“Good Time”: A Beautifully-Orchestrated Bit of Chaos

Filmmaking brothers Josh and Benny Safdie follow their epically gritty film about junkies on the streets of New York (Heaven Knows What) with a return to the dark city streets in Good Time, the frantic odyssey of a street-smart lowlife, Constantine (Robert Pattinson), trying to get his mentally challenged brother (Ben Safdie) out of jail after a botched bank robbery. From the moment it goes bad, Constantine proves himself a remarkably dedicated sibling, juggling an ever-changing set of situations as he walks a tightrope between securing his brother’s freedom and losing his own. As directors, the Safdies seem to have mastered the art of creating and maintaining tension with an efficient yet realistically chaotic story and taut, needling score. Pattison’s role is likely to be career redefining, and it is pleasing to see an actor of his growing talents continue to chose interesting roles in smaller films by independent directors rather than recline on the already-made bed of his heartthrob status. Though British, Pattinson sounds utterly believable as a fast-talking New Yorker who never got a break in life and who refuses to give up his one shot. The film also features Jennifer Jason Leigh in a plum role as a spoiled rich girl and Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) as an unfortunate security guard, both of whom get caught up in Constantine’s mad dash toward freedom. THE WORD: A beautifully-orchestrated bit of chaos that will not fail to grab you by the throat. COMING TO: Home Video