Hotel Artemis

Hotel Artemis is a 2018 film showcasing a narrative based in the near-future bustling city of Los Angeles. Directed by British filmmaker Drew Pearce and brought to life by a star-studded cast including Jodie Foster, Sofia Boutella, and Dave Bautista amongst others, the movie melds the genre of a sci-fi thriller with layers of drama and action.

Set in 2028, the film throws viewers into a dystopian L.A., where the city is boiling over with discord triggered by rampant crime and water riots. Amid this chaos is the titular Hotel Artemis, an edifice unimpressive from outside but undergoes a remarkable transformation once you step inside. Essentially an underground hospital for criminals run under highly confidential and stringent rules, the 'hotel' is the center stage of the film’s action. With Jodie Foster playing 'The Nurse' who operates this hotel, the movie expertly showcases her in a completely different light, departing from her regular roles and pushing the envelope of her wide acting skill-set.

Supervising this covert operation for years, 'The Nurse' is ably aided by her assistant Everest, played by the tenacious Dave Bautista. Bautista being more than just a burly henchman, brings a level of charisma and depth to the character, making him an intriguing part of this dark world. In her hardened and steadfast character, Jodie Foster provides an unforgettably perplexing performance, keeping viewers riveted from start to finish.

The Hotel Artemis is no ordinary place of refuge; it offers high-tech medical facilities for its unique clientele, with complex technologies and groundbreaking medical advancements featuring prominently in numerous scenes. However, this rule-bound sanctuary starts to crumble when it inadvertently sets the stage for a dangerous dispute involving some of the city's deadliest assassins, mob bosses, and large-scale criminals.

What’s particularly intriguing about this movie is its depiction of an array of remarkable characters, each with their own hidden layers and intriguing attributes. Sofia Boutella’s role as Nice adds an interesting dynamic to the tale, Yin (Zachary Quinto) and Crosby Franklin's (Jeff Goldblum) power struggle introduces more trouble to the plot, while Sterling K. Brown’s decent thief and his reckless brother add to the chaotic mishmash at the Artemis. Brian Tyree Henry, Charlie Day, and Jenny Slate further contribute to Hotel Artemis’ rich character tapestry.

The film skillfully employs the tropes of a dystopian future with its typical societal structures being dismantled and the social chaos taking predominance. Pearce, in his directorial debut, delivers an atmospheric film with dark corridors, tight close-ups, flashy neon lighting, and an ever-tense ambient score which blend ingeniously with the subtle sci-fi elements. He masterfully navigates through seedy underworld politics, high-tech medical advancements, and unconventional societal breakdowns throughout the storyline.

The cinematography and the production design are elements that deserve a massive nod. The viewer is moved effortlessly via camera through the labyrinth of hallways, rooms, moving security walls, and the outside world besieged by chaos. The film is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, which contrasts astoundingly with the gore and grim happenings within the plot.

The uniqueness of Hotel Artemis is situated within its subtlety. The plot unfolds almost entirely within the confines of the hotel, which is not only a fast-paced criminal hideout but also a metaphorical space that represents its crumbling society. Each character is an embodiment of a world grappling to survive against all odds. It’s an intricate tale of survival - the survival of humanity, even among individuals society has deemed inhumane.

As a whole, the Hotel Artemis is an intriguing blend of action, sci-fi, and dystopia set against the backdrop of a grim future version of Los Angeles. It stands out as a unique piece of cinema marked by an excellent star cast, a compelling script, and a riveting storyline. With an unexpected depth to its characters and narrative intricacies, the movie is an intense rollercoaster ride that successfully engages its audience till the climactic showdown.