Bullet Points: Green Room

I used to have a co-worker who was my go-to movie guy. He would see movies in the theaters multiple times each week and we had very similar tastes in cinema so instead of reading a review somewhere I could just turn and ask him. Green Room was a movie that he spoke very highly of and one that I took a very long time to write about. Let’s see if his hot streak still holds up….

Synopsis: A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.

• Punk Rock: The lead characters led by Anton Yelchin are members of a punk rock band touring the country. They’re going to all of those places where most people will probably never step foot. Except for that small diner that they play in. The point is that they consider themselves to be real artists and that sometimes leads to them not playing in the best of environments.
• Nazi Punks: Nazis are the ultimate villains. They’re so easy to hate that you don’t have to do any real character work to get a bad guy over. You simply have to tell someone that this person is a hateful prick and it immediately garners “heat”. After some not-so-successful gigs playing in town, they take an early show playing for a bunch of skinheads. None of the band members are thrilled with the idea but there is a guaranteed payday and that counts for something no matter who you ask.

• Any reaction is better than no reaction: They take the stage and immediately play a cover of the Dead Kennedys song “Nazi Punks Fuck Off”. Let’s just say that the crowd isn’t happy.
• Snub nose survival: After their set, the band walks back to the green room to recover some of their things and Anton Yelchin sees the aftermath of a murder. They’re instantly neck-high in shit. Some of the more shifty-eyed skin heads trap them into the room and the tension is elevated even higher when Yelchin grabs his cell phone and calls 9-1-1. Eventually the band mates get trapped in the green room with nothing but a hostage and a snub nose revolver to keep them alive.

• The escape: Shit starts looking worse and worse for the band. It’s finally decided that they need to make a run for it. This is where any knowledge of a Jeremy Saulnier movie will help you as a viewer. Don’t get too attached to any of the characters. Many of them die in horrible and graphic ways. The film never keeps its “eye” from the action for long. People are shot and dismembered and if you’re not ready for it this movie will kick your ass.
• Bad dog: Those damned Nazi skin heads have a guy with one mean dog. They realize that the ferocious canine might be their best weapon against the fleeing rockers. It’s pretty messed up shit…and I just watched Man’s Best Friend recently.

• The desert island band: There is a running gag throughout the film where the members of the band are talking about which band discography they would choose to listen to if they were trapped on an island. It has its moments but they really should have been discussing their favorite unassuming villains. That title might have gone to Patrick Stewart as the leader of the horrible shits. Stewart is as bad as any of the guys who actually take part in the killing and probably worse than you’ll ever imagine when you see his name on the poster. I love when an actor goes against typecast and changes everyone’s minds on what they can play. This is that movie for Patrick Stewart fans.

The Verdict: It was a 100% thrilling movie. The nature of a Jeremy Saulnier movie just means that you don’t know what to expect. This one was tense and exciting at the same time. The fact that the entire movie felt like it took place in real time, even though it probably didn’t, added to the tense nature of it. The acting is visceral and will be tough for the squeamish. Anton Yelchin was good. He isn’t the most likable character in the movie but that wasn’t exactly his job. The movie doesn’t necessarily have a hero and it’s full of villains. It’s easy to find someone to hate in a movie featuring a bunch of Nazi douchebags. Green Room is an excellently made movie and one that is equal parts entertaining and hard to watch for movie fans. I fully recommend it.