Motor City Review

In 1970s Detroit, Miller (Alan Ritchson) falls for a local gangster’s girlfriend. After emerging from prison, he vows to seek vengeance against the crime boss who tore his life apart.

Both Ben Foster and Alan Ritchson deliver career-best performances as two men bound by vengeance and love for the same woman, Sophia (Shailene Woodley). Ritchson, long underrated in Hollywood, finally proves he has the gravitas of a leading man. With minimal dialogue, the film relies heavily on facial expression, music, and silence — elements that together hold the audience in a hypnotic grip.

For a film to truly stand out, it needs to excel beyond its surface — and Motor City does exactly that. With so few words spoken, the visuals must carry the story, and they absolutely do. The action sequences are electrifying, with one standout set piece ranking among the goriest and most memorable in recent action cinema.

Motor City still: Ben Foster and Alan Ritchson

Motor City isn’t a reinvention of the genre, but it’s distinct for its operatic, music-driven presentation. The film unfolds like a violent ballet — equal parts music video and tragic opera — showcasing an unexpected elegance beneath its grit and bloodshed.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review by: Stefano Bove

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