Displaying items by tag: Zach Wood

HOW TO MAKE A KILLING

US, 2026, 105 minutes, Colour.

Glen Powell, Margaret Qualey, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Ed Harris, Topher Grace, Zach Wood, Andrew Lukis.

Directed by John Patton Ford.

Quite a slick 21^st century American entertainment, the world of wealth, loss of wealth, ambitions, amoral, turning immoral, murder – murders.

And  a generally glossy affluent setting, some moderate hardships in New Jersey, the affluent world of New York. And, leading the cast is popular Glen Powell, several starring roles each years since his break out in Maverick, along with Margaret Qualley, an even more frequent screen presence in recent years.

This is a murder drama, a touch of the serious, a touch of the satiric, not intending to be a film for thoughtful reflection on ethical and moral issues – though, there is quite an unexpected twists towards the end which certainly gets the central character thinking.

In the final credits, there is an acknowledgement that this film was inspired by the 1949 British film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and the novel on which was based. This was a film, certainly, from another era, effective serious/satiric British filmmaking, and the famous tour-de-force performance by Alec Guinness playing all those to be murdered by the ambitious central character.

The origins of How to make a Killing may be of little interest to the 21^st-century audience. However, those who remember and appreciated the original have the advantage of knowing what is going to happen. But, they will have the regrets that while there are victims here to be killed, they are played by a varied including Bill Camp, Topher Grace and, ultimately, Ed Harris.

So, the audience is invited to have sympathy for Glen Powell’s ability to bring grinning charm despite his ordinary upbringing even though he discovers he is heir to millions. He is Beckett Redfellow, his pregnant mother disowned by her wealthy father, having to go to work, and Beckett finishing up in a clothing store.

As a boy, he fell for the charms of the rather dominating Julia who grows up to be the dominating Margarette Qualey, false charms, ready to twist any man around her little finger. And she does.

The screenplay, remembering the original, has the whole story told in flashback, Beckett on death row, execution imminent, and the prison chaplain, a serious priest, asking the question and spending the whole film listening to Beckett’s interesting story and his murderous quest for his fortune – including quite the finale and the deathly confrontation with his grandfather.

The unexpected twist towards the end leads the story in a somewhat different direction.

An easy night out kind of entertainment.

1. The 21^st century American entertainment, ambiguous hero, romantic entanglements, ambition and greed, murders, the law?
2. The credit with the note about Kind Hearts and Coronets, 1949, inspiring this film?
3. Beckett Redfellow, his story, in death row, execution close, the arrival of the priest, prison chaplain, Beckett telling his story, the priest listening, his interventions, encouraging? The execution time, the prayer?
4. The flashbacks to the past, Mary, wealthy family, her dominating father, the attraction, the date, her pregnancy, the birth sequence, the father collapsing and dying? Her father confronting her, denunciation, cutting her off? Bringing up her baby, encouraging him, her hard work, Beckett as an adult, his life, prospects?
5. Explaining the issue of money, the family, the family tree, those between him and the fortune?
6. His mundane life, accommodation, his job, the clothing store, Julia arriving, the flashbacks to the flirtation in the past, her being dominating, his response? In the store, memories, announcing her engagement? His having to give up his job because of the owner and replacement? Going to the warehouse, working there, the beginning of his plan? The encounter with his uncle, sympathetic, giving him the job, privileges?
7. The first victim, playboy, extravagant, wild scenes, on the yacht, Beckett present, the plan, the rope, the anchor, his death?
8. The final sequence – and the repetition for each of the victims?
9. Noah, music and art, the gallery, the encounter with Beckett, the discussions, friendship, revelations, Noah and his death?
10. The FBI, the couple, the interrogations?
11. Stephen, money, swindles, religion, his following, his speeches, Beckett pretending to interview him, the boastful interview, the sword, the revelation, Stephen’s many enemies, the contrivance of his death?
12. The aunt, the adoptions, her charity, her personality, her teeth, the whitening, her death?
13. Julia, her continued appearances, dominating, charm and ruthlessness, her husband, his inefficiency, wealth, losing, her asking for the loan, the various visits to Beckett, seductive and tantalising, the ultimatum? The timing, blackmail, Beckett hurrying to the office, the encounter with Lyle, the confrontation, collapse, the FBI, the accusation, the evidence, the murder?
14. Ruth, her relationship with Noah, about to break it, the attraction to Beckett, him to her, her life, working in the garment industry, the outings with Beckett, his falling in love with her, the time together, the proposal, the plan for the engagement, the party, and their fashionable apartment?
15. Beckett, prospering, arrogant, wealth, lifestyle, the meetings of the wealthy board, his uncle, his uncle’s collapse and death?
16. His grandfather, personality, in the shadows, emerging, inviting Beckett to dinner, his dilemma about his engagement party, his arrival, the vast mansion, the meal, the discussions, the grandfather and his rifle, eating attacking his grandson, Beckett and his defence, firing the arrows, the death of his grandfather? His hurrying back to the party? Ruth and her waiting, her decision to walk out on Beckett?
17. The arrest, the irony of his being arrested for a murder he did not commit? Interrogation, the evidence, the trial, being found guilty? Julia, her testimony, talking of Beckett always loving her? Julia with the incriminating photos?
18. His finishing his narration for the priest, going to execution, the stay, Julia and her letter assisting him, her visit to the prison, the breakup, his desperation? Her deal, his signing away all his wealth to her?
19. The finale, the priest in the bar contemplating what he had heard, Beckett released, Ruth, meeting him, giving him the hair token of his mother which he often looked at, motivation, her driving away? Julia in the parking lot – and future, Beckett subservient to her?