Prime Time

What's the point of the film? Frankly, I don't know and maybe nobody else does. For a while, it was a family squabble on air then it was briefly about the hostage taker and the hostages. The viewer learns that Sebastian is a kind teenager if a bit unstable. It ends without conveying the point of it all.

Perhaps, the point is the world doesn't give a damn about a teenager and his message as the new millennium is welcomed. Is it a complete waste of time? Yes, it is if not for the praiseworthy acting of the main characters: Bardosz Bielenia, Magdalena Soplawiska and Andrzej Klak.

As I have already said about MONEY MONSTER - a film whch the topic is very close to this one - and another Polish movie released by Netflix last year. LE GOUT DE LA HAINE - French release title - Sidney Lumet's shadow and spirit seems to be in both films. A radical critism of the human world and society, thru networks for instance. Gloomy, depressing but so close to reality.

It works as entertainment and manages to offer quality in the performance.

Although the plot lengthens during the film, it manages to be entertaining. Highlights include the good performances from the entire cast, excellent production design, good photography, good directing, and compelling makeup. On the other hand, the script is not its greatest strength, it does not explain why that happens, there is no development of some characters and others end up discarding them. I feel like there is a message behind it, but it can't be made known.

I like how they apply psychology to the main character, it describes why it is like that but it does not describe why he is doing it, something that you expect throughout the film, although it manages to entertain and to stand out in the technical aspects.

Russian movie?! Obviously, it's Polish. Unless I am missing something.

In "Prime Time" the young Sebastian (Bartosz Bielenia) wants his 15 minutes of fame and glory by taking over a TV station to deliver a message to Polish people on New Year's Eve 1999. As hostages he takes over the TV host Mira (Magdalena Poplawska) and the assistant Grzegorz (Andrzej Klak). Tension arises when the police is called and the armed man is eager with his plan of delivering his message to the point of threats to kill everyone.

Interesting premise with great thrilling moments, "Prime Time" may alienate viewers who expect a more elaborated storyline. The intensity of the man's action gets on the way of finding out what's the message this troubled young man wants to give. And it's thanks to the great Bartosz Bielenia, from the amazing "Corpus Christi" that the movie finds some soul and interest. He's an intense and interesting character who struggles with his problems of speech but he's under control over the situation at the TV station leaving everybody nervous all around. To me, since he doesn't give any reasoning for his actions, we are led to believe it was just a rebelious acts to show how unprepared the police system is in giving a proper response to a hostage situation where he can toy those guys around for hours and get the TV people putting him live with a loaded gun.

Sure, it's obvious one wants to expect more from "Prime Time" but the best you're gonna get is the tension and thrills of the story, going from the hostage situation to the people in the booth control trying to solve the situation. The ultimate conclusion one can get from here it's a story about a troubled young man desperate for attention and that's the only way he can get from people. With a more proper message to leave us in more suspense than the usual thriller routine, this movie would be perfect. I liked it and I don't think it goes to waste but I can understand why it may upset more demanding viewers. The editing is fine, the rhythm is adequate and balanced, and there's even some room for dark humor. The acting makes a more than decent experience. Worth of view. 7/10.