Good Time Movie Review

Good Time (2017)

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Written by: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Directed by: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Rated: R
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Plot
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail.

Verdict
There are plenty of on the rails wild adventure movies, but this one always feels surprisingly realistic. From the beats of the story to Robert Pattinson, I believed the events and the emotions he conveyed. This isn't a comedy, but just like real life this has a twisted sense of humor. While the Safdie brothers got a lot of due acclaim for Uncut Gems, I like this one more.
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Review
I didn't even realize this was from the same writers/directors of Uncut Gems until after watching. The movies share many similarities in style and shot framing. This feels a bit rougher, but that fits the story perfectly.

Pattinson continues to impress. He's becoming an actor whose movies I'll watch because he picks quirky roles in weird but solid movies like The Lighthouse. I stopped writing him off as the Twilight guy after The Rover. It seems like he's tried to distance himself from cookie cutter blockbuster movies. The Batman (2021) seems to be a reversal, but I'm intrigued to see what he does with the role.

Benny Safie plays Nick Nikas.

The robbery aspect is uniquely smart with Pattinson's character Connie and his brother (played by co-director Benny Safdie) wearing a realistic mask that throws the bank off his appearance completely. I knew as soon as he let the teller leave they would be in trouble. That's one of the smart things about this movie. It gives you these moments of anticipation you can predict with moments you'd never guess.

Robert Pattinson plays Connie Nikas.

Connie is soon on the run and the mood remains intense. The score does a great job of enhancing the mood. The plot follows Connie through the night across various mishaps and encounters. Shots are framed very close, making this personal. It's very raw, and these elements follow through to Uncut Gems.

This movie is a wild ride that's a nice piece of film making. From the choices made to the story, it's hard not to like this. While Uncut Gems got a lot of praise, I can't believe I didn't hear anything about Good Time. While the name is lacking, it deserves more praise.