User reviews

'Hotel Artemis' has its fair share of cinematic kerfluffles from story structure to pacing. However, it's a lot of fun. This is mostly because it has a cast that is given roles that they excel at. It's such an odd assortment of actors that came together to create a stylish film that seems familiar yet unique at the same time.

There are rules at the Hotel Artemis, a secret, high tech hospital for the underworld of Los Angeles. In order to remain a member of this elite criminal's emergency room, you have to respect the staff and the other patients, much in the same way that The Continental from 'John Wick' has rules. It's neutral ground where egos, grudges, and guns have to be checked at the door. The reason for these rules is because it houses an odd assortment of colorful characters from all walks of life. The only thing they all share in common is that they are the worst of the worst when it comes to dirty dealings in a city known for its outlaws.

Jodi Foster stars as the nurse that runs the Hotel Artemis. She's a washed-up drunk who has long since lost her medical license, but not her skills when it comes to saving the lives of those who probably shouldn't be saved. Foster's portrayal of Nurse is much richer than the character probably deserves in a sci-fi action film. Tormented by the death of her son, she hasn't set foot outside the hotel for decades due to crippling anxiety. Despite this she is a no-nonsense tough as nails caretaker who won't hesitate to call upon her orderly, Everest, played by David Bautista, to expel unruly guests from the premises. Her character is the very cornerstone of the film and what everything and everyone is built off of.

The rest of the cast features the likes of Sophia Boutella as a beautiful and deadly assassin, Sterling K. Brown as a devastatingly handsome bank robber, and Charlie Day as an obnoxiously entitled arms dealer. The three are at odds given that the hotel houses criminals and criminals can't be trusted, and to make matters worse a full-blown riot is taking place on the streets below. Luckily, there is honor among thieves for the most part. That doesn't last long though, because, well, what fun would that be?

'Hotel Artemis' is the feature directorial debut of Drew Pearce, who also wrote the film. While he's proven to be an exceptions writer in the past his directing isn't quite up to par with the concepts and characters he's put together. While the actors all do what they do best with the roles they're given, the pacing and cinematography feel flat, which undermines the urgency of the situation. There's such a focus on putting together the leads in the film, that the overall threat that they end up facing by the end of the film doesn't feel like it's truly worthy of them and ends with a disappointing third act.

Despite the cinematic issues 'Hotel Artemis' faces, it is fun watching events unfold. Brown is unbelievably charming as a suave and debonair bank robber trying to get out of the underworld once and for all. Most of his scenes are shared with Boutella who has exploded onto the scene since 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.' Since then she's become a name I look for on movie posters and while her films might not always be great, I'm never disappointed in her performances. Then there is Bautista who has become incredibly popular since joining the MCU and is an actor that takes his art very seriously. He's someone who remains humble and works hard for everything he has. While the role of Everest might not be as juicy as say, Sapper in 'Blade Runner 2049,' he manages to use his imposing physicality perfectly in Hotel Artemis.

As we like to say here, "not all great movies are good." That isn't to say that 'Hotel Artemis' is a great movie, because it definitely isn't. However, it's a fun movie. It's a film that is mindless entertainment with enough interesting concepts (from medical nanites to 3D printing organs) to keep audiences intrigued with what's unfolding. It's just unfortunate that it never seems to achieve what it's aiming for. At its core, it's a film with great characters and an interesting premises, so much so that it almost feels wasted. That being said, it still a movie that I quite enjoyed sitting through. There are certainly better films that came out this week, but I feel like Hotel Artemis really rounds out the choices at the cinema. It's not a movie for everyone, but for those who enjoy trashy movies with reliable and talented actors, it's definitely going to hit the spot.

Hotel Artemis is a film which doesn't do a great deal wrong. However, it is also a film which doesn't do a great deal right. It just kind of hangs in mid-air, with clichéd characters acting in clichéd ways and having clichéd conversations. And then it ends. It's not actually about anything. It's also predictable, with precious little substance. It looks pretty though.

In 2028, riots are tearing Los Angeles apart. The film takes place primarily in the eponymous Hotel Artemis, a secret hospital for criminals in the heart of the city. The motley crew of characters, many of whom are known only by the name of the room in which they're staying, include Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) and his brother Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry), bank robbers who have been involved in a shootout with police; Nice (Sofia Boutella), an assassin who "only kills important people", and just so happens to be Waikiki's ex-girlfriend; and Acapulco (a spectacularly miscast Charlie Day), a weapons dealer and all round weasel. Also present are The Wolf King (Jeff Goldblum), Los Angeles's most feared gangster, who also finances the hospital; his incompetent son, Crosby (an underutilised Zachary Quinto); and Morgan (Jenny Slate), a cop injured in the riots. The hospital is run by "Nurse" (Jodie Foster), an agoraphobic alcoholic haunted by visions of her past, with porter duties handled by Everest (Dave Bautista). The hospital functions because all guests must adhere to a rigid set of rules (the first of which is "don't kill the other patients") and a strict no weapons policy.

