Hotel Mumbai

Based on true events, Hotel Mumbai follows the staff and clientele of India’s Taj Hotel as they attempt to survive a vicious terrorist attack by several young Muslim men. First-time filmmaker Anthony Maras delivers a slightly overlong yet mostly engrossing drama that isn’t, by and large, an entirely pleasant cinematic experience, as the director employs a violent, gritty sensibility that paves the way for a narrative that’s often as difficult to stomach as it is spellbinding (ie plenty of affable characters die in as brutal a fashion as one could envision). It’s clear that the movie benefits substantially from Maras’ methodical approach to the material and to the various performances, with, in terms of the latter, the picture receiving plenty of mileage out of strong, charismatic work from folks like Armie Hammer and Dev Patel. The occasional reliance on disappointingly didactic elements (eg an old racist lady assumes a Middle Eastern guest is working with the terrorists) is unfortunate, to say the least, and there’s little doubt, as well, that the 123 minute running time ensures that certain sections can’t help but come off as needlessly protracted – which, despite the inclusion of a palpably emotional final stretch, ultimately confirms Hotel Mumbai‘s place as an erratically-paced drama that nevertheless packs an impressively potent punch.

*** out of ****