It is truly depressing to see Oscar-winner Jodie Foster reduced to starring in filmmaker Drew Pearce’s debut feature, a piece of pulpy junk with Foster in the role of grumpy, hard-boiled Nurse Thomas, who presides over a fortress-like hospital in a dystopian Los Angeles set 10 years in the future. The establishment admits only pre-paid members—criminals who need treatment for their wounds—and Nurse Thomas’s trusty enforcer Everest (Dave Bautista) sees to it that no one else gets in. On a particularly violent night when the city is engulfed in a riot, the “hotel” receives more guests than usual—including a bank robber (Sterling K. Brown) seeking help for his wounded brother (Brian Tyree Henry), and the city’s gang leader, The Wolf King (Jeff Goldblum), accompanied by his hot-headed son (Zachary Quinto) and a retinue of thugs. They join those already in residence, a hit-woman (Sofia Boutella) and a sleazy mob chief (Charlie Day). A further complication arises when Thomas breaks the rules by admitting a wounded cop (Jenny Slate), and there is also a subplot involving a MacGuffin, a portable “vault” for diamonds that looks like a simple fountain pen. Pearce springs some twists as the movie plods along, but these prove to be rather predictable in this sluggish, claustrophobic tale. Not a necessary purchase. (F. Swietek)
Hotel Artemis
Global Road, 94 min., R, DVD: $36.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $44.95, Oct. 9
Hotel Artemis
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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