Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Rated R for language throughout, violence, drug use and sexual content

Good Time is the directorial debut of the Safdie Brothers. The crime drama centers around Connie (played by Robert Pattinson), a young man who must break his intellectually disabled brother, Nick (played by Benny Safdie), out of jail after a bank robbery goes wrong. Throughout the film, Connie goes throughout New York and tries everything to get his brother out while also evading capture from the police.

What makes a film like Good Time exciting is that it uses the story to build up tension and suspension. This is by no means a horror filled film but just watching some scenes makes the audience nervous to what will happen next. This is what Uncut Gems, the sophomore effort from the Safdie Brothers, did so well. Both films make every scene anxious because we do not know what to expect. Writers Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie do a great job writing the dialogue and plot points that keep the audience guessing, but its the two directors that do an exceptional job putting the uneasiness onto the screen. The audience expects the film to take one direction, but it ends up going another.

While praise should be given to the two directors behind the camera, some should also go to its star Robert Pattinson. Years ago, Pattinson was a fairly disliked actor due to his work in the Twilight series. To be fair, his performances in those films were not so strong partly due to the lack of material that was given to him. But now Pattinson has redeemed himself as an actor and I would like to believe Good Time had a hand in that. It’s hard to believe but Pattinson has an English accent but there is no hint of that in this film. Pattinson perfectly conveys a young man who is trying everything to break out his brother with some of the anger and confusion that comes with it. The film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi, and Benny Safdie. Unfortunately, they are mostly in the film for a scene two, with the notable exception being Safdie, who appears at the very beginning and end of the film.

As mentioned before, Good Time makes the audience anxious due to the fast paced the film goes. What helps make the film go fast is the anxiety filled soundtrack from Oneohtrix Point Never. The score perfectly compliments the feeling Connie goes through the entire film. He is trying to break his brother from jail, therefore must act fast. With this, everything around him goes fast and he is moving at a fast speed. When viewing the film, the score was almost reminiscent of Uncut Gems, a synth filled score that keeps the audience engaged. Behind the camera is Sean Price Williams, who serves as the film’s cinematographer. He also does a great job for his work for the film, as he doesn’t make Good Time as a big Hollywood film. He filmed the scenes as it were real and it has a guerrilla style to it.

Overall, Good Time is a film that that takes an audience for a ride due to the fantastic direction and writing. Its star Robert Pattinson is electrifying in this fast paced film. It’s safe to say Good Time and Uncut Gems proved that the Safdie Brothers are up and coming directors to look out for in the future.

3.5/4