112 Minutes, Drama, M

Produced on a modest budget of $5.0m in 2014 and dedicated to the late film critic, Roger Ebert, is this resolutely hard-hitting American drama set in Florida, 99 HOMES. Starring Michael Shannon (FREEHELD), Andrew Garfield (THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1 & 2) and Laura Dern (WILD), a young Father – Dennis Nash (Garfield) is evicted from his family home along with his Mother (Dern) and son (Noah Lomax) for not being able to repay the bank for a loan taken out. Out of work and forced to live in surroundings that are dangerous for his young son, Dennis accepts an offer to work for the greedy real estate broker, Rick Carver (Shannon), who evicted him.

While not credited to be based on an actual true to life story, this story is inspired by a real event and is often realistic in its presentation. The compelling subject matter, treated with a striking sense of urgency that it requires, is one that undoubtedly occurs in parts of America, and across the world, today. A tremendously prepared, structured and written screenplay gives the audience a comprehensive understanding of each lead characters situation, how they got there and the causes that lead to past & present actions. As such, 99 HOMES doesn’t just work solely as a completely convincing, situational suburban drama, but is also a fully functional character film. After a couple of stops by big blockbuster mainstream cinema, Andrew Garfield finds himself in career-best form to date, displaying a wide range of conflicting emotions in a truly raw way. Adding to the palpable tension already summoned up by a tightly written script is its heart-pounding score. The studious directional work from Ramin Bahrani always ensures the film’s key points and themes will be well and truly grasped in this gripping and heartfelt drama. Highly recommended.

4 out of 5

99 HOMES – Film Trailer

Footnote to Parents
Due mostly to its thematic content, 99 HOMES is best viewed to a mature teenage audience and up. Also contains offensive language including some sexual references and a violent image.

Moviedoc wishes to thank Tessa, Madman and Cinema NOVA for the invitation to the media screening of 99 HOMES.

Review by Moviedoc
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