Sundance Review: '99 Homes', Starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon

When the recession hit, the majority of the population really felt the housing and real estate plummet. Many middle class families got stuck with banks who told them to stop paying their mortgages while they adjusted their rates to something more affordable. Suffice to say that they got screwed over big time while the banks got bailed out. Is it fair? Hell no. And director Ramin Bahrani turns this reality into a theatrical thriller with superb performances from Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon.

Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) is a struggling father and caretaker who fell into hard times after every construction job he takes building homes falls apart because there is no money to do so during the most recent recession. This means that Nash doesn't get paid if the job doesn't go through. After trying to adjust his mortgage rate via the bank, they tell him to stop paying his mortgage while they sort all the paperwork out. Essentially, he gets screwed over by the bank and they foreclose on his home.

Enter Rick Carver (Michael Shannon), a real estate broker who is involved in evicting people and cheating banks out of their money. While many fall on bard times, Carver is raking in the cash. After evicting Nash, Carver, knowing Nash is desperate for money and not having any luck with jobs, he takes him under his wing in a strange turnaround. Nash struggles with the ethics of what he's doing but relishes in being able to provide for his mother Lynn (Laura Dern) and son Connor (Noah Lomax).

The film opens with a strong scene in which a man has committed suicide and the police are on the swarm, trying to find out what happened from no one other than Michael Shannon's character. So from the onset, the film is extremely intense, and if you've ever known anyone who's gone through something like a foreclosure or a short sale like I have, the topic at hand will most likely touch you in a very personal way. 99 Homes not only makes a statement about the recession, banks, and the world of real estate (and a very powerful one at that), but also speaks to the fact that desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures, but at what cost? 

Ramin Bahrani really knows how to keep the momentum going. The pacing moves at a wonderful pace, not too slow, and not so fast that anyone can't keep up with some of the technical lingo within the plot. There are moments when I hoped we'd get more of a real conversation between Andrew Garfield and Laura Dern's characters about what was happening, because he hides it from her for the same reason you hide anything from a parent: You know they'll be upset. We get some of the major repercussions for that, but nothing really concrete, as it's more focused on Garfield's character. 

Bahrani commits himself to the story and to painting these characters in gray at every turn. Since Garfield's character is at the forefront, we really sympathize with him, question some of his actions, but ultimately understand where he's coming from. He understands himself too, as he's always questioning himself ethically, and Garfield portrays this in a fantastic emotional portrayal, because this is where his character's head space is. He isn't being logical, but his decisions are made in an emotional manner. These decisions are the ones that bring in the most tension-filled scenes and also the most emotionally-triggering ones. Garfield is superb in this and really cements himself as a great actor, no questions asked. 

And since Bahrani knows how to get the best out of his characters, this is also one of Michael Shannon's best performances in recent memory. He's terrifying, a ruthless businessman who isn't into emotional attachments at all, and through helping Garfield, he's really helping himself, though I don't believe he's completely without a heart. He too is also fantastic in his role and whenever he and Garfield share a scene together, there's a palpable chemistry and spark of underlying tension in the air between their characters. Laura Dern does an excellent job as well as Garfield's mother, though my only complaint, as mentioned before, is that there wasn't all that much for her to do, her character in an extremely limiting supporting role. However, when there was something for her to do or to express, she was great.

99 Homes is one of those films that is sometimes hard to watch. The topic alone is close to home for many and the idea that this could even happen is hard to wrap your head around. Ramin Bahrani is a gifted director, knowing how to tell his story both technically and emotionally. There are moments where the film could have expanded on personal relationships (i.e. Garfield and Dern's mother/son dynamic), but this largely plays more of a role in the end and doesn't affect the film in a necessarily negative way. There's a lot to like in the film. There's drama, suspense, great storytelling, powerful performances, and an emotionally riveting tale of consequences, lawlessness, and piggybacking off of the people who are used and abused by the system. Solid and well worth watching.

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Two Clips from Ramin Bahrani's '99 Homes' Starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon

Ramin Bahrani's obsession with the plight of the common man has been felt mightily in his first four features, Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo, and last year's compelling if flawed At Any Price. That was his biggest film to date, with Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid starring in the heartland-set drama about farm workers. Bahrani's latest, 99 Homes, follows a similar tract as his prior movies and explores the disreputable acts that ruined lives during the housing crisis.

Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, and Laura Dern head up a small but strong cast for 99 Homes, and two clips have arrived to show how Bahrani plans to tackle an issue that is still plaguing America today. Garfield, taking a much-needed break from Spider-Man for awhile, plays Dennis Nash, the head of a family evicted from their home by Mike Carver (Shannon), a charismatic, unscrupulous real estate agent. When Carver offers Nash a ton of money and his home back to work for him, Nash is forced to do to other home owners what was done to him.

