99 HOMES : Friday 11th December 2015.

'99 HOMES' which I saw on Friday evening is a film of our times that will resonate with any home owner that lived through the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and found themselves on the wrong side of that meltdown, struggling to find work, make mortgage payments and maintain the family unit - particularly those living in the US. Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by Ramin Bahrani this film was made for just US$8M and has seen a limited release only, but has garnered much praise winning the Grand Prix at the Deauville American Film Festival, and screening at the 2014 TIFF and the 2014 Venice International Film Festival where it competed for the Golden Lion.

This film is unlikely to do huge Box Office or even recoup its production budget because it is at times a bleak, emotional thriller that will not be for everyone and doesn't feature any sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, guns, car chases, explosions or acts of violence. What it does offer though is very strong performances, a story rooted in real events, and a thrilling nail biting morality tale that you'll relate to if you have a mortgage, a family and a roof over your head.

The opening scene sets the tone in no uncertain terms as Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) stands inside the home he is about to repossess serving the (former) owners two minutes to gather what possessions they choose before they are arrested for trespassing on the house that the Bank has foreclosed on, and from which they are now being evicted. Needless to say this is a tense situation as the family unit is thrust out onto the street with their worldly possessions by Carver, his men and the local Police in Orlando, Florida where this film is set. Carver is a real estate business man, who before the GFC was selling homes, arranging the finance and doing what most self respecting real estate agents do. But October 2008 changed all that and in the two or three year since he still works in real estate and property development but instead evicts individuals and families from their homes for failing to make the payments. He is cold, calculating, callous and cares not for the plight of those poor souls he evicts instead he is feathering his own nest, making dodgy deals, and scamming the Government and the Banks for what he can out of subsidies, insurance and claims to either re-sell or redevelop those homes that have been repossessed.

One such family is that of hard working building labourer Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) living in the family home with his mother Lynn (Laura Dern) and his only son Connor (Noah Lomax). Working on a construction site, he is told by the site foreman to down tools when the money runs out mid build, and that as a result he has been working for free for the last two weeks with no prospect of getting paid for his work. With mortgage payments to make, no job prospects in the wake of the GFC, and no income the Bank forecloses and Carver comes knocking one day with his guys and the Police to evict the Nash clan and put them out on the street with the two minute warning.

With no choice in the matter but to comply the three are evicted and Carvers gang clear the house and place everything they own out on the street, which if not cleared within 24 hours will be sold and scrapped. The Nash family load what they can into the back of his pick-up truck and check themselves into a cheap motel - full of other families in the same situation. The next day or so Nash discovers that some of his work tools are missing and so goes to the offices of Carver believing that these have been stolen during the eviction process. Nash accuses one of Carver's workers, a scuffle breaks out which Carver intercepts and breaks up, but in doing so Carver is impressed by Nash's fortitude and strength of character and offers him $50 for a quick clean up job in a recently repossessed house, which he reluctantly accepts, needing the cash of course.

This in turn set up a chain of events that sees Nash working full time for Carver - initially on repair and maintenance jobs for cash in hand, but soon this grows into dodgy scams as he rips out A/C units, pool pumps, fridges and other appliances from repossessed homes, so that Carver can claim this on insurance and give Nash a 25% cut. The cheques start to roll in and Nash is over whelmed by his new found 'wealth' asking Carver to keep the money as down payment on the family home he was evicted from in order that he can move back in. Not before too long Nash is conducting evictions just as Carver did and is forcing respectable families out on the street and into that same cheap motel with only a two minute warning. More money rolls in and Nash and Carver become a tight unit as Nash takes on the roll of Carver's Assistant and right hand man.

All this time Dennis has kept from his mum and his son the fact that he is now working for the man that repossessed their home. For legal reasons they have not yet been able to move back into the family house, but this is on the cards as Nash strikes up a deal with Carver to do so. A confrontation however, at the Motel brings the truth to the fore as an evicted family recently arrived recognise Nash and reveals that he evicted them from their home only recently. Publicly Nash denies this claiming a case of mistaken identity, but the evictee is adamant and determined in his claim, which becomes increasingly heated and boils over into a scuffle. This is broken up but Nash is shaken by the experience and comes to realise he is working in an increasingly volatile world, messing with peoples lives and becoming a Carver clone.

Nash comes clean with Connor and Lynn and buys a bigger house down by the waters edge to make a fresh start and appease his family that all is now good, having sold the former family home to do so, now that he has made enough money with Carver to fund the purchase. Lynn and Connor though are far from impressed knowing where these ill gotten gains have come from and at what price. They leave and go to Tampa to stay with Lynn's brother leaving Dennis alone to continue his work.

Meanwhile Carver is finalising a multi-million dollar property deal that could potentially be brought undone by one property owner and acquaintance of Nash who has brought a legal case against Carver that is going through the courts. Carver wins the case through a forged document that Nash has to deliver, knowingly, to the court, which in turns leads them to evict the owner and his family. Upon arriving at the house the now distraught owner is waiting with rifle in hand to defend his land, his property and his integrity. Fearing that this could turn ugly with armed Police now surrounding the property, Nash tales a stand and confesses about the forged document with Carver looking on. The situation is diffused, but at what cost to himself and to Carver?

This is a tense, taught economical thriller that is both a relevant story of our very recent times as it is a character study of what drives men to reach higher and for more at almost any cost. Shannon in particular is excellent in his portrayal of the uncaring, unemotional and calculating real estate agent who has profited extensively from other peoples misfortune. Garfield too is equally strong as the honest, hard working conscientious man that will do whatever is necessary to keep his head above water, a roof over his head and food in the mouths of his family, but still has a moral compass and personal values in the final analysis despite striking a deal with the Devil (in disguise!). Worth searching out for sure.

 
-Steve, at Odeon Online-