“28 Hotel Rooms” is a romantic drama released in the year 2012 that portrays romance, cheating and human relationships. To narrate the romance, the story portrays a man, Chris Messina, a writer and a woman, Marins Ireland, who is an accountant, and they coincidently meet while on a business trip in a hotel. What was only supposed to be a one night fling, developed into a years long relationship that involved the two meeting each other at hotels throughout the world whilst they were on business trips.
They, being in steady and long term relationships with other people, took pleasure and delight in the concealing nature of these meetings. The more they met, a bond was forged, and they were presented with the emotions and morals these meetings came along with. The story is weaved together through the conversations shared, the fights that broke out, and the emotions that surfaced in anonymous hotel rooms. How love can prevail in the grey areas is beautifully captured in the movie.
Cast & Crew:
- Director & Writer: Matt. Ross
- Chris Messina as poeple’s man.
- Marin Ireland as feminine woman.
Matt Ross, popularly seen as an actor in the movies “American psycho” and ”Silicon Valley” makes his directional debut with 28 Hotel Rooms. The film employs a unique approach to storytelling perfect direction with naturalistic acting and a calming setting gives the film an emotionally charged narrative.
From planning the film to casting actors, Matt was involved in every aspect including the music and cinematography. All in all, the film is gripping, powerful and effective. With his ever presence Chris Messina perfects the role of a man being emotionally unstable, feeling torn between satiating one’s sexual desire and guilt. Matt Ross perfectly captures the vulnerability and strength of women as a performer by starring in TV series like ‘Sneaky Pete’ all the way through intelligent theater work as well. She has a bold presence, feminine energy and passion and does great justice to the role of a women who is always in conflict because of love and responsibility.
Themes and Analysis:
Love vs. Responsibility:
In the movie ‘28 Hotel Rooms’, Love and Responsibility often clash. The film revolves around these questions couple falls in and out of love what about their other partners? Instead of following the norm and being completely monogamous, both of them are having multiple lovers and struggle with loving them and lovers. The movie interestedly investigates whether being in love with someone can truly exist outside the bounds of obligation? ” He switches skillfully between the topics of love and responsibility. 28 hotel rooms raises concern regarding love beyond boundaries. 28 hotel rooms is about the consistent but rather pointless struggle for absolute purity in regards to love?”
Impermanence and Transience:
Historically, Hotel rooms have always been shown as a vital element in the film industry. They have always stood as evidence in regards to characters that have endured in relationships that have been sustained by mere illusions. These rooms reflect their bond,alongside the handpicked sentiment so they won’t get enveloped by the outside world. But again these rooms are ephemeral, the question arises it ever worth building upon such relationships where it is only momentary?
Intimacy and Isolation:
Being in a borderline relationship wherein they are cheating from their partners off; intimacy comes off as strong word. In my opinion it always comes off as marketing strategy for them, there are indeed times where they are stress free due to other factors, but those times when I’m around them they are on edge and calm. And to make matters worse the tiny hotel remind them of the world they want to escape.
The Passage of Time:
When we use the term “time”, it can mean multiple things. The time can be years or it can simply be life. The non linear aspect of the film portrays time being fluid and the reality outside those rooms staying the same. Be it a job change, new appearance, them falling in love; despite the fact they want to sedate time, it looks like time wants to stimulate them.
Cinematography and Direction:
The cinematographer and director decided to adapt a style of shooting that is rather voyeuristic, that is also deeply personal. It allows the actors in the film to let go of the method and express rather organically while owing a lot to the closeness of the camerawork that expands the emotional depth of an otherwise mostly sterile yet emotionally charged environment . The editing is highly restrained and it does not use unnecessary exposition or dramatic shifts in the storyline so as to focus on the rather banal but intimate moments that envelop the couple and amalgamate their impregnable bond.
Critical Reception:
The film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 and critics have a mixed take on the film. A majority commended the expressive performance turned in by Chris Messina alongside Marin Ireland citing the deep chemistry as well as emotional depth they were able to portray. “28 Hotel Rooms” is a good portrayal of infidelity without resorting into any succession of events that can be termed vulgar or hiding behind the curtains.
On the other hand, some critics were a little baffled at the cinematography due partly in a big respect to the repetetiveness embedded into it, as it was set primarily in the same location featuring the same two characters. The Hollywood Reporter archived it with a title that praises its “brave and raw honesty” meanwhile Variety remarked at the contextual void making it too complex for the audience to be able to connect with the character emotionally.
In Rotten Tomatoes the film enjoyed mostly there being little to no consensus on whether the low production assists in depth to the film or not.
Response from audience:
Character driven audiences such as the fans of Before Sunset and Blue Valentine deem 28 Hotel Rooms as a worthwhile film on love and intimacy. It’s true that those looking for a consistent plot or a steady direction can have a hard time with the films slow pace and vague ending.
Legacy and Impact:
28 Hotel Rooms is a timeless film as it reminds us that love can’t be labeled as one thing, and it can be at varying points in time. It tells the story that not each relation should be appreciated for its error free approach, it can be for its own humanistic nature.
The intimacy in characters of Hotel 28 married well with the directorial skills of Matt Ross which was further complimented by Captain Fantastic which was nominated for onaAA.
Conclusion:
“28 Hotel Rooms” is a quiet yet potent reflection on love and heartache amid the messiness of human relationships. The filmmakers manage to tell a story that could easily be swamped with clutter, through an elegant style and stunning portrayals. It is a film for which people will always have differing inclinations, yet it stands out in the realm of romantic drama due to its sincere depiction of flawed affection. It is contemplative and demonstrates how love influences the decisions people make.
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