Sounds pretty interesting doesn't it? It's not. The dialogue is awful, the narrative beats can be seen coming a mile away, and the characters are all architypes, with only Nurse really fleshed out to any degree. There's the loud-mouth snivelling weapons dealer, the gorgeous but oh-so-deadly assassin, the criminal kingpin and his screw-up son who just wants to be like dad, the skilled bank robber who spends most of his time trying to get himself out of the trouble caused by his unreliable brother, and the tough-as-old-boots medical professional who just wants to help people when in actual fact, she's beyond help herself. The premise may be reasonably interesting, but, in his debut feature, writer/director Drew Pearce undermines it by populating the milieu with cardboard cut-outs instead of characters. True, most of the actors give it their all (Bautista in particular gives a performance far superior to the material with which he has to work), but there's just no substance here, no depth. There are simply too many clichés at every level to be able to overlook them.

Yes, it's an original(ish) idea made with a small(ish) budget, which is exactly what we need more of these days, when every second film is a CGI-infested remake, comic book adaptation, or sequel (or a CGI-infested remake of a sequel to a comic book adaptation). However, an original idea is all very well and good, but it can only take you so far; the execution has to be there as well, and this is where Hotel Artemis falls down. It's simply not an especially well-made film. Pearce does a reasonably good job with the directorial side of things, as aesthetically, the hotel is really intriguing, with a nice use of primary colours and a well-conceived juxtaposition of modern technology and 3D printers with retro décor and secret passages. In terms of plot, however, there's just nothing to latch onto or get your teeth into. None of the characters really do or say anything very interesting, and a half-hour into the film, as it became increasingly apparent that none of them were going to be developed to any great degree, I just stopped caring.

It's 2028 L.A. Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) leads a robbery gang during a city-wide revolt against privatized water. His brother is shot during the escape and he seeks refuge at Hotel Artemis. It is a secured private hospital for criminal members run by a hard-nosed nurse (Jodie Foster). Everest (Dave Bautista) is her giant muscle. She risks everything by saving policewoman Morgan (Jenny Slate). Other patients include loud-mouth arrogant Acapulco (Charlie Day) and assassin Nice (Sofia Boutella) on a secret mission. Waikiki discovers that his brother had stolen jewels from crime boss Wolf King (Jeff Goldblum) who shows up looking for treatment.

I really like the concept but there are issues with the execution. It's a movie of outrageous potential. With a few questionable logistics, my biggest problem is that I don't feel connected with Sterling K. Brown's character. Jodie Foster is doing her hardest. Despite some fun ideas, it doesn't really rise to its possibilities. It's not crazy enough. It's not compelling enough. It is good enough to be watchable.

So we have a dystopian, coming soon future L.A. where inhabitants riot to get clean H2O. Within it is a sanctuary of sorts where w/membership & following the rules you can reside in this sort of a hospital hotel secure from all that's going on in the streets. The nurse/doctor runs the place w/the help of a big muscle guy, and robotic medical help. They face all sorts of not-so-nice characters. A bit of violence of course to add spice to the intrigue. Script: A bit scattered at times, but somewhat creative. Acting: Interesting & different. Side note: There's a scene with a body beneath a pier that is almost identical to a similar scene in "Breath".

Well if you ever need a room at the Hotel Artemis ... you are definitely not well. Pun very much intended. But watching the inhabitants of that establishment, is kind of fun. I might have thought there would be more to the film, it's a bit understating and it is also very low maintenance. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing at all.

Bautista may have a better and bigger role in Guardians (or maybe it's had, the future will show what will happen there), so it may also feel underwhelming what he is allowed to play with here. Even on Blade Runner 2049, where he had less screen time he seems to have had more impact. But different movies, different roles and all that. This is an ensemle thriller and it achieves what it sets out to do. Cool characters and good action/stunt sequences

I really liked the premise of this --10 years in the future, a nurse runs a covert hospital for criminals in downtown L.A., but what you get is some run-of-the-mill heist gone wrong, gotta find a way outta this tight spot narrative that goes exactly where you think it's gonna go. It's cool to look at, Jodie Foster and Jeff Goldblum are excellent despite their dull lines, and Bautista's character is actually a lot of fun. But, 'Hotel Artemis' is definitely not the "high-octane action-thriller" it's being marketed as. The coolest action scene comes at the tail-end of the movie, which makes you wonder why they didn't do that kinda stuff the whole time.

