99 Homes

MPAA Rating: R for language including some sexual references, and a brief violent image
Run Time: 112 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today I saw Broad Green Pictures' 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman), Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), and Laura Dern (Wild).  It tells the story of construction worker Dennis Nash who must come to terms with reality when his home is foreclosed and his family and him are evicted by real-estate broker Rick Carver.  With no place to go, Nash takes his mother and son to a run-down motel where others that have been evicted stay.  With no home or money, now Nash must do the unthinkable and begins working for Carver, diving into the world scamming and stealing in order to make quick cash.
So I thought this was an intense film that showed real life and was a great commentary on the nature of mankind.  It has fantastic performances and really it wouldn't be the same without its great cast. Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, and Laura Dern pile on the intensity and emotion creating some of the best acting work this year.  Unfortunately with this film being so small I don't see this film winning any major awards, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't.  They bring this story to life and honestly show how life was during the 2010 housing crisis.  While watching you can't help but feel for all those people being evicted and hate the ones evicting him.  With that being said, it is very interesting to watch Andrew Garfield's character go from being evicted to the one doing the evicting.  In my opinion it is a great commentary on how quick people are willing to change if it means making money.  Money affects the way we live, act, and think; this film shows this and also shows what the eventual outcome is if we decide to focus our lives on it instead of the things that truly matter.
The one bad thing that I would say is that the film wasn't building up to anything.  After watching the film I have no idea what the climax was and how the film ended up where it did.  This makes it really hard to stay focused on the film because you don't know where the story is going.  The film seems long, but fortunately it is backed up by the incredible acting.
Overall, I thought this film was great and I would definitely watch it again.  The performances are incredible and deserve praise.  If you want a true-to-life story with a great life lesson, this is definitely for you.

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!