HOTEL MUMBAI * * (Horrifying, disturbing, true terrorist story) The most disturbing thing about Hotel Mumbai" is that it is based on a true story of the attack on the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in 2008. Director Anthony Maras pulls no punches in"
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HOTEL MUMBAI
* * ½
(Horrifying, disturbing, true terrorist story)
The most disturbing thing about "Hotel Mumbai" is that it is based on a true story of the attack on the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in 2008. Director Anthony Maras pulls no punches in graphically showing the horror and unmerciful actions by 10 young Pakistanis with machine guns, grenades and a terrifying voice on a telephone shouting orders to kill in the name of Allah.
Dev Patel is excellent as the hero hotel employee, and Armie Hammer is equally good as the Australian guest. As with most movies of this genre, we are introduced to a few characters, both guests and hotel employees, and follow them through to the bitter end. Some make it; some don't.
While there are terrorist attacks around the city, the movie focuses on the hotel, following the terrorists from floor to floor as they literally mow down everyone in sight. We witness heroism by local staff who truly see the customers as their guests and feel responsible for them, at one point locking many in a tightly secured private club room.
The movie is well made, tugging at your emotions, fears, empathy and compassion. This is not a movie for the faint-hearted. Seeing the killings in living color is a bit too realistic for some (one couple left during the matinee performance).
The fact that these events happened over six hours while the government stood by and watched, waiting for their special forces to arrive, is inconceivable. Joyce and many others would stay away from such a disturbing movie, and I don't blame them.
Rated an enormously big R because of the savagery.
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