Prime Time

What's the point of the film? Frankly, I don't know and maybe nobody else does. For a while, it was a family squabble on air then it was briefly about the hostage taker and the hostages. The viewer learns that Sebastian is a kind teenager if a bit unstable. It ends without conveying the point of it all.

Perhaps, the point is the world doesn't give a damn about a teenager and his message as the new millennium is welcomed. Is it a complete waste of time? Yes, it is if not for the praiseworthy acting of the main characters: Bardosz Bielenia, Magdalena Soplawiska and Andrzej Klak.

Russian movie?! Obviously, it's Polish. Unless I am missing something.

Bartosz Bielenia, Magdalena Poplawska and Andrzej Klak's performances were wonderful. I also liked the female police officer as well.

The title attracted my attention as soon as I saw it on Netflix, and then I was hooked by the filmography, story line and suspense.

However... The bulk of climatic moments disappointed. From a social/emotional standpoint, after waiting until the near end, we never got to hear the critical message to the public which would have provided both personal satisfaction and social insight. And lastly, I was very disappointed in the stage crew's responses (and lack thereof) as well as decisions made by police.

As I have already said about MONEY MONSTER - a film whch the topic is very close to this one - and another Polish movie released by Netflix last year. LE GOUT DE LA HAINE - French release title - Sidney Lumet's shadow and spirit seems to be in both films. A radical critism of the human world and society, thru networks for instance. Gloomy, depressing but so close to reality.

In "Prime Time" the young Sebastian (Bartosz Bielenia) wants his 15 minutes of fame and glory by taking over a TV station to deliver a message to Polish people on New Year's Eve 1999. As hostages he takes over the TV host Mira (Magdalena Poplawska) and the assistant Grzegorz (Andrzej Klak). Tension arises when the police is called and the armed man is eager with his plan of delivering his message to the point of threats to kill everyone.

Interesting premise with great thrilling moments, "Prime Time" may alienate viewers who expect a more elaborated storyline. The intensity of the man's action gets on the way of finding out what's the message this troubled young man wants to give. And it's thanks to the great Bartosz Bielenia, from the amazing "Corpus Christi" that the movie finds some soul and interest. He's an intense and interesting character who struggles with his problems of speech but he's under control over the situation at the TV station leaving everybody nervous all around. To me, since he doesn't give any reasoning for his actions, we are led to believe it was just a rebelious acts to show how unprepared the police system is in giving a proper response to a hostage situation where he can toy those guys around for hours and get the TV people putting him live with a loaded gun.

Sure, it's obvious one wants to expect more from "Prime Time" but the best you're gonna get is the tension and thrills of the story, going from the hostage situation to the people in the booth control trying to solve the situation. The ultimate conclusion one can get from here it's a story about a troubled young man desperate for attention and that's the only way he can get from people. With a more proper message to leave us in more suspense than the usual thriller routine, this movie would be perfect. I liked it and I don't think it goes to waste but I can understand why it may upset more demanding viewers. The editing is fine, the rhythm is adequate and balanced, and there's even some room for dark humor. The acting makes a more than decent experience. Worth of view. 7/10.