GOOD TIME (2017)

Written & Directed By: Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie 
Cinematography By: Sean Price Williams 
Editor: Benny Safdie & Ronald Bronstein 
Music By: Oneohtrix Point Never 


Cast: Robert Pattinson, Buddy Duress, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Benny Safdie, Barkhad Abdi, Taliah Lennice Webster 


After a heist goes awry, a bank robber tries to free his brother from Rikers Island, all in one night.


We travel through the city after hours as one day goes from bad to worse in situations. While the film has it's twists and turns. It feels like there is no waste or indulgences. The film deals with the seedy underbelly, but doesn't take you down a line of challenges. Instead you get a glimpse. As there is no syndicate to deal with or run from. This is just an individual take in the lifestyle. While a character free falls with a goal in sight. Who keeps seeming to keep filling into errors

Robert Pattinson is a live wire through out as the film stays sharp and heart pounding. Leaving the audience on the edge constantly as the film rarely slows down and makes New York look like a dingy wonderland.

As wild and real as Robert Pattinson is as the lead. Who we never get too much of a back story about. So that we see how far he will go is always a mystery but always seems to be planning more last minute. It's not necessarily a star making performance but one that shows Robert Pattinson has The goods and the range in this role as he is at the center and never falters. He is a big reason to see the film.

The Only scene that really disturbs where Robert Pattinson makes out and seduces a supposedly sixteen year old girl who looks way younger. Even though she tells how tough she is which seems more like she is trying to impress. As he knows how to read people and size them up. As he is street smart. His character is tough and does his actions all out of guilt and love though seems someone who doesn't believe in it, but we all have a center of faith despite dirty deeds. He just comes across as a guy you wouldn't want to know.

We can see why some might find the film underwhelming as it's not exactly as wild and exciting as promoted and advertised, but maintains itself in a smaller scale as her stays intense. The story just isn't as big or wild when it comes to expectations. Which keeps it in the realm of reality.

The side characters are just as interesting as we get glimpses but not necessarily the full story including his older girlfriend played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Who he scams for money, yet at her age still is living with her mother and gets her money from her or the ex-con he runs into and teams up with to get a scam going with a bottle full of psychedelic acid.

The world the film showcases is like a wonderland as he keeps coming across these characters and has to find his way to figure out or use them for his own purposes of getting his brother out of jail. This is a personal odyssey for the main character.

Though a crime thriller focuses more on the criminal. Just as for a violent film full of crime. There are really no guns used or even in the film. It's quite different and yet similar in style as their previous film HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT. As again the film focuses on characters more on the fringes of society. Though feels realistic as some cast members are more natural. Non-actors. Especially returning actor Buddy Duresss who is also a stand out as a doomed ex-con. He truly shines again.

The dysfunctional locations not dressed up. What we see is what we get. The camera never. Reals away or off the actors. We are constantly with them, in their face.

The directors show the beauty in the gritty and the dirt. And the pretty at times. Using the city as their canvas. The denizens of the neighborhood are their paints. They seem to like to make monsters appealing in their films. or at least give them a point of view to follow

The film wouldn't be as sharp without Sean Price Williams crisp and colorful cinematography. He helps make the film feel constantly alive.

The film proves a saying we all know and have witnessed but seem to suppress to be ourselves and put ourselves to sleep at night. The streets never sleep. It doesn't end as suspected it just seems to stop. It feels like just another tale of the city. Just a bit fore extravagent. As the film seems to be about location just as much as it is about the characters.


GRADE: B+