|
When you think of Detroit, you might think of a city with a once-thriving automotive industry. But while it might not be so apparent to the average person at the outset, the city actually has quite the storied history on the big screen. From serving as the hometown of Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop to being the rainy backdrop against which a resurrected Eric Draven doles out justice in The Crow, Detroit has been a favorite of filmmakers time and time again. And with Motor City, director Potsy Ponciroli is contributing yet another entry in the city's long-standing cinematic legacy, in this noir action-thriller about one man's quest to avenge the wrongs that have been inflicted upon him. Set between the years of 1976 and 1977, the story follows John Miller (Alan Ritchson), a man with a checkered past who's trying hard to turn his life around. Recently paroled from prison and serious about his relationship with his waitress girlfriend, Sophia (Shailene Woodley), John plans on making their romantic partnership permanent. However, just as he's about to get down on one knee and propose to her, a small army of police officers burst into their home and arrest him for drug possession. Framed by the crooked Lieutenant Savick (Pablo Schreiber), John finds himself tossed back in the slammer, a turn of events that leaves Sophia vulnerable to advances from her rich but abusive ex-boyfriend, Reynolds (Ben Foster). What soon dawns on John, though, is that Reynolds also happens to the person behind his latest incarceration. And when John discovers the gross injustice that has been committed against him, he can't help but want to right it himself. Even with the dutiful Detective Kent (Ben McKenzie) on the case, John sets into motion a plan for an explosive prison break. But with Reynolds' vast network of criminal connections, does John even stand a chance at getting his revenge? Bolstered by a non-stop playlist of some of the most iconic rock songs of the '70s, the result is a gritty throwback to the noir thrillers of decades past, replete with gun battles, car chases, and enough slow-motion to make Michael Bay envious. Where Motor City takes a creative misstep, however, is by not including any coherent dialogue whatsoever. And while that decision initially proves novel, as things progress, the gimmick soon starts to wear thin. Make no mistake, viewers should still find some enjoyment in the movie's homage to the genre. Ultimately, though, this revenge thriller feels more like a car without an engine. |
Motor City screens under the Centrepiece programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Its runtime is 1 hr. 43 min.
0 comments