Greetings again from the darkness. The feature film directorial debut of Drew Pearce is original and clever, while teasing with hope for a bit more than it delivers. Mr. Pearce is best known for writing the screenplay for IRON MAN 3, and now as a first time director, he shows enough promise to leave us interested in what comes next.

The film is set in dystopian Los Angeles a mere 10 years in the future. The streets are flooded with desperate rioters after a mega-corporation shuts off the clean water supply. The company is the film's real villain, and the only one that The Nurse (Jodie Foster) can't treat. See, she runs Hotel Artemis, an underground hospital for top tier criminals - the element that can't just pop into the local community clinic for treatment on the latest bullet hole or knife wound. These patients follow a subscription plan and must stay current on their dues to gain admission.

The Nurse forgoes any attempt at personal vanity and is instead an agoraphobic, booze-chugging, (mostly) stick-to-the-rules type, who pops in anti-anxiety tapes and ear buds whenever her pulse quickens. She has run the place since it opened 22 years prior and is assisted by a mountain of man named Everest (get it?) played well by Dave Bautista. He's a combination bodyguard, bouncer, handyman and assistant healthcare professional (check his badge).

The set design by Ramsey Avery deserves special mention as the Hotel Artemis is quietly housed in the shell of a former grand art deco hotel, now a victim to the city's carnage - though the neon sign remains illuminated. Its vacation spot-themed rooms are a sight to behold, despite the frustratingly low lighting. Occupants are incognito and use their room names as identifiers. Sterling K Brown is Waikiki, a philosophical bank robber who dragged his brother Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry) here for treatment after a heist went wrong. Acapulco (the always energetic Charlie Day) is a crass, motor-mouthed arms dealer, while Nice (Sofia Boutella, THE MUMMY) is a freakishly skilled assassin.

The stress level picks up when the biggest crime lord of Los Angeles shows up seriously wounded. Known as The Wolf King, an admittedly bad choice for a nickname, Jeff Goldblum brings some smooth-talking toughness, humor and twisted class to the proceedings. More than a few tentacles are attached to The Wolf King and other folks we've previously met, not the least of which is a very special ink pen stolen by Honolulu. Mix in an injured cop (Jenny Slate) with a personal link to The Nurse and her constantly alluded to tragic backstory, and the movie puts off a Graphic novel vibe ... missing only the off-the-cuff insanity. It's just a bit too grounded for its own good.

The high tech/low rent feel forces us to recall BLADE RUNNER AND ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, but of course, this film isn't at the level of either, as it lacks top tier suspense. It is a terrific reminder of what a talented actress two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster is, and what a shame that we haven't seen her in such a substantial screen role since 2013's ELYSIUM. She really sinks her teeth into this odd character, and more than the action scenes, she keeps us interested the entire run time. The score is a bit too heavy on the droning electronic bass line, and while the Florida joke and nod to John Phillips (The Wolf King, "California Dreamin'") earns some bonus points, it's really the performance of Ms. Foster and the set design that saves a too-safe script.

From the soundtrack, to every moment of each actor on-screen, LOVED it.

Seriously, there was not one actor that was off. I fell in love with Dave Bautista's character (and it was great to see him out of GOTG makeup). I knew he was pretty good in other things, but this role just fit him so well. Jodie Foster was fantastic. So much so, in fact, that I wondered whether she actually moves like she did in the film, in real life. Sofia Boutella is just gorgeous, and I really liked that her action scenes were fantastically choreographed, without being over the top (say, as the scenes with Theron in Atomic Blonde which were just a little much). Sterling K. Brown brought a depth of character I had not seen before from him, and Jeff Goldblum ... well, is there really any role he's played where he's not a favorite?

As for the premise? Why NOT? In most 'futuristic' movies one must stretch to suspend belief in order to be carried into it. This one was really not that far off, so it was easy to believe from the get-go.

I think, based just upon one watch, that it has gained a place among my top ten movies of all time, and the fact that it only scored a 6.2 on IMDB BAFFLES me.

I won't say that the movie is a blockbuster material but itvwas fun to watch it. the concept is interestingly fresh and screenplay is gripping enough to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. good momentum.

