HOTEL ARTEMIS
US, 2018, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jodie Foster, Sterling K.Brown, Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, Kenneth Choi.
Directed by Drew Pearce.
Hotel Artemis is set in Los Angeles 2028, a time of violence and riots, vividly and darkly portrayed.
The title refers to a high-rise building, some of the upper floors, which serves as a hospital for subscribers only, from criminal organisations in Los Angeles. The Nurse, in charge, is played by a very serious Jodie Foster. She has a past story, connected with the high-flying boss of part of the city, played by Jeff Goldblum. There are flashbacks to The Nurse’s past and the death of her son.
In the hospital, she is assisted by the big Dave Bautista, as Everest, helping with transporting patients but ultimately confronting a corridor full of thugs.
The film opens with a bank robbery, criminals in masks but well-dressed, the leader emerging as Waikiki, played by Sterling K. Brown, taking his wounded brother, Brian Tyree Henry, to the hotel. Others in the hotel include a hit woman, Nice, played by Sophia Boutella, and a very irritating presumptuous criminal played by Charlie Day. There is a lot of stunt work, choreography for elaborate fights, a final confrontation when the son of the boss wants to inherit from his father. His played by Zachary Quinto. Also in the action as a policewoman, wounded, brought into the hotel because she is a friend of The Nurse, played by Jenny Slate.
Mainly for fans of science fiction and futuristic stories – and fans of Jodie Foster and Sterling K.Brown. Written and directed, a first feature, by writer, Drew Pearce (including screenplays for the Fast and Furious franchise).
- Science-fiction? Futuristic? Los Angeles 2028? Riots and chaos? Police and the law? Criminals?
- Los Angeles, future, chaos and riots, buildings, aflame, the streets? The hotel, the interiors, corridors, the patient rooms, the gathering room, the elevator? The musical score?
- The title, the hotel, the skyscraper, the upper stories, the elevator? A hospital for criminals, subscribers, investors? The strict rules for admission?
- Jodie Foster as The Nurse? Sombre presence, the rules, the clients, the treatment, the skills, the equipment? Admitting Waikiki and, the treatment? The past links? Acapulco, presumptuous, manic, criminal background? Attitudes towards Nice?
- Everest, his presence, size, support for The Nurse, carrying people, moral support, friendship with The Nurse, loyalty? In action, the rules, The Nurse asking him to rescue Morgan, bringing her in? The final confrontation with the thugs, fighting skills, protecting The Nurse?
- The opening, the riots, the bank, the customers lined up, the masked men, the stealing of the pen and the warning? The attack, getting back to the Hotel? Waikiki and the past contact, loyal to his brother above all things? His brother holding him down? The brother’s injury, treatment? The truth about the pen, the tycoon and ownership, the valuables within? Waikiki, the past relationship with Nice? The final confrontation with his brother, his brother’s death? A sense of freedom?
- Acapulco, Manic, with Nice, the approach, the helicopter, its leaving, Waikiki, Acapulco and his head being crushed?
- The message about the boss, ownership of the city, wounded, his son and the booking? His being brought in? The association with The Nurse? The conversations, the past, power play? His son barred from coming in, the thugs with him, professing his loyalty to his father, wanting the inheritance? The treatment, presumption? Nice, getting into the room, killing the boss?
- His son, the claims, the thugs, breaking through, the conflicts with Everest? Waikiki offering him the pen and the power?
- The Nurse, the flashbacks to her son, his death, the clash with the boss, her blaming him for her son’s death? The friendship with Morgan, loyalty in the past, bringing her into the Hotel, the treatment, Everest and smuggling her out to safety?
- Decisions, The Nurse and Waikiki, leaving the Hotel, the elevator, out into the streets, the dangers, the shooters, the police? The Nurse and her commitment to her work – into a future?