99 Homes recently had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival where it is competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award.


'99 Homes' Clip #1- Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Ramin Bahrani by Punch Drunk Critics


'99 Homes' Clip #2- Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Ramin Bahrani by Punch Drunk Critics

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First Look at Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon in '99 Homes'

Acclaimed director Ramin Bahrani has explored various corners of American culture with movies like Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo, and last year's underrated heartland drama, At Any Price. That film, which starred Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid, looked at the impact of big business and the economic decline on a prominent family of farmers. Now Bahrani is back with another timely subject; rounding up a few big names to tackle the housing crisis in 99 Homes.

The first image of Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon in 99 Homes has arrived, and this is obviously a drastic turn from their recent superhero movie efforts. Garfield plays an unemployed family man desperate to save his family home, who joins with an unscrupulous realtor (Shannon) in the dirty business of foreclosing on the disenfranchised. This is guaranteed to be another hot-button issue stirred up by Bahrani and hopefully people will turn out for it. Certainly having Garfield and Shannon couldn't hurt.

99 Homes will debut at the Venice Film Festival before hitting Toronto. [EW]

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Michael Shannon Joins Andrew Garfield in Ramin Bahrani's '99 Homes'

It looks like General Zod is going to be hanging out with Spider-Man while Ramin Bahrani gets to film the whole thing. Bahrani is coming off his biggest film yet, the heartland drama At Any Price, and while many critics didn't really take to it (I did, though), that didn't stop him from pushing forward with 99 Homes, his next exploration of the American Dream. With Andrew Garfield already attached to star, he's now lined up Boardwalk Empire and Man of Steel star, Michael Shannon.

Bahrani's previous films have looked at America through the immigrant experience, the Midwestern farming culture, and now 99 Homes will explore the current housing crisis. The Florida-set drama will have Shannon as sleazy real estate broker Mike Carver, with Garfield as Dennis Nash, a man foreclosed out of his home by Mike's shady dealings. In a last ditch effort to get his house back, Dennis goes to work for Mike only to get caught up in the industry's criminal practices.

Expect this one to get real nasty and probably a little controversial, but boy that's a trio worth getting really excited over. 99 Homes should begin filming soon, and hopefully will be on the festival circuit early next year. Fingers crossed.[THR]

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Andrew Garfield to Star in Ramin Bahrani's '99 Homes'

Shortly before his death, Roger Ebert gave a final, touching interview with Man Push Cart director Ramin Bahrani, a filmmaker the renowned critic showed a deep respect for. It was at that time Bahrani revealed his next film would be 99 Homes, another small scale drama centered on a uniquely American experience, dealing with our current economic crisis. For his last film, the powerful heartland drama At Any Price, Bahrani managed to make a real actor out of Zac Efron. The challenge shouldn't be quite as steep this time, as Bahrani has secured Andrew Garfield as his next lead.

Although he'll be webslinging as Spider-Man for the next few years, Garfield has found time in his schedule to tackle the sort of indie project that helped make him a star to begin with. Bahrani has previously said the film would bet set in Orlando, Florida, and follow Dennis Nash (Garfield), a man who is evicted from his home along with his mom and son by Mike Carver, a gun-toting real estate broker. In a desperate attempt to get his home back, Dennis agrees to work for Mike, getting an inside look at the corrupt housing industry.

It's good to see Garfield isn't content to rest on playing superheroes for the rest of his career, and is still looking to take on films that are challenging in a completely different way. Production on 99 Homes begins later this year, and personally I can't wait to see how the rest of the cast shapes up.

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Cinema Royale #16- Iron Man 3; Ramin Bahrani

When the world needs saving and The Avengers are nowhere to be found, who do you turn to? Iron Man, of course, and film critic Rocky Hadadi steps into the arena to talk Marvel's latest action epic, Iron Man 3!

Roger Ebert listed Ramin Bahrani's acclaimed film Chop Shop as one of the best of the last decade. Bahrani checks in with Cinema Royale host Travis Hopson to talk about his latest project, At Any Price, which stars Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid.

You can find Cinema Royale every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, and Podomatic. Listen to this week's episode below...

Listen to internet radio with Cinema Royale on BlogTalkRadio

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Review: 'At Any Price' starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron

How much does the American Dream cost? What is one willing to give up in order to achieve it? The answer is pretty much right there in the title of acclaimed director Ramin Bahrani's At Any Price, a brilliant morality tale that further establishes him as one of today's finest filmmakers.  Bahrani's first three films, Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, and 2008's Goodbye Solo, told uniquely American stories through the lens of the immigrant experience. But here he turns his insightful eye on the small-town Midwest, where family legacy is of paramount importance, and success is measured by hard work and desire.