The cast got me excited because it's full to the brim with talent. The premise was intriguing so I was all in. Excellent performances and decent set pieces are where this film succeeds.

Where I feel this film fails is that the characters aren't fleshed out so you don't really care about what happens to them.

Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, the story follows the Nurse (Jodie Foster) who runs a secret, members-only hospital hotel for criminals.

Also appearing, Dave Bautista, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Charlie Day, Zachary Quinto, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate et al.

The recent months have seen quite a steady flow of movies that could be described being futuristic, high-concept, and action-centric if not terribly action-filled - such as "Ready Player One", "Anon", "Terminal", and now "Hotel Artemis".

All of the four attract because of how cool and slick they look, and all four turn out to be, above all, exercise in style - which makes them kind of shallow.

"Hotel Artemis" doesn't deviate from this in either good or bad way. There's no point writing about it in length, one just gotta see the intriguing underworld of high-class criminals and the hospital that becomes the clashing ground for many of them, with all the witty dialogue, shadowy but intriguing characters lurking around, and delicious mix of futuristic and something more fitting for 1930's.

I am bad at describing the visual style with mere words. The most immediate comparision that came to mind: witnessing the original "Blade Runner" from the street level, with some lovely art deco style of the first "BioShock" (the videogame).

It's a world where most everybody is dangerous, or at least has very useful skills to get around, so there is always some suspense about who gets to live and who dies. Nobody has markedly more screen time than others, so it's also kind of hard to guess too.

Special shout-out should go to the person who chose the principal cast. For example, movie fan can't help but be a little warmed about the idea of Jodie Foster returning to big screen after five years (just her second role in seven years).

There's also Dave Bautista, everybody's favorite hulk of man, or the new thinking man's action hero who has recently found more intriguing roles than Vin Diesel or Dwayne Johnson combined. Yes, the roles are often small but still.

Also, I very much enjoyed the transformation of Charlie Day to slick-talking backstabbing criminal. It's not often that a star comedian offers something so different from one's usual schtick.

So, "Hotel Artemis" is cool if shallow. It'd be hard to fault a summer movie based on that, so let's give a recommendation instead.

It's breezy and fun, and knows when to end before becoming too repetitive or otherwise tiring.

In a dark version of the future the streets are violent and the police corrupt. The hotel Artemis is a haven where wealthy people of a dubious nature can get themselves patched up.

The idea sounds great and the star of the show should be the hotel. I expected the hotel to be some kind of interesting ecosystem where the privileged and the scum of the underworld are forced to rub shoulders.

This happens to a small extent but the film concentrates more on the characters, which would be OK if the characters weren't so lame.

After twenty seconds of dialogue you know exactly what each character is about and you can predict if, when and how each one will die. **What you mean the sexy fem fatal isn't a helpless bimbo but is in fact a one woman army in stilettos! Well blow me down!**

Jodie Foster is (predictably) awesome and has the only character of any merit. Everyone else talks poo for a while, killing time until the inevitable fight at the end.

This is not a bad movie, it just sounded like it would be something different but is actually a hash of a cheesy, generic 80/90's Sci-fi flick that could easily have stared Van Damme.

The production is pretty good and there is some fun to be had here it is is just painfully predictable and feels tired.

Flashy looking with interesting characters that we really don't get enough time to care about. It's perfectly mediocre movie with a forgettable story. And unfortunately the action scenes aren't shot or choreographed well enough to carry the rest of the movie.

Maybe watch it when it comes to TV or streaming if you're interested but it's not worth the price of a cinema ticket.

