MOTOR CITY -- Show Don’t Tell (to an EXTREME)

Review by Steve Barton II

Detroit Michigan is a grand city with a number of notable nicknames and attractions. Whether it’s the storied musical history with Motown or it previously being the automotive hub in America earning the name Motor City. With the city having such a rich history with many highs and lows, it’s often the best choice for the backdrop of your story. When it came to Chad St. John writing his first feature script since 2018, choosing 1970s Detroit at the later end of the auto boom was the only choice. Motor City follows John Miller (Alan Ritchson) as an auto worker who falls for a local gangster’s girlfriend (Shailene Woodley), but Miller is set up for a crime he didn’t commit by the jealous gangster Reynolds (Ben Foster). After serving some time, Miller leaves prison and seeks revenge on everyone who framed him and ruined his life.


Motor City will polarize many audience members right away with its unconventional approach to storytelling. With it looking like a gritty crime drama in the same vein as Tarantino, you’d assume it’d be full of rich dialogue to flesh out the world and the characters. In the case of Motor City, the dialogue is minimal, but you still get enough character development to make a good story. The plot is fully reliant on the incredible ensemble cast of talent with the solid soundtrack to back the scenes. With the mix of 60s/70s hits and Detroit’s own Jack White in control of the music, Motor City finds its own unique identity that makes for a fun experience.

While the dialogue may be almost completely absent, the story still shines through with the cast of talented actors. Alan Ritchson has gone through an incredible transformation as an actor starting as an overly eccentric football frat bro Thad Castle from Blue Mountain State to becoming a leading action man. As John Miller, Ritchson displays his dramatic acting without being able to use his voice at all. His intense looks and hulking demeanor makes his screen presence on a super hero level. The fighting sequences with Alan also looked great and they captured the 70s grindhouse look perfectly. His love interest Shailene Woodley also shows a deeper side to her acting as this complicated woman who just wants to find her true love. She bares more than just her soul in this performance, but her emotional connection with Ritchson felt authentic and real. Rounding out the supporting cast with Ben Foster playing a ruthless criminal and Pablo Schreiber once again playing a dirty cop perfectly encompasses Detroit as a whole. Seeing Ben McKenzie as a heroic investigator will give you flashbacks to the Gotham TV show days.


Overall, Motor City is an excellent film that is driven mostly by its incredible soundtrack and intense visuals that capture the ruthless grit of Detroit. Director Potsy Ponciroli takes a unique approach with the narrative that has been done before, but his style makes the experience unlike most others. With intense action sequences, brutal violence and a strong love story, Motor City has something to offer for most audiences who want original films in the cinema. 


Motor City crashes its way into theaters starting July 24th!


Rating: 4/5