During the summer blockbuster season, one can be pretty easily overwhelmed with all the sequels, reboots, prequels, etc. that we’re constantly bombarded with. While it’s fun and enjoyable to check out the latest big-budgeted superhero movies and space adventures, it can also be a breath of fresh air to see something that seems to come out of nowhere and is pretty original. Luckily, we have director Drew Pearce to thank for bringing us Hotel Artemis, which is being touted as a bold and original action film. While it certainly owes a lot to the works of John Carpenter and even has hints of modern movies such as the John Wick and Purge movies, Hotel Artemis has enough to stand on its own.
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Set in Los Angeles in the not-too-distant future of 2028, the film initially centers around a pair of brothers, played by Sterling K. Brown and Brian Tyree Henry, who, after a botched bank robbery where one of them is shot by police, make their way to the titular Hotel Artemis. Run by a woman only known as The Nurse, played by Jodie Foster, the hotel is a hospital that treats criminals and allows them to stay until they make a full recovery. While The Nurse is the primary physician, she is assisted by her aide, the ginormous Everest, played by Dave Bautista. Also staying in the hotel is a beautiful but deadly assassin, played by Sofia Boutella, and a wormy and eccentric weapons dealer, played by Charlie Day. While all of this is going on, there are riots in the streets that threaten to break into the hotel in addition to causing general chaos in the streets. In the midst of all this, a cop, played by Jenny Slate, is picked up by The Nurse and Everest, and she claims to have known The Nurse in a previous life. Things really take a turn when a crime boss known as the Wolf King, played by Jeff Goldblum, comes in after being shot looking for help. Given he practically owns the city, he’s treated like royalty.
In a word, this movie is fantastic! I mentioned before that this movie owes quite a bit to John Carpenter. Honestly, if you added Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken character from Escape from New York in here, this would have made for a much better Escape from LA. The movie also has elements of Assault on Precinct 13, with the main characters being holed up in a secluded area while outside forces try to break in. What makes this film stand out is the cast, all of whom play their roles phenomenally. First off is Jodie Foster, who delivers a solid performance as the caretaker of the hotel, who has a whole arc about how she’s afraid of going outside the hotel and even getting some hints about her past and how it relates to the cop and the Wolf King. In addition, Sterling K. Brown is great as the brains to Tyree Henry’s brawn, who’s trying to maintain control of the situation as things go south. Bautista, as always, is a ton of fun to watch, between his back-and-fourths with Jodie Foster and his many fight sequences throughout. Boutella, on top of looking gorgeous, is also intimidating as an assassin with her own motives and a possible past relationship with Brown. Day, while he does have his shouting and manic moments that he usually does, also has a very sleazy and wormy quality about him. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were a serial rapist. Goldblum, while having his moments, is definitely a force to be reckoned with, as he can be scary, intimidating, and very threatening.
As the film goes on, and you become so attached to these characters, you really worry about who’s going to die and who’s going to make it out alive. Now, I’m not gonna reveal anything as I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone, but suffice it to say, there’s a few twists that will get you. Granted, at times, the movie is somewhat predictable, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. For a first-time director, Drew Pearce definitely shows some potential, and I am excited about whatever he’s got to offer next. The music is great too, mixing in a heart-pounding synth score with some fun 60s and 70s pop music via an mp3 player that Foster has with her. This is a film I cannot possibly recommend enough. If you’re looking for a fun action movie to watch that isn’t a superhero or franchise film, this is one to check out!
