Crisis

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Radio Ballarat and South West Victoria on April 16, 2021.

(MA15+) ★★★½

Director: Nicholas Jarecki.

Cast: Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Lily-Rose Depp, Guy Nadon, Nicholas Jarecki, Indira Varma, Martin Donovan, Veronica Ferres, Mia Kirshner, Kid Cudi.

One man Armie.

Crisis has been an apt name for the circumstances surrounding the release of this earnest opioid drama. As if COVID-related troubles with cinemas and distribution weren't enough, the film has had the additional whammy of finding one of its stars - Armie Hammer - accused of rape and, bizarrely, a predilection for cannibalism.

All this is overshadowing what is a tidy thriller not a million miles away from Steven Soderbergh's 2000 award-winner Traffic. Jarecki's film shares a multi-threaded storyline with Soderbergh's drug-trafficking drama, but is less dynamic and flashy. This quiet approach makes Crisis feel oddly low-key, but helps it avoid a preachiness that threatens to creep in as it spirals toward its surprising conclusion.

The narrative follows three seemingly unconnected lives deeply affected by America's opioid crisis. There's a grieving mother (Lilly), a concerned scientist (Oldman) and a desperate cop (Hammer), with each character taking on the highly addictive scourge in their one way, painting a picture of a war being waged at every level of society.

Crisis bounces quickly between its three threads, and Jarecki layers dialogue over his establishing shots to help keep up the pace. This helps prevent the slow-moving narratives from getting bogged down, while simultaneously allowing each one to breathe, enjoy its occasional moments of silence, and maintain its quiet brooding tone.

The cast takes the material to a higher plane, easily nudging it out of any slow patches or repetition. Lilly is outstanding in a demanding role that has her either in tears or on the verge of tears most of the time. Oldman is also excellent - his subtle behind-the-eyes acting is a joy to watch, and yet another reminder of his greatness.

As for the soon-to-be-cancelled Hammer, he's fierce in a role that could easily have toppled into over-the-top territory. It's a strong, steely performance that mixes enough humanity amid its tough guy desperation. Not so great is his cop partner, played by Jarecki, who is out of his depth alongside Hammer and might want to stick to writing and directing in the future. 

Jarekci's acting aside, he's done a fine job helming this. The story dovetails into a neat ending that blends hope and dread, and is nowhere near as preachy as it could have been, which is a blessing. He also instils a bleakness into every pore of the film, aided by the stark wintery Quebec and Michigan settings. 

Crisis isn't electrifying but it's thoughtful and told in a straight-forward manner. Its broad brushstrokes on the issue paint a quietly compelling portrait of a problem not easily solved. Ironically, this worthy film has been overshadowed by other events in the world - much like the opioid crisis itself.