Day 163 - Good Time

Day 163          Good Time [2017]

                          

Screenplay                    Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie

Director                         Josh Safdie & Bennie Safdie

Cinematography            Sean Price Williams

Music                            Oneohtrix Point Never

Leads                            Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Benny Safdie, Barkhad Abdi, Buddy Duress, Taliah Webster

Production                     Elara Pictures, Rhea Films

IMDb                                7.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes                92%

Rarely does a film feel so inventive and different as this film did. The minute the trippy electronic music started I was hooked, with images from Run Lola Run flickering in and out of my head. Oneohtrix Point Never’s sound track will do that to you – it necessitates motion. However, not fluid movement, but rather a dark disjointed energy suited perfectly to the Safdie’s imaginative movie about two ill-fated brothers, ‘Connie’ (Pattinson) and mentally-challenged Nick (Safdie). Connie loves Nick, and although his intentions are decent his actions are far from it. Connie and Nick rob a bank successfully, however during the getaway it all goes wrong and Nick ends up in jail. Connie attempts to get him out and the plot gets increasingly twisted from then on. Pattinson is wonderful, and I am happy to finally see a good movie of his, with only Harry Potter and Twilight springing to mind. The supporting cast are equally good, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Barkhad Abdie both impressed me in their brief cameos. Abdie’s character in particular suffers a fate I would wish upon nobody. I think Benny Safdie does a good job in a tricky role. As I discussed on Day 136 (Rain Man) it can be a risk playing someone with a disability, but Safdie’s expressionless face tells us all we need to know, and I even found myself welling up in the final scene as the end credits began to roll. The cinematography was vivid and grey, handheld almost, for the daylight outdoor shots. When we were inside it was moody and lit by morose purples and reds. Good Time was a thrill ride. Emotional and raw characters who seemed to choose the path of action that had first popped into their heads and all the time backed by thumping electronic chords which felt like Connie’s heartbeat. I will have to investigate the Safdie’s work further and I highly anticipate their next endeavour already.

Acting                              4 / 4

Writing                          3.5 / 4

Cinematography            3.5 / 4

Music                               4 / 4

HWF rating                  4 / 4