The type of premise that involves a movie taking place over an entire night makes you feel you’re taking a part of the characters in their struggles or fun time the evening throws at them. Good Time does take on that story but makes me already know I shouldn’t rob banks.
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City’s underworld in an increasingly desperate-and dangerous-attempt to get his brother out of jail. Over the course of one adrenalized night, Connie finds himself on a mad descent into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing their lives hang in the balance.
Pattinson has been a joke for almost a decade since he really became famous for playing Edward from The Twilight Saga just making me not think he’s a good actor. Good Time actually changes that perspective as he was honestly great in this as he also carries this movie on his shoulders. I heard he was good in The Rover and will believe that fact after watching a career best. And while there isn’t a glimpse of redemption from him, he desperately cares about his brother and wants this night to be over with. If he does more roles like this, he will automatically redeem himself in my mind.
Directors Benny (who also acted as Connie’s mentally handicapped brother Nick) and Joshua Safdie do have an act for filming smaller films. Never heard of them until this came out with their previous films never crossed my mind, but they’re going to be a directing duo many people will be talking about later on because their style used to shoot New York is dark and gritty in an unconventional way. Which should remind me not to go out at night when I visit New York again.
Also, the electronic score by Oneohtrix Point Never was excellent giving a lot of the scenes some ump.
The film does drag especially through the second act where the focus does tend to lose me with a lot of long takes. Also, it wasn’t nearly as tense as I thought it was hoping it would gain. But I will give the movie credit for the fact that the script is unpredictable.
Good Time isn’t as great as a lot of people saying it was since it wasn’t really that fast-paced like many said after seeing this. Though it has steady storytelling, good performances, and the feel a reality of rush exploring the journey our main guy has to go through.
Good Time wasn’t anything too impressive, but it brought a real-time, neo-style for this crime thriller along with Robert Pattinson’s best performance.
Grade: B-
DC's Take 