5/24/19 - Hotel Artemis (2018) - 5+/10

A compact but playful short story of the criminal world safe-space hospital and the drama when just the right mix of down-on-their luck characters happen in one evening. A sci-fi stage play with some noirish elements and a fun anti-hero panache.

It was a surprise with how futuristic the world we were brought to is. I don’t remember that being emphasized in the trailers or promotion. This is set in the near future, during the super LA riots, reminding me a bit of Strange Days. There is just enough super tech to keep things fresh and interesting, but it is playful window dressing and not the point. Both can work, but I think this concept was well constructed on solid ground and, with the future architecture, made this film stand strong.

A sly mix of actors and different styles. The best would probably be Brown, who provides and elegance and driven intensity to everything he touches. Foster clicks right along, mixing the hardness and vulnerability well, in a more older and broken down character than I have seen from her. Bautista is given the right amount to do, with a juxtaposing humor and hard-ass. He performs best when he is direct, but allowed to use his charisma to spice up otherwise bland possibilities.

Unfortunately, Day’s shtick here was grating and hammy. Quinto also just felt off. Not sure if he just doesn’t have the goods to move beyond his Heroes role, but this cartoon villain (that mustache?) sucked the air out of each scene he had. Unfortunately, you just didn’t get enough Goldblum to pop the crowd.

It’s a pretty solid pseudo-cyber punk-noir-lite, that with its tight run-time and logical cohesion, clips along and delights adequately. Much more ticking clock drama than action spectacle, but the tension drives and the violence pops when needed. Not great, but definitely decent and worth a watch if it hoves into your field of vision.