When it comes to a movie like this, it’s all about the characters. After all, it’s set in this hotel that doubles as clandestine hospital for an elite clientele; a particularly nasty clientele all assigned code-names. We get an arms dealer Acapulco (Charlie Day), an assassin Nice (Sofia Boutella), and a pair of robbers who are brothers, Waikiki (Sterling K Brown) and Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry) all lurking about needing treatment from the Nurse (Jodie Foster). The Nurse has a body-guard/orderly assistant called Everest (Dave Bautista).
Coming in late to the game is Niagara (Jeff Goldblum) the powerful mobster who owns the Hotel/Hospital who got injured because there is a riot going on in the streets. That sets the overall atmosphere and tension, particularly when a person (Jenny Slate) from the nurse’s past turns up needing help. Because of the specific rules of the Hotel, this person puts the Nurse in jeopardy, although in terms of story, she brings the Nurse’s back-story to the forefront, giving us insight into how and why the Nurse is there.
So given the set-up and staging, the overall plot is more of a slow burn as we get to know these characters, partly waiting out the riot and trying to find a way out as the big bad wolf is coming to the Hotel. When the crap hits the fan and all hell breaks loose ,in and out of the Hotel, the actions and motivations of a select few makes sense. While the action kicks in only within the final act of the movie, it’s a welcome release of the tension that’s been building all along.
Again, this is all own to the characters and the stars who bring them to life. It’s great to have Jodie Foster back on screen, even if she’s doddering and shuffling about the Hotel catering to her exclusive clientele. She gets the bulk of the emotional story too in addition to having certain psychological issues. Dave Bautista makes a solid partner for her and he’s really come into his own as a star performer. The rest of the named cast deliver as best they can with Boutella getting the bulk of the action beats.
If only the story was a little stronger as everything falls into place a little too neatly or coincidentally, especially given the nature of the riot and it’s convenient importance to the story. You might start to question the likelihood of events that led to these characters to this one place at this particular time.
But you take it as it is and enjoy the ride, relishing the performances as well as the action once that kicks in. The imbalance of the drama to action may be trying to some but the rather slim run-time helps to keep the pace tighter than it seems. Writer and director Drew Pearce is clearly scratching a itch making his first full feature (he previously wrote and directed the Marvel One-Shot: Hail To The King short) and it feels like he’s been sitting on this script of his for some time. That’s given the work he’s contributed as writer to the likes of Iron Man 3 and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. He keeps his cast small and the location tight so when the action hits, you know where and how everyone moves about.
It would be worth looking forward to his next projects.
Rating: 🏥🏥🏥1/2 /5
Directed by Drew Pearce
Written by Drew Pearce
Stars Jodie Foster, Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Sterling K Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, with Zachary Quinto and Jeff Goldblum
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