Good Time

Good Time is a thriller starring Robert Paterson as Connie, who after a botched robbery, must find a way to get his mentally handicapped brother Nick (Ben Safdie) out of police custody.

This movie may have a very simple premise, but its execution helps it stand out. Directors Josh and Ben Safdie do a great job of putting the viewer in the moment, effectively using close-up, hand-held camera work. Combined with the pulse-pounding synth soundtrack from Daniel Lopatin and bright neon lighting, Good Time makes for one hell of a rush.

This is also a gritty movie that does not hold any punches. Connie is the furthest thing from a good guy. Even his intention of helping his brother is arguably misguided. I can see some viewers being turned off by this, but I didn’t mind too much. The movie never tries to make him out as some sort of hero or thug with a heart of gold. That being said, I wish this movie did expand a little more on Connie’s motivations. The movie Victoria which has a similar style and pacing to me had a more likable protagonist who still makes some hard choices that fall into a moral grey area.

Robert Pattinson is fantastic in the role of Connie. He manages to juggle the character’s  panic and conman-like charm easily. The performances around him are also great, with Ben Safdie being the other stand out.

Overall Good Time isn’t exactly an easy recommend. It grabs the viewer by the throat at takes them on a wild ride with a character that is far from being a noble protagonist. It’s also a bit hard to sympathize with him during the events, but despite that, I found Good Time to be a good time.

If you enjoyed Good Time, I’d also recommend you check out the movie Collateral. This is another thriller that has a similar story and makes use of hand-held camera work. In my opinion, it is the superior film, with better characters and a more interesting story.