​FILMS

99 homes

2015 review number 173:

99 Homes: (Drama): 85 out of 100: A drama that packs a powerful punch aided by absorbing central performances provides a compelling character study that will hold your attention from beginning to end. The taut, tense narrative ensures that thrilling elements are interwoven with the dramatic aspects of the film. It's an intriguing premise that will have you asking yourself what you would do if you were in the same dilemma facing the protagonist; would you abandon your morals at the detriment of others to profit and succeed?

 

Single father Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) lives with his mother, Lynn (Laura Dern) and young son, Connor (Noah Lomax) in Orlando, Florida. Dennis is a construction worker who is out of work and struggling to pay off the mortgage repayments so he finds his family evicted from their home. In charge of the foreclosure is Rick Carver (Michael Shannon), a ruthless real estate broker who sets up real estate schemes that exploit government and banking rules to aid his own financial position. Rick is impressed by Dennis' fortitude and employs him to be a repairman at his properties. He soon begins evicting those who are experiencing the same financial hardships as him, leaving him in a precarious situation as he is staying in the same motel run by Carver as the evictees. Dennis must wrestle with his morals and decide if living a luxurious lifestyle out of other people's misery is worth it. 

 

The acting is superbly led by Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon and Laura Dern. Garfield's portrayal of the construction worker who 'makes a deal with the Devil' is scintillating. He only wants to do the best for his family but his determination leads him to moments of tension with the people he is evicting. His facial expressions when he realises the pain he is causing are just as powerful as the words he speaks. Michael Shannon is the Devil in that he shows no remorse and only wants to succeed when all others fail. He will stoop so low that he will find ways to cheat the system for his financial gain. Shannon has been the best thing in quite a few of his movies and he doesn't know the meaning of a poor performance. Dern and Garfield share several excellent scenes that illustrate how a family that is falling apart copes in dire circumstances. Lomax portrays the son with sensitivity and a skill that is beyond his age.

 

Ramin Bahrani, the director and co-writer, deserves plaudits for not only extracting fine performances, but also keeping the story moving along. Even though the film runs close to two hours, the storytelling is maintained at a furious pace, not allowing the viewer to be distracted. The tension that is generated ensures that you're intrigued by what will happen next, with enough humour included to guarantee that the narrative never becomes dour. 

 

99 Homes deserves to be seen by a wide audience because it deals with everyday situations in that people are evicted from their homes all the time. This is a reminder of how they feel when they find themselves in this situation. The experience we are given also shows the other side where people benefit. This is a reminder of how humans can resort to questionable moral conduct to succeed at the expense of others. It is a balanced narrative that never fails to intrigue and entertain.

 

Starring Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon and Laura Dern

(112 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language and adult themes

Additional scene during or after the credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0df7qGTeGo (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Tuesday 17th November, 2015)

 

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