Hotel Artemis (2018)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  7 / 10

  Hotel Artemis may lack hospitality but has enough punch to ensure you enjoy your stay. Wait, hold up! This isn't a sequel to anything? An original crime mystery with vibes of futurism and possibly one of my favourite casting lists this year? Sign me up! Take my bags, show me to my room and let me enjoy this. A huge riot breaks out in a near-future Los Angeles where we follow a nurse who runs a secret criminal hospital. Think of this as 'John Wick' meets 'House', except less action and no witty Laurie. Instead, we have an outstanding Foster, whom I'm extremely happy to see back, to set the hospital straight. A nurse who always abides by the rules, doesn't mind a drink or two and loves to dish out some profanity to her patients. Not to worry, she certainly gets some backchat from her patients. The self-absorbed Day, enigmatic beautiful Boutella, stern professional Brown and even her sarcastic assistant Bautista. Screenwriter Pearce packs an overflowing amount of expletives, that it surprisingly sets the gritty tone rather perceptively. This also being his feature length directorial debut, he turns his attention to the characters rather than the environment itself. Backstory is provided throughout and the interactions between the patients are both jagged and heartfelt. A forced underdeveloped sub-plot regarding the nurse's son still did bring some much needed emotion to the dystopian backdrop. Pearce craftily builds up mystery and intrigue for each character, slowly revealing true motives. All building up to a climatic siege that showcases some brutal action sequences, most notably by Boutella and Bautista, that rounds off the film succinctly and pleasingly. Martinez' score is fittingly electric to exhume the dystopian aesthetic. However the film's conclusion does feel rushed, and concentrates on setting up a sequel. Also occasionally the sense of unoriginality does slowly creep in, but it's refreshing enough to differentiate itself from other sci-fi flicks. Lightning pace, proficiently witty and an underlying sense of dark humour brings life to this hospital.

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