Review of Green Room (2016) by Scrawnypunk — 12 May 2016

Great as a genre film, and plenty fine as a "film" film. The story arc is clean enough - struggling punk band takes a gig and it goes South...way South. But the true accomplishment is the sense of tension, futility, and determination that alternate throughout the movie. Acting is great, direction is great, cinematography is great. The movie doesn't pretend to be art, and it succeeds on its own merits.

I particularly loved the conversion of the punk ethos to the screen. It's dirty, it's desperate, and it's meant to be enjoyed live in an ephemeral moment when audience connects with artists. The fact that this happens in a supremacists bar with non-supremacist musicians is a great example of music connecting people regardless of background, and it was a beautiful scene.

Unfortunately for our protagonists, that was the end of the beauty. As you can tell from the trailer and the other reviews, their journey swiftly moves from musical connection to defense of life and liberty in a hurry. That transition comes quickly (as it would...if you found yourself in that position), and the movie builds a credible amount of tension from then on out.

A lovely film, but be ready for violence and lots of it. Credible violence in an impossible situation, but violence nonetheless. There are about 15 minutes that could have been cut in my opinion, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

And hats off to Patrick Stewart! This guy is clearly a defender of the downtrodden in real life, but his depiction of a supremacist Don is absolutely chilling. I guess that's why they call it acting...