REVIEW: ASPHALT CITY

4/5

Third Watch

120 Mins. Starring: Tye Sheridan, Sean Penn, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Raquel Nave, Kali Reis, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston & Mike Tyson. Screenplay: Ryan King & Ben Mac Brown. Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. In: Theatres.

The concrete jungle of New York's 'Asphalt City', where dreams are made, but hearts are broken, finally finds its way to Tokyo, Japan, and all surrounding areas in the Land of the Rising Sun. It may have been over a year since its US release, but we should still pay heed to the message made by this film based on 'Black Flies' by Shannon Burke, and that original title from the novel idea. Featuring young star stud Tye Sheridan and the great Sean Penn, the medical emergency of 'Asphalt City' follows the TV drama likes of 'ER' (which was meant to be a movie too, until Steven Spielberg made 'Jurassic Park' on a promise that 'Schindler's List' would be financed), 'Third Watch' and all that Chicago fire and hope. Not to mention 'Tokyo MER', here in Japan and movies like Jake Gyllenhaal's camera cops 'End Of Watch' and his 'Ambulance' heist with Michael Bay. Yet the asphalt of this city haunts even more than Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader 'Bringing Out The Dead' with Nicolas Cage, Ving Rhames and Patricia Arquette.

The red cross of this movie sees a perfect Penn with one to bear here. As expressive as the wrinkles on his weathered and worn face, the 'Dead Man Walking' and 'State Of Grace' star gives a performance you can put right next to 'Mystic River', 'Milk' or his haunted one in 'The Tree Of Life'. About to star In Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' with Leonardo DiCaprio, after PTA's 'Licorice Pizza' with frequent collaborator Alana Haim, Sean sears as a paramedic who has clearly seen way too much on these NYC streets that will remind you of the final lost ride in 'One Night On Earth'. The apple is rotten, and it's too much to bear, even for a doting Dad who just wants to make the world a better place for his daughter. It's no place for a little girl, not even a young man, or rookie medic. As Tye Sheridan (reuniting with Penn after 'The Tree Of Life' as a child, although they didn't share screen time together) shows us the star the 'Ready Player One' player and former 'X-Men' Cyclops was always meant to be. Like his younger, 'Mud' and 'Joe' beginnings, this is his best role since his support in Paul Schrader's 'The Card Counter', as he leads this picture.

In way, way over his head in this brutal, albeit brilliant movie. Sheridan sees the worst of not only society, but those meant to protect and serve it, in a New York minute. Whether he's trying to calm patients, or dogs down, he needs more than patience in this perilous and seemingly futile pursuit, all whilst studying for his MCATs. Although the naked truth of a young love with a single mother played by St. Vincent lookalike Raquel Nave offers some hope in a haunting bathtub, amongst all the lack of humanity displayed towards those just trying to help their fellow man, until they just can't do it any longer. 'Johnny Mad Dog' and 'A Prayer Before Dawn' director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, off a script from Ryan King and Ben Mac Brown, adapted from Burke's 'Flies', explores the effects of psychological trauma experienced by first responders on the heart monitor beat. And it's testimonial tributes and hotlines to call if you suffer from something similar, in the closing red credits across the five boroughs should be heeded, as much as these heroes of the streets should be respected, and helped themselves.

Down in the asphalt, this city also makes room for Gbenga Akinnagbe ('The Wire', 'The Deuce', 'The Old Man'), WBC world champion boxer and 'True Detective: Night Country' standout Kali Reis, and an underused, but still as great as ever Katherine Waterston ('Alien: Covenant', 'Inherent Vice'). Character actor and Leo lookalike with the Brad last name, Michael Pitt has been a standout in everything from 'Boardwalk Empire' to the Hollywood remake of the 'Ghost In The Shell' anime, but right now he is accused of sexual assault. In 'Asphalt' he shows just how bad it can get playing a paramedic jaded into psychosis and a cruel bully with Jon Bernthal in 'Fury' like methods to his madness. The champ, no stranger to his own SA cases, Mike Tyson also appears in a limited, but commanding role as a chief, showing that he can act, even more than his hilarious cameo turn on 'The Hangover'. So, sure, this film has its fair share of problems alongside the depths of darkness in its narrative. Yet nothing beats the reluctant camaraderie built between Penn and Sheridan, from Chinese noodles to the slop of the city. These FDNY responders, showing respect to those who lost their lives on September 11th, give a gruelling and punishing tour of the streets they strive to save. This is real courage under fire. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Ambulance', 'End Of Watch', 'Bringing Out The Dead'.