Good Time

BBBB

(out of 5)

A bank robbery in Flushing is pulled off successfully by two small time hoods, but an unforeseen security measure makes itself known mid-getaway.  The two criminals, who are also brothers, are suddenly in a chase that sees the mentally challenged sibling (co-director Benny Safdie) taken into police custody, at which point his protective older brother (Robert Pattinson) tries to use the loot to get his brother out on bail.  The cash that Pattinson stole isn’t enough to get his brother out, so he goes first to his erratic girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) for help before finding out that Safdie has been taken to hospital after a fight in his jail cell and tries to bust him out of there.  Taking place almost entirely in one period of time, this fascinating trip down a grimy rabbit hole is concerned with unsavoury characters who are never lionized as members of an unfairly oppressed economic class or judged for their bad life choices.  Pattinson is a steam engine of talent in the lead, most impressively blending in without ever seeming like a movie star playing trash, while the turns that the plot takes never fail to engage or amuse.  Intense, gorgeously shot and often quite haunting.

Elara Pictures, Rhea Films

USA, 2017

Directed by Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Screenplay by Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

Cinematography by Sean Price Williams

Produced by Sebastian Bear-McClard, Oscar Boyson, Terry Dougas, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis

Music by Daniel Lopatin

Production Design by Sam Lisenco

Costume Design by Miyako Bellizzi

Film Festivals: Cannes 2017

Cast Tags:  Afro, Andrew Kader, Ari Sloan, Astrid Corrales, Aubrie Therrien, Azul Rodriguez, Bakari Williams, Barkhad Abdi, Ben Edelman, Benny DeVincenzi, Benny Safdie, Brendan M. Burke, Bryan Seslow, Carol Hoverman, Chris Breslin, Christian Patane, Christopher Kirk, Craig muMs Grant, Daniel Chung, Dion McBean, Dorothi Fox, Eliosa Santos, Eric Paykert, Evonne Walton, George Lee Miles, Gianluca Cirafici, Gladys Mathon, Goran Spadina, Hirakish Ranasaki, Jarvis, Jason Harvey, Javaughn Swindell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jerome Frazier, Jim Dzurenda, Jim Handley, Joey McDevitt, Jordan Valdez, Kate Halpern, Kim Carter, Kiril Mavrin, KJ Rothweiler, Laura Sledge, Laurence Blum, Leticia Ortega, Lewis Dodley,Mahadeo Shivraj, Marissa Lelogeais, Maynard Nicholl, Megan Dodd, Melissa Gonzalez, Michael Kaufman, Michael Lorch, Michael McClard, Michael Melendez, Michael Shershenovich, Mr. Green, Necro, Peter Linari, Peter Verby, Rachel Black, Ratnesh Dubey, Robert Clohessy, Robert Pattinson, Rodney Hankins, Roi Cydulkin, Ronald Bronstein, Rose Gregorio, Roy James Wilson,Saida Mansoor, Samantha Elisafon, Scrooge ., Sean Miller, Souleymane Sy Savane, Taliah Webster, Tara Lynn Wagner, Terrance Williams, Tessa O’Conner