Over the years, the Safdie brothers have created quite a name for themselves. The directing duo has constantly given us gripping films with their kinetic style, mainly produced by the A24 studios. Even with their handful of works, these brothers have received praise from industry veterans like Martin Scorsese to Guillermo del Toro. So it is fair to say that their films are rewarding experiences. ‘Good Time (2017)’, starring Robert Pattinson, is one of the examples that shows their skill of creating an anxiety-inducing fever dream with a brilliant mix of pulsating music and camera movements. They are so good in this niche that it almost feels like we are also trapped in the spaces with their characters.
If you loved Good Time and wish to dig deeper into its thrilling narrative, keep reading!
Spoilers ahead.
Good Time (2017) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What is the Safdie brothers’ ‘Good Time’ About?
‘Good Time,’ directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, is an American crime thriller set in New York. It follows Connie Nikas (played by Robert Pattinson), who tries to rescue his developmentally disabled younger brother Nick (played by Bennie Safdie) from prison after he gets arrested for a botched bank robbery attempt. The screenplay, written by Josh & Ronald Bronstein, places us in the heart of its chaos and makes us feel as if we’re struggling to breathe, like how its characters feel.
The film begins with Nick sitting uncomfortably through a therapy session with psychiatrist Peter (played by Peter Verby), who tries to evaluate the present state of his condition. Suddenly, Connie bursts into the room and interrupts their dialogue. He argues with Peter to rescue Nick and eventually succeeds. Soon after, they both put on disguises and enter a bank. While hiding their faces behind masks, they ask the bank cashier to fill $65,000 in their bag. After this clumsy yet successful attempt, they get out with a filled bag and enter an alley. While they take off their disguise, you sense these two brothers struggling to communicate and connect with each other.
What happens after Connie and Nick rob a bank?
Connie plans to escape through a taxi with Nick and the bag of cash. But unfortunately, the luck’s not on their side. Suddenly, a dye pack in the bag explodes, turning them all crimson-red. So, to clean themselves, Connie and Nick enter a nearby restaurant washroom. After cleaning himself, Connie hides the bag in the washroom loft. When they leave the restaurant and start walking away, a police car starts tailing them. Connie tells Nick not to be anxious so as to not arouse any suspicion. But Nick panics and starts running away. As a result, the police start chasing them both. While Connie manages to escape, Nick gets arrested.
Once in jail, Peter meets Nick and tries to make him understand that he is not at fault, but Connie is. Still, Nick refuses to speak against his brother. On the other hand, Connie takes out the money from the restaurant washroom loft. He hopes to use it for the bail bond to get Nick out of prison. But, because it is covered in dye color, he cannot use it. So, he heads to his girlfriend’s house, hoping she will help with the money. Corey (Jennifer Jason Leigh) invites him into her house with a smile, but her mother isn’t remotely pleased. Still, he somehow convinces Corey to help with the money with a promise that he will return it soon enough.
Does Connie manage to bail Nick out of jail?
In the bail bond office, Corey realizes that her mother has canceled her credit cards. It’s clear that she does not want Connie to take advantage of her daughter’s feelings. As if that’s not enough, Connie faces another issue. Since Nick got in a fight with another cellmate, he was hospitalized. Upon hearing that, Bail Bondsman Eric (played by Eric Paykert) tells Connie to get an additional ten grand for Nick’s bail. Since that seems impossible, Connie decides to rescue Nick at the hospital. He enters the hospital premises and finds a room with a police officer outside. Connie assumes that Nick is in that room. So, once the officer steps away, he enters and rescues the heavily bandaged patient on the bed.
Once outside, Connie puts the patient in a wheelchair and gets on a bus. He notices another passenger – Annie (played by Gladys Mathon), get down at a stop and follows her to her house. Connie convinces her to let him come inside for a quick call. He calls his mother, but she refuses to help him. So, he makes up another reason to let him and Nick stay for a few hours. Later, he uses Annie’s phone to call Corey for help. He tries to convince her to come pick him up. Meanwhile, he strikes up a conversation with Annie’s 16-year-old granddaughter, Crystal (played by Taliah Webster). She talks about her drug-dealing boyfriend but does not reveal where he lives. When his mug shot appears on the TV news, Connie kisses her. In no time, he manages to gain her trust.
Who was the bandaged patient Connie rescued from the hospital?
Once the bandaged patient regains consciousness, Connie realizes that it is not Nick but another criminal named Ray (played by Budee Duress). Ray had just got out on parole and did not want to mess things up anymore. So, he gets upset and starts shouting. Connie calms him down. Eventually, he learns that Ray hid LSD and some stolen money in the horror house in Adventureland. He believes the money is still there and decides to get it back with Ray. To do that, he convinces Crystal to give the keys to Annie’s car.
Upon reaching the park, Connie walks in with Ray and leaves Crystal behind. They find the drugs but not the money. By the time they locate it, security guard Dash (played by Barkhad Abdi) notices them and calls the police. So, Connie beats Dash and then puts on his uniform while Ray drugs him. When the police arrive at the crime scene, Connie lies that Dash is the one who broke in. While Connie escapes with Ray, the police arrest Crystal.
Good Time (2017) Movie Ending Explained:
Does Connie get Nick out of prison?
After leaving Adventureland without money, Connie and Ray head to Dash’s place – assuming he stole the money from the hidden spot. Ray offers help to sell the drugs with his friend, Califf. By then, Connie locks himself inside a room with Dash’s dog. Shortly after, Ray’s friend arrives there to buy the drugs. But Connie refuses to sell them at any price lower than $15,000. So, Califf agrees to return in a few hours with it. Instead, he plans to return with a gun to steal the drugs. After he leaves, Connie and Ray get into a petty argument. While Ray starts getting drunk, Connie tries to escape with the drugs.
By then, the police cars start surrounding their building. So, the moment Connie gets out, he gets arrested. While he gets inside their car, Ray tries to save himself by entering the neighboring apartment. But while climbing, he falls down and loses his life. So, eventually, Connie cannot help get Nick out of prison. Instead, he himself gets incarcerated for his crimes. In the events following this madness and chaos, we see Peter with Nick and his mother. He tells Nick that he did the right thing. In short, he tries to make Nick understand that his brother belongs in prison for his actions, unlike him.
Peter walks Nick up to a room with other developmentally disabled individuals. Nick enters the room but cannot fully immerse himself in the class. We see him gradually processing all the things that happened to him and thinking about the future. Although he does not seem content with how things turned out for his brother, he slowly tries to accept his new reality.
Read More: Good Time (2017) Review: Delivers More Than What Its Title Promises
Good Time (2017) Movie Trailer
Good Time (2017) Movie Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes
Good Time (2017) Movie Cast: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh
