Review of Good Time (2017) by Stephanie C — 16 Aug 2017

The latest installment in the 'one gritty night in New York' subgenre is one claustrophobic thrill ride, a sort of pop art extravaganza consolidating Robert Pattinson as one of the best actors of this generation.

Pattinson, a cinephile himself, watched the indie sensation Heaven Knows What and tracked down the Safdie brothers. Together, they came up with Good Time. The title is deceiving, but their talent is showcased in almost every frame.

This tale of low-level crime is consistently gripping and as the night progresses and the pressure builds, the sense of inevitable doom starts looming over the protagonists (and the audience). Adding to the feeling is the excellent low key photography by Sean Price Williams and the pulsing techno score by Oneohtrix Point Never.

Good Time might remind some of Dog Day Afternoon on a crack, but ultimately it's a poignant look at an increasingly pressing economic reality and a reflection of the not-so rich American Dream.