In the opening scene of “The Motel Life,” Jerry Lee (Stephen Dorff) barges into the motel room he shares with his brother, Frank (Emile Hirsch), and declares that they need to leave. The Flannigan brothers pack up their few belongings and race to the car. On the ride out of Reno, Jerry Lee reveals he hit a young boy and killed him.
Frank and Jerry Lee have been on their own since early adolescence when their mother passed away. About six months later, the boys tried to leave town by jumping onto a freight train. In this attempt, Jerry Lee lost a leg. Frank has been his brother’s caretaker ever since. As a way to deal with the difficult situations they have encountered, Frank tells Jerry Lee elaborate stories.
Based on Willy Vlautin’s novel by the same title, the Flannigan brothers’ story is artfully told in film using both live action and 2-D animation. “The Motel Life” is about the power of storytelling and the depths of brotherly love. Jerry Lee and Frank’s characters dominate the film, supported by Dorff and Hirsch’s masterful performances. Although a smaller character, Dakota Fanning, who plays Frank’s ex-girlfriend Annie, gives a stunning performance. Her acting steals the show, and Annie is possibly the most mature and challenging role thus far in Fanning’s adult career.
The film has some great scenes that are moving and raw. In the most memorable one, the audience painfully watches Frank bathe his disabled brother. However, there are also a lot of scenes that could be shortened or cut completely. The slow pace fits the naturalistic style, but at times “The Motel Life” is just too slow to hold one’s interest.
Grade: B Rating and Runtime: R, 85 minutes See if you liked: “The Fighter”
