Good Time

photo courtesy of whysoblu.com

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

     Good Time is a crime thriller directed by Ben and Josh Safdie and starring Robert Pattinson and Ben Safdie. It tells the story of Connie Nikas (Pattinson), who attempts to rescue his mentally handicapped brother Nick (Safdie) after their bank robbery plan goes awry. Easily one of the strongest movies of the summer movie season, Good Time combines a distinct aesthetic with dark, compelling storytelling.

     First things first: this is not a movie for everyone. It contains brief explicit material, drug use, and language, and it also meditates on fairly challenging themes throughout. Frankly, it might be a bit too far off the beaten path for some casual viewers, too—stylistically, it’s “weird,” as a friend of mine put it.

photo courtesy of teaser-trailer.com

     But if you can stomach all or most of that, Good Time is well worth your attention. The Safdie brothers do an excellent job of maintaining a bizarre tension between dark humor and suspense, setting the movie apart from a run-of-the-mill crime drama. In terms of plot, the movie meanders where it wants with an unplanned, moment-by-moment, almost disorienting freedom—a crazy, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants feeling that reflects Connie’s own desperate, last-ditch efforts. Even the film’s abrupt ending contributes to the overwhelming sense of uncertainty that haunts the story.

     Good Time knows its characters intimately. The script is confident enough to let characterization come naturally through what the characters do, rather than explain everything in exposition dumps. Connie takes center stage, and it should be noted that Pattinson deserves the positive attention he’s gotten for the performance. Buddy Duress also impresses as Ray, a recently paroled druggie who gets tangled up in Connie’s schemes.

photo courtesy of cosmonerd.com.br

     Aesthetically speaking, Good Time follows the recent trend crystallized in Stranger Things: lots of neon, lots of synth, and lots of 80’s vibes (though Good Time is set in the present). But unlike some more optimistic features, the film’s bright, flashy neon contrasts a pervading darkness. This is dirty, hazy, Vegas neon, closer to Blade Runner than, say, Guardians of the Galaxy.

     Perhaps most importantly, Good Time has something worthwhile to say. In the process of telling Connie’s story, it considers everything from treatment of the mentally handicapped to dependency, addiction, and enabling. As a whole, the movie paints a tragic picture of the destructive relationship between crime and poverty, juxtaposing Connie’s natural charisma with the horrible decisions he’s making. It’s a thought-provoking, intense subject matter for a movie that also manages to be subversively humorous at the same time.

     FINAL VERDICT: Suspenseful, atmospheric, and masterfully executed, Good Time is a top-notch thriller. 

Connie sits with Crystal (Taliah Webster). photo courtesy of imdb.com