6/9/20 - The Night Clerk (2020) - 3+/10

Problematic, unenthusiastic, and thrilless. I want to speak about the portrayal of a man with Aspergers by Sherridan, but I don’t feel qualified to say how respectable or accurate it was... but it felt somewhat exploitative. That is highlighted by his voyeuristic tendencies, which would be harmless if they didn’t tie it in with its wet blanket of a misguided love/lust story. The combination of those made this picture of his autism feel like an outsiderish negative/perversion.

Maybe it would be passable if anything else about the film clicked. There is a premise for a decent film, possibly even a throwback neo-noir, but there is absolutely no intrigue or thrill. If that wasn’t bad enough, there is not a single character to invest in, as they are all vacant, flawed, irredeemable, or all 3. The film clicks along and keeps you wanting and expecting trepidation or titillation, but amazingly provides neither. The final act has the excitation of opening a plain yogurt and finding it empty - ho hum.

Sheridan does what he can, but I can’t tell if I am ok with it or bothered by it. Leguizamo and Hunt are given nothing and provide nothing. The one, sole, shining bright spot is the muffled glory that is Ana de Armas. Gorgeous, captivating, and gravitational. She provides the only doorway to indulgence, yet her flame can only burn so bright and her end is another conflicted sigh.

It just couldn’t muster what was necessary to get it done. Let The Night Clerk alone and just go to bed.