Review of The Million Dollar Hotel (2000) by Jared F — 18 Jun 2007

The most misleading advertising ever disguised this touching tale of love and redemption as a brainless detective-action romp.

Written by U2's Bono, The Million Dollar Hotel is the story of a near-future dystopia where a group of social misfits live their bleak lives in a run-down hotel. They're freaks to all, but when the son of a millionaire business mogul winds up dead in the hotel, a detective is called into investigate. This though is merely a means to introduce an unlikely love-affair between a mentally challenged man and a prostitute. But everyone's guilty here--we all have our demons, be we a freak in the eyes of society or not; none of us are innocent. Those though who hide behind a fancy suit have blood on their hands--they're responsible. They repress and ignore.

Wim Wenders, an accomplished director and photographer, chose here a palette of subtle blue hues which underscore the somber blues/jazz soundtrack. It's slow, plodding, deliberately paced. There's no real action to speak of, just a calculated cool that's echoed in both the film's visuals and audio.

The only hope in the film is seen through the eyes of the illegitimate lead, Tom-Tom (Jeremy Davies). Ignorant or not, he can see the beauty where there's only pain.

But no one would want to watch a film so bleak as that, would they? So to soften the proceedings, there's lots of dark humor and comical characters. Peter Stormare in particular is fantastic as the lunatic who's convinced he was the long-forgotten fifth member of The Beatles.

It's a beautiful film. Brilliantly shot and written, and strongly acted. Yes, even Mel Gibson was good here. I almost feel like I've blasphemed having approved Mel's work. But in this case it's just. Sadly he later disrespected Wenders by calling this film "boring as a dog's ass." Stand-up, Mel. Real stand-up.

See this. It's remarkable.