HOTEL ARTEMIS REVIEWED
“Hotel Artemis” handles dystopian futures in the only way that works anymore. You can’t set a terrible future more than 15 years in the future, as most of the Western world is already dealing with their precious sensibilities collapsing in real time. So, you have to feed upon their fears of modern failings leading to a bright new terrible tomorrow. Why didn’t fears of high crime amid a water crisis trigger the mainstream panic?
Well, because you can’t play on future fears while also telling an Altman style character piece. The common complaint I heard of the film was that no one understood why the Hotel Artemis was left untouched by the rioters. Well, why didn’t the Replicants hide in different buildings in Blade Runner? They all looked alike and there was no need to pick those specific hideouts. For the sake of a narrative, we accept that society continues to casually ignore things that don’t serve their continued interests.
That’s why we can have Sterling Brown, Dave Bautista and Jodie Foster hanging out in a hotel turned makeshift hospital. The violence and related claptrap is secondary, as the movie is more about forging new families and understanding what matters more in life. It’s not the kind of material that works as summer movie fodder, but I appreciate the effort. I’m just sad that it didn’t catch on with more moviegoers.
FILM STATS
- 1 hr and 34 mins
- R
- Open Road
