Four hours before he is due for execution, Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) is visited by a priest (Adrian Lukas). In this black comedy, Becket proceeds to calmly relay his sordid story to Father Morris. Becket’s mother, Mary (Nell Williams), was heir to a family fortune worth US$18 billion – $19 billion. But when she fell pregnant at age 18 and refused to abort the baby, she was disowned and disinherited by her ruthless father, Whitelaw (Ed Harris). Still, she did all she could to raise Becket the way that was intended.
It was as a youngster Becket first set eyes upon ambitious young society type in the making, Julia Steinway. From that opening glance, he was sold. But tragedy was to befall Becket’s parents. His father passed away at age 21. His mother subsequently fell ill and also died early. But, on her death bed, she asked him to fight for the life he deserves to have.
Becket began working in a tailor’s shop and one day who should walk in? None other than Julia Steinway (Margaret Qualley), whom he hadn’t seen in many years. As events conspire, Becket determines that he will pursue the inheritance denied to his mother. After being refused entry to his grandfather’s property, he hatches a plan to eliminate those family members ahead of him on the inheritance ladder. Along the way, he continues to encounter a now married Julia Steinway, who has the art of manipulation down pat. He also falls for the widow of a family member he has seen off.
This twisted tale is a loose reimagining of the British 1949 dry comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets. Writer and director John Patton Ford has crafted a more bombastic American version of that film, which is a ton of wicked fun. The way to enjoy it is to lose yourself in the preposterousness of it all, for if you do, it is an easy watch. There are no beg pardons here. Rather, the approach is to go for the jugular.
Glen Powell takes to the nefarious plotting involved in How to Make a Killing like the cat that got the cream. Sporting a smug grin, Becket makes things happen by contacting family members, one by one. As Julia, Margaret Qualley knows she has what Becket wants and so adds bite as the femme fatale who keeps on pushing. And, in an engaging portrayal, Jessica Henwick plays a support role as Becket’s blindsided, naïve girlfriend. So it is that How to Make a Killing, rated M, is an escapist flight of fancy that scores a 7 out of 10.
Alex First
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Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