What happens when the next generation has no intention of following in prior's footsteps? What happens when the pervasive influence of big business and steeper competition begins to encroach on one's ability to survive? In the heartland of Iowa, Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) is a reasonably successful farmer, tending land that has been in his family for generations. It's his dream to be the top grower in the entire state, but he's constantly chasing after the top guy (Clancy Brown), who always seems to have the upper hand. After splurging on an extra 200 acres, Henry hopes to pass it off on his sons to tend as their own, but his oldest son Grant has skipped town for parts unknown, and his other son Dean (Zac Efron) has a dream of racing in NASCAR.

Henry wishes Dean were more like him, while Dean isn't as different from Henry as he thinks. They butt heads over everything, and Henry isn't exactly the most attentive listener. He's a salesman through and through, someone who puts on a false smile and is always looking for a way to close a deal. Taught by his father "When a man stops wanting, a man starts dying", Henry cheats on his wife (Kim Dickey) with the sexy Meredith (Heather Graham), and schemes to cheat the giant agribusinesses by reusing his genetically modified seeds. Dean enjoys his life as a big fish in a small pond, hanging out with his girlfriend Cadence (Maika Monroe) and racing the dirt tracks in hopes of winning a contract.

It's a simple story of family melodrama told in the classic, intimate style of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, or better yet, All My Sons. Bahrani has always been good at making the location an integral character in the story, unearthing the many truths and myths of the local culture. He explores, in much better fashion than Matt Damon's Promised Land, the soft underbelly of our farmer class. Swallowed up and twisted by the expanse of industry, what had been a respectable, fundamentally American building block is now just a cold business like any other. You either evolve or die. Destroy the farmer next to you, or be destroyed by him. Their dreams can never be allowed to stand side-by-side with yours. This obsessive need for competition is an integral piece of the intricate puzzle Bahrani weaves, and we see it play out between father and son in many different ways.

Dennis Quaid rarely disappoints, but he gives the performance of his already-great career. The charm we've come to know and love from him is there, but corrupted and phony. He's perfect in every single frame, and the film is made instantly better whenever he's on screen. Contrary to popular belief, Zac Efron can act when given the opportunity, and he does good work here when Dean is enjoying his time as a local celebrity. Efron doesn't do brooding malcontent quite as well when called upon, though. The real find may be Maika Monroe as Cadence. She's had a few small roles here and there, and will appear opposite Emma Watson in The Bling Ring, but her time on screen, whether its with Quaid or Efron, are simply electric. Cadence is a girl many would presume has no future beyond the town's city limits, but she's smarter and more ambitious than is readily apparent.

Bahrani can get a little heavy-handed with the metaphors, and sometimes the melodrama steers into All My Children territory. A final act twist changes the complexion of the entire film in a bad way, piling on one final hurdle that is about ten shades too dark. Bahrani doesn't ask any easy questions, and certainly doesn't offer up any easy answers. Tough, engaging, and brutally honest, At Any Price is one of those quiet gems you hope others will have the opportunity to discover for themselves.

Trav's Tip: Be sure to check out my interview with Ramin Bahrani where he talks about his inspirations for At Any Price, how it relates to his earlier work, and his love of Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master.

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Zac Efron to star in 'Are We Officially Dating?"; new clip from 'At Any Price'

He may have failed miserably with the saccharine Nicholas Sparks romance, The Lucky One, but that hasn't slowed down Zac Efron in the least. Actually, he's done a better job than most not letting himself get pigeonholed by taking on a healthy mix of fluff that keeps his fans happy, while also dabbling in films that will play large on the festival circuit. Today we're getting a look at both sides of the coin as the actor joins a rather bland sounding romantic comedy, plus we've got a clip from At Any Price, the film he just completed with Goodbye Solo director Ramin Bahrani.

First off, Deadline reports that Efron will star in the terribly-titled romantic comedy, Are We Officially Dating?  Tom Gormican will direct based on his own Black List approved script, and the story follows three friends in New York City who find love just after making a pact to remain single. Uggghhhhh. Production begins next month in Manhattan.

Lee Daniels' The Paperboy isn't the only film Efron's got working its way through the festival circuit right now, but it is the only one where he gets a golden shower from Nicole Kidman.  The other, less urine-centric film is At Any Price, the latest from Ramin Bahrani, who gave us the excellent dramas Chop Shop and Goodbye Solo. So far the word from out of Venice has been glowing, with much of the high praise lavished on Efron and Dennis Quaid, who share the screen as father and son whose lives are at a cross purposes. Quaid wants Efron's character to take over the family farm, which is currently in dire straits due to an investigation by the government. But those plans run counter to Efron's dream of being a NASCAR racer. The newly released clip gives us a taste of the simmering tension between the two. Looks pretty good to me.

At Any Price doesn't have a release date, but that will likely change soon. Check out the clip below....

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