Wolfs is a 2024 American action-comedy film by Jon Watts that both wrote and directed. The film also features Hollywood icons George Clooney and Brad Pitt in a comedic high-stakes thriller where they star as rival “fixers” who for reasons beyond their control, need to join hands for a peculiar assignment that goes wrong. With sweeping visuals, sharp wit, and its charismatic protagonists Wolfs is a classic noir crime-comedy set in contemporary America.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2024, where it screened out of competition, and received a limited theatrical release on September 20. It was then made available for streaming on Apple TV+ one week later.
Synopsis
Wolfs is set in a speculative, metropolitan New York City which is more bustling and shrouded in darkness, and follows two elite professional fixers, men who discretely clean up messy situations for affluent or powerful clients. The two unnamed fixers are played by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, with each giving a distinctive look to the character in terms of style, behavior, and reputation.
The story opens with a last-minute scramble. Margaret, a Manhattan District Attorney, receives a call that sets her in a very precarious scenario. A young man, whom she met at a bar, is lying dead on her suite floor. In a panic, she calls Clooney’s character to cover the situation in a more subtle manner. Meanwhile in the background, Pam, the ever-watchful owner of the hotel, is already sending in her fixer, played by Pitt, without her killing the surveillance feeds.
“Selfish” and “Self-interested” are terms that best describe the two men. They’ve spent more time alone then in the company of others. The two on-site fixers happened to bump into each other at the same time, culminating into a fight that went on farther then either man intended. As the night draws on, their plan becomes a lot more complex. For starters, the superseding dead body doesn’t fully dead but instead in a deep state of overdose. As the two men attempt to save the young man, they find out tangled in a web of stolen drugs, organized crime, corrupt delivery firms, and trap crafted to tarnish both their images.
As the pandemonium goes on, the fixers have to get viscerally confrontational with fatal consequences while avoiding each other’s deep-set mistrust and miltary trust while piecing the clues into a coherent picture detailing the major antagonist and their motives.
Cast and Characters
Clooney portrays the fixer hired by Margaret. Meticulous and self-assured, Margaret’s fixer embodies the old-school operator archetype: calm under pressure with a hint of moral flexibility.
Pitt plays the part of the fixer sent by hotel owner Pamela. More rugged and free-spirited, Pitt provides a humorous balance to the restraint that Clooney brings. The two create the film’s most dynamic chemistry.
Amy Ryan casts as Margaret, the frantic District Attorney whose secret meeting turns into a mess.
Austin Abrams depicts the enigmatic young man whose untimely death serves as the catalyst for the story.
Poorna Jagannathan stars in the role of June, a logistics handler-turned insider.
Burić assumes the role of Dimitri, a menacing Albanian mafia figure most likely tied to the setup.
Richard Kind briefly appears in the role of the overbearing father who is completely oblivious to his son’s reality.
Frances McDormand portrays Pamela—the silhoutted hotel manager who appears in Pitt’s and Clooney’s command center. She serves as the hotel owner who is in command of Pitt’s and gives voice instructions through a cone. The hotel owner exercises power from behind the scenes.
Directing and Producing
Jon Watts switches his focus from the latest Spider-Man trilogy he directed, on which he served in the dual capacity of Director and Producer, to working on Wolves which is a character driven thirller with stylistic action and a touch of dry humor. Additionally, he produced the film with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Apple Studios under Smokehouse Pictures and Plan B Entertainment.
The sleek Cinematography of Larkin Seiple greatly assists in visually anchoring the film. Seiple captures New York with a dimly lit studio and tight framing that gives ot a noir like aesthetic. Much of the action is set in a single chaotic night and as the movie progresses, it maintains a fast pace tension filled environment.
Editor Andrew Weisblum’s rapid pace aids in the chaotic and fast moving nature of action filled scenes cut down to just a few seconds, separated with beats of suspenseful tension and sudden comedy light moments. In addition, the soundtrack created by Theodore Shapiro brings together jazzy elements with heart thumping chills that accentuate the blend of thriller and comedy the movie encompasses.
Tone and Themes
Wolves highlights professional identity, sociial isolation, enduring loyalty, and self redemption. At its center, this movie is about two reclusive he looked for them blesmenters, “Specialists” in erasing people’s messes confront their own weaknesses. These men undergo life changing moments where they, reluctantly, evaluate their morals and sen terms of life ethics through compelled collaboration.
Dark humor permeates the film as it incorporates absurdity to relieve scenes that build tension. There is an underdeveloped script subtext that uses Clooney and Pitt’s dialogue as scanters. Their conversations are more cynical, sophisticated takes on classic buddy cop dialogue.
There are nuanced critiques of society as well, focusing with the affluent relying on fixers to vacuum away justice and those who exploit the powerful stealthily camouflaged into the structure of authority that rewards invisibility. The film is not explicitly political, but invites considerations of how one’s morality and complicity function in a world with a price tag on every problem and a cleanliness is next to godliness motto.
Reception And Ratings
Critics and audiences have found themselves divided on their reception of Wolfs. The film was regarded as one of the most acclaimed due to the strong performances of its leads and the chemistry they exhibited throughout the film. George Clooney and Brad Pitt have for years been celebrated separately for their respective filmographies, and their past works in Ocean’s franchise, and yet again in this movie, prove why the duo remains one of the most captivating talents in Hollywood.
Nonetheless, critics have remarked that while the performances are captivating, the storyline itself offers nothing fresh. Some have pointed out that the story relied too heavily on witty banter and clichés. The film’s simplistic approach is predictable; all the action takes place over the course of a single night, which may frustrate some viewers who prefer more depth and surprise.
Nevertheless, stylish superficiality, tight pacing, and strong direction all help enhance the material. Character-driven crime thrillers with a dash of comedy will appreciate the character Wolf, who is polished and fun at the same time.
Conclusion
Wolfs is not groundbreaking for the crime-comedy genre, but is an engaging, polished film elevated by the natural charm and rapport of its leads. Watts cleverly configures tension and humor around a rather straightforward premise, ensuring the narrative remains tight, focused, and satisfyingly polished.
Fans of crime-filled New York thrillers acted out with shadowy wit will appreciate Wolfs, as will George Clooney and Brad Pitt fans eager for the chance to see them share the screen. Secrets, after all, serve as the true clean-up crew’s mops for Manhattan’s dark corners.
Watch free movies on Fmovies