. Both performers are completely on point and in sync when it comes to their comedic timing, which culminates in a perfectly executed sequence towards the end that had audiences rightfully cheering. Powell, in particular, slides between so many different characterizations in his role as a pretend hitman, making it look so easy and natural.

Built into the comedic narrative is also a heartwarming story about identity, and posing the question of whether people can actually change. Without getting overly philosophical, and still wearing its commercial sensibilities on its sleeves, Linklater makes his statements in a manner that feels natural for a fun story like this. The film never preaches its more serious ideas, and always works within the playful world it’s set within. A smart move that ensures Hit Man never sways into overly melodramatic passages, and stays in its lane of witty entertainment.

With the recent release of films like Joy Ride and Bottoms, many have been lamenting the lack of raunchy comedies à la the early 2000s. But a film like Hit Man also underscores the lack of smartly written, well made comedies for the adult audience. The most recent example that comes to mind might be 2018’s Game Night, but comedies of this nature are simply hard to come by. Hit Man is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end, and hopefully a star-turning role for the ever-so-deserving Powell.

Dream Scenario (Kristoffer Borgli)

If you ever wondered what it would be like to have Nicolas Cage show up in your dreams every night, look no further than Dream Scenario. Directed with poise and vibrant creativity, Kristoffer Borgli’s latest is a wondrous experience with a perfect performance from Cage. This is hands down one of the best of the festival this year.

Cage plays Paul Matthews, an evolutionary biology professor in the midst of stagnancy when it comes to his career. One day, he starts showing up in other people’s dreams, initially as a benign presence, before devolving into something else entirely. The likes of Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Baker and Dylan Gelula are featured in supporting roles.

Dream Scenario is a film that really delves into society’s obsession with fame, and how fickle a pursuit for infamy can be. While Paul never dreamed of becoming an overnight celebrity, it’s established pretty early on in the film that he’s someone who’s constantly seeking recognition from others. And when the opportunity for recognition arises, albeit in something that has nothing to do with his academic pursuits, he leaps onto it without any reservations.

This reflexive attraction to attention is explored through the concept of involuntary penetration into someone else’s dreams, and how this interplays with dreams becoming nightmares. As the film progresses, Borgli layers the narrative’s worldview by maintaining a level of intrigue and wit, without ever spiralling into a deep zone of confusion, which stories like this often do. Elements of A Nightmare on Elm Street are smartly weaved into the story, which never clashes its underlying comedic tone. Not surprisingly, Cage is pitch perfect as Paul, portraying his insecurities and quirkiness in a way that at least indirectly leans into his real-life persona as well.

If there was any doubt that we are currently in the midst of a Nicolas Cage Renaissance, this film should install confidence in even the most ardent doubters. Ever since 2021’s Pig, his output has steered away from direct-to-video genre films, seeing his welcome return to more quality-driven projects. Dream Scenario is creatively charged storytelling at its best, with Borgli creating such an open canvas for audiences to reflect on the film’s thematic proses through some truly affective world building. The film also reminds us that Cage continues to be one of the most talented performers working in the industry.