The Plot: In 1970s Detroit, John Miller falls for a local gangster’s girl. In retaliation, the gangster enacts a frame job to send the innocent man to prison. Life ruined, Miller plots a revenge campaign against the man who took his girl away.
Stealing What Isn’t Yours?
First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize that people are not possessions that anyone can claim or own, regardless of the love they share. While phrases like “he or she is mine” may seem flattering, they can imply an unrealistic and unhealthy sense of ownership. This perspective is crucial to understand before delving into the main aspects of this review.
In the film, Sophia, portrayed by Shailene Woodley, initially enters into a relationship with Reynolds. However, John enters the picture and quickly becomes aware of the cruel and disrespectful treatment Sophia has endured from Reynolds. John embodies a more compassionate and nurturing approach, which starkly contrasts with Reynolds’ behavior. This newfound kindness and respect draw Sophia towards John, leading her to seek a more meaningful relationship.
Illegal Tactics
Feeling intimidated by John’s influence and determined to get back what he considers to be “his girl,” Reynolds uses violent methods. Driven by jealousy and a warped sense of possession, he manipulates the legal system to falsely accuse John of a crime he did not commit. The toxic dynamics that can arise in relationships when one partner tries to control the other are highlighted by this conflict, which eventually has detrimental effects on all parties. It is unacceptable to use wealth, power, and influence against a good man by framing an innocent man just because a woman you once loved tried to stand up for herself and stop being mistreated. Sadly, this is a reflection of the harsh reality of our world, where people frequently turn to unethical behavior and rely on others or informants to take the fall in order to get money. That is the harsh reality of the situation– and things like this actually do happen in real life, whether it be with people or items, and it really is sad that people sink to such deep lengths when they feel they have been wronged or something was taken from them that they saw as theirs, even if it was not a person and done legally and above board.
“Too” Loud …but also “too” Quiet!
I can’t claim to have never seen a film with very little or no dialogue, but I have seen similar movies with very little or no talking. The film’s intensity came from the loud car crashes, explosions, and fight scenes, but there were also silent dialogue scenes where you could sense the emotions being expressed. Many movies have dialogue, but this one didn’t, and whenever I thought someone would say something, they didn’t. It felt like nearly two hours of watching people do things without talking, so I was not impressed at all.
Sorry, but I hate to disagree. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I felt like the acting did the talking. And of course, I loved the music and the cars.
…and that’s totally fine too as well. We all have that right to agree – and disagree. 👍
Could it be that I’m the first comment 😌
Alan Ritchson bulked up so much for this role that he’s practically an unrecognizable beast. Originally rolling out on the indie festival circuit last year before getting a wide nationwide release this summer, Motor City is a relentless action thriller that relies almost entirely on visual storytelling—boasting a grand total of just five lines of dialogue. I can see why it was on the 2009 blacklist because there was a lot of interest but the industry kept playing hot potato with it. While my wife found replacing the dialogue over music was overpowering, I actually thought it added a layer to the narrative, driving the emotional momentum. She kept giving signals that she didn’t like it but gave up and instead stated at me like a 5-year kid watching his favorite Saturday morning cartoon mezmorized on what’s on the screen.
Alan Ritchson Is one of my favorite action stars that came out of Smallville. Didn’t like Titans’ TV show much, but love the broken character he played. He is playing Reacher on Prime now, and I love the version he plays over Tom Cruise portrayal. I’m looking forward to The Runner in the fall and the 4th season of Reacher.
Lastly, hands down, the elevator sequence was perfectly choreographed, and easily one of the best action set pieces so far. It’s up to par with Inception’s rotating hallway scene.
Yes – I can agree that Alan Ritchson is a great actor. Love him in Fast/Furious for sure – but this movie wasn’t my cup of “action tea.”
Oh, it’s one of those movies; they are hit or miss with me. Didn’t seem interested in this one.
You are OK to miss it! You aren’t missing anything but someone muttering or even uttering a single damn word!
I actually enjoyed the movie a lot. It was funny; my sister noticed when we were driving home that there really wasn’t any dialogue. I thought the music was the replacement for the dialogue. I enjoyed reading your review, and it’s right on the money. It’s crazy how much the police force was able to get away with, which I agree still occurs. I would give it a 7/10.
Thanks for agreeing with my review—any feedback is always welcomed. Yeah, that music did NOT replace the dialogue at all for me. Not in the least!