As a cinephile who prefers theatrical experiences over sitting at home, the movie is good enough to warrant that extra money. Movies out are a chance to get away from it all, suspend any disbelief and go along for a ride that some truly creative folks built for us. This movie does a decent job of that. The hotel set itself is well resolved with just enough grunge tech mixed with sci-fi high end equipment (I don't want to spoil anything) to keep it fun to look at. It has a Coen brothers Barton Fink fused with Terry Gilliam's Brazil sort of feel. The original fixtures are Art Deco and then, with the decay of 'everything civilized', the building has been maintained only as needed to serve its purpose, its perfect. The beginning is well paced, you are introduced to the chaos of the outside world with just enough of a storyline to get you to the receiving doors of the hotel. Characters all arrive on screen with an orderly almost metronome tempo, each with enough backstory development to keep you entertained. The set is complimented by the wardrobe design which is current and matches the roleplayers they adorn. Characters anonymity is done in a slick way and we quickly understand membership and the rules of the day, (some John Wick echoes here) and just as that is settled the main plot line kicks into gear. Jodie Foster plays her role effortlessly, perhaps too much so, it feels like there is some complex character development left on the editing room floor. She delivers though, and so do the others. Bautista manages to shed typecast expectations. Sofia Boutella has grown as an actor and does a great job having lost her go-to bag of angry eye facial expressions, her action sequences are plausible which is refreshing given some of the incessantly over the top moves seen in other 2018 flicks. Sterling K Brown is perfect, Goldblum too sheds his Jurassic Park trademark vocal style. All in all, the movie has the right ingredients to be fantastic. I recommend seeing it, absolutely, if you're a movie buff, see it on a big screen. Where it under delivers is with the transition of Fosters character being in control to everything going sideways. It happens too quickly. There is a lot more room left to develop disdain for the bad guys. It just sort of shifts from fairly tight to fairly predictable and it sort of methodically roles along winding down from there. It got my 7 of 10 for its finish, feel and editing, without that it would warrant maybe a six. Better than average for the genre.

The premise to this film sounded like a lot of fun.. take the criminal hotel from John Wick and set it in the near future with a quirky Jodie Foster in charge.

Unfortunately what follows is a mess of a film that tries it's hardest to be a Quentin Tarantino-esque character piece but completely devoid of the interesting characters or snappy dialogue that makes the QT films work so well.

It's a shame really as the cast is really good but they never rise about the mundane script which just drags. Sequences happen for little or no reason, character interactions seems oddly improvised and boring instead of fun. There's also a number of plot holes and character inconsistencies which just make everything seem like a total mess.

I was literally counting the ceiling titles when Jeff Goldblum showed up.. I was hoping he would bring some of his magic to the film but unfortunately his contribution is more or less a brief cameo.

Ultimately I found this film to commit the worst of all movie sins -- it's boring. There's really nothing here that's compelling as it fails on almost every front. The premise (while a bit derivative) had a lot of potential but you need a good foundation to make it work. Unfortunately the script here is so bad it makes the film almost unwatchable.

I rarely give movies such a low rating but had I not been with a group I probably would have walked out. I should never be this bored at a cinema.

Maybe it's just me but I've not heard any buzz surrounding this movie and with the actors involved I figured it was due to its lackluster entertainment value. Not only was I surprised, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and highly recommend it.

Didn't quite get it, a half-baked potato? Sci-Fi? Two versions of Blade Runner? A hotel chain of John Wick's used to go? L.A. riot for water usage? This hotel is such a ridiculous facility, fixing up the criminals only with futuristic medical devices, every room numbered with some tourist-trap name, the lock mechanism is so complicated, the entry/entrance with reinforced steel gate, yet next to the gate is drywall, WTF? Then the elevator is on its last leg, an antique. A bag of new and old crap putting together to give you a fuzzy idea of a mixed genre. There's only one nurse to fix all the out patient walk-ins. I have to ask the movie maker: "What are you trying to show and tell us? What's the point of making this crap?" The storyline felt like a very weak patch-up pointless nonsense.

Like I said,, nothing new here. The Hotel Artemis is similar to the place in the JW movies, just not as upscale. Lots of familiar faces in this one, and for what the movie is (an hour and a half of things we've seen before done with new actors) they all gave great performances. Plenty enjoyable to view.

So go watch it!

I was essentially just bored after the first 10 minutes of the film. The cast is talented but the writing seemed to be the lagging component of this film. It feels like a rip off of the world environment of the John Wick universe and does nothing to separate itself in an intriguing way. It's just not my cup of tea.

Jodie Foster has a very good performance, Sofia Boutella and Sterling K. Brown have a strong presence, and the film is visually interesting (I did like the place Hotel Artemis and its colorful vintage wallpapers and high technology). However, script is bad. It is a generic action flick disguised as a cyberpunk, a distopy os a sci-fi. It is just a kick-ass film in near future, with most of its characters having too narrow motivations. The worst thing, indeed, is that the movie promised a distopic Los Angeles, with violent riots fighting deadly police in protest for the control of water by a big corporation, but nothing of this is developed. Hotel Artemis, a secret healthcare place for criminals full of security rules for its associate guests, is slightly better defined. Does it make a movie? I don't think so. To resume, this is not a disaster, particularly if you consider the numerous indentical action films, with scripts that seem to have been made by machines, that Hollywood produces every year. Though, it is not good either. Despite Jodie Foster.