Lionsgate
Sometimes, movies are simply too cool for school. Slick characters, cool set designs, and sharp lines of dialogue can set films apart and help them stand the test of time. In 2018, director Drew Pearce came close to giving us just such an entry when he opened the doors of “Hotel Artemis,” pulling together an eclectic cast and one surprising performance that gave a screen legend the kind of second wind moviegoers love to see. You can see for yourself now, as the film is available to stream for free on Roku and Plex.
Setting its sights in the same territory as both “Smokin’ Aces” and the franchise with the massive kill count, “John Wick,” “Hotel Artemis” introduced audiences to a criminal underworld in the future where the titular establishment is a safe haven for criminals who are out on the lam or need injuries tended to through off-the-books means. Sterling K. Brown (star of Hulu’s brilliant sci-fi series, “Paradise”) plays a member of a bank-robbing gang, and he and his brother are unfortunately left injured after a job goes sideways. Seeking refuge in the Hotel Artemis — an establishment that is funded by criminals for criminals — Sherman (Brown) seeks the help of Jean “The Nurse” Thomas, played by Jodie Foster in a performance that quickly becomes the highlight of the film. Unfortunately, that’s the only consistent bit of praise that was left at the welcome desk of “Hotel Artemis,” which ended up being a box-office bomb during its theatrical run.
Critics couldn’t decide whether to stay or go
Lionsgate
Landing a so-so score of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Hotel Artemis” was praised for its occasional portions of wit through a cast composed of Sterling K. Brown, Jodie Foster, Dave Bautista, Charlie Day, and Jeff Goldblum. Marshall Shaffer of Decider said, “Hotel Artemis has all the pieces in place for something special but can’t quite seem to connect any of the dots.” J.R. Jones of the Chicago Reader said it’s Jodie Foster’s “crabbed, jittery performance that holds the film together,” while Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent gave a higher ranking than some, saying, “classy Foster almost manages to convince us that her lost little old lady character is, in fact, a full-blown tragic heroine.”
Unfortunately, general audiences echoed this middling reaction, barely booking to visit “Hotel Artemis,” and turning it into a box office bomb of 2018. The film drew in a woeful $13.3 million against a $15.5 million production budget, making for a massive misstep. Perhaps with a little more care in an establishment that was full of potential, “Hotel Artemis” could’ve kept its doors open a little longer and become something of a cult classic that it had every opportunity to be.
