99 Homes and Hemlängtan

Så, let me tell ya, 99 Homes hit like a ton of bricks. Directed by Ramin Bahrani, the man knows how to make a movie, for sure. With Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon at the helm, you’ve got performances that are rawer than a midsummer night’s BBQ. Garfield, poor fella, plays a struggling single dad, while Shannon’s the bloke who kicks folks to the curb in the cutthroat world of Florida real estate. Talk about a dynamic duo.

The story’s stark, no sugar-coating here, and it really took me back to this one time in the 90s. I remember standing outside a flat in Södermalm with my buddy, as he was hit by sudden eviction. We sat on the curb, clutching falafel wraps, and tried to laugh it off, but the reality was as icy as a Nordic winter. 99 Homes digs into that same gut-wrenching truth, and you can’t help but feel for everyone caught in the mess.

Bahrani, the director, not exactly a household name, eh? But this film, it squeezes out every drop of tension possible. The Florida humidity almost seeps through the screen, and by God, there’s a feeling you might sweat along with the characters. The whole film smells like desperation and sun-baked asphalt.

However, there’s a bit of the old exploitation in its intensity. Sometimes, you wish they hit the brakes—not that they ever do. And, as much as the script packs a punch, the end might leave you shrugging. You kinda wish you had a bit more of a resolution. Is it too Swedish of me to want a happy ending?

Let’s face it, for anyone who’s ever feared losing something vital, like a home, this one might leave your heart clanging like a church bell on a Sunday. Good film, tough watch. If you see it, don’t forget to breathe. But then again, that’s life, isn’t it?

Check the trailer below