Hotel Artemis

Hotel Artemis is in a futuristic Los Angeles, a hotel that’s managed by Jean Thomas, a hotel you probably won’t find on Tripadvisor or Booking.com, not even when you need a room in 2028, when the movie is set.

However, if you’re a criminal looking for shelter and treatments during one of the most violent riots in Los Angeles history, then you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what Hotel Artemis is for.

The hotel itself might not receive a four star review on booking websites, due to the lack of hygiene, or because of the noisiness of the other hotel guests, but the movie will.

Written and directed by Drew Pearce (“Iron Man 3”, “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation“), Hotel Artemis is a very thrilling and spectacular movie that could have gotten five stars.

It’s busy times for Jean Thomas a.k.a. The Nurse (played by the unrecognizable Jodie Foster “The Beaver“, “The Silence Of The Lambs”) and her assistant Everest (the rock solid Dave Bautista “Blade Runner 2049“, “Guardians Of The Galaxy 2“) when their hotel/hospital is almost fully booked due to the riots.

No room numbers in this hotel but instead places such as Nice, Niagara and Honolulu.

Waikiki, Sterling K. Brown (“Black Panther”, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”) and Honolulu, Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta (TV)”, “This Is Us”), two burglars who got wounded during the aftermath of their burglary, are a few of the “lucky” criminals finding a hiding place in this hotel, but they might run out of luck when one of their new valuables might not be what it seems.

The golden pen they caught as one last thing is actually a mobile safe containing precious diamonds and belonging to the Wolf King, Jeff Goldblum (“Isle Of Dogs“, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom“).

The diamonds aren’t the only thing belonging to the Wolf King, the whole hotel is. While Thomas is running it, the idea came from the Wolf King who fights and murders to get what he wants (back).

When he demands the last available room, all hands are on deck for Thomas, especially when a blast from her past might make her break her own rules for the second time in 24 years but it might be with catastrophic consequences.

Especially when also a French hitwoman, played by the fierce Sofia Boutella (“Atomic Blonde“, “The Mummy“), turns up to get what she comes for, The Wolf King’s head.

Hotel Artemis is one of the stories you have to see for yourself instead of reading about because words don’t do this story any good, the images do.

Hotel Artemis isn’t a movie for the light-hearted. Despite the fact themes such as family, friendship and love are present in the film, it’s all about the riots, violence and revenge.

No explosion is too much, no fight is too hard and no wound is too harsh to show. Fingers crossed Los Angeles won’t look like this in 20428 because, if so, then the end of the world might seem near.

It’s not only the story that makes this movie one to remember but also the cinematography is memorable. Cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung and his team clearly weren’t afraid of showing the bloody details of the fights, the bloodshed but also from the operations and recoveries.

We can still hear the shivering sounds of The Nurse’s operation tools that might not only be used for good purposes.

They always say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul and if it weren’t for her eyes, we wouldn’t have guessed that Jodie Foster was underneath all those layers of applied skin and make-up.

Foster puts on an incredible display as Thomas; witty and care-taking but at the same also full of grief and hatred.

When hearing the name Everest, the mountain automatically pops up in our mind. Big, high and not easy to conquer. That’s exactly what the nurse’s assistant is in this movie and with Dave Bautista, they’ve found the perfect Everest.

Sterling K. Brown and Brian Tyree Henry give this movie an even more personal touch as two brothers who clearly care for each but who aren’t also afraid of protecting their own life at every cost.

Sofie Boutella rocks as the ferocious, raging and fierce French hit-woman out for revenge while Jeff Goldblum portrays the relentless Wolf King in a very clever, bold but also amusing way. It’s just something about him that makes you smile even in a much darker role like this.

The stellar ensemble cast also includes: Jenny Slate (“Gifted”, “The Polka King”) , Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek: Beyond“, “Margin Call”) and Charlie Day (“Pacific Rim: Uprising“, “First Fight”).

We would have given Hotel Artemis a five star review if the ending just lived up to the amazing expectation the film creates during its run.

All the elements were there: a great and powerful story told by a sublime cast with a dark and explosive cinematography. Despite the unfortunately anticlimactic at the end, Hotel Artemis is worth paying a visit.