Asphalt City

 

        This is a hard hitting new drama taking us very realistically inside the world of EMT's. While "Bring Out The Dead was similar in structure, this film plays almost like a documentary with unrelenting closeups and non-stop action driving call to call.

         Sean Penn stars as the veteran EMT, Gene Rutkovsky (Rut, for short) and Tye Sheridan plays Ollie Cross, Rut's new rookie partner. The film also co-stars Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston (in a one scene cameo), Raquel Nave, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Mike Tyson (in a credible role), and Kali Reis. Ms. Reis (so good recently in "True Detective: Night Country") is almost unrecognizable as a addict who has just given birth by herself in a shelter.

          Director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire's "in your face" hand held camera works puts you riding along inside the ambulance and right in the middle of the emergency calls. It is breathtaking but at the same time, very difficult to watch. The territory is East New York and the majority of the people they try to help are not easy going or friendly. No one looks like actors. It's all seems very real and at times, scary to see what these people go through on a daily basis. It is a harrowing film.

           There is little dialog for the first half of the film but slowly we begin to learn more about Rut and Cross. Cross meets a woman at a Rave and finds a sexual outlet for his pressure. Rut visits with his ex-wife to see his little girl. These short interludes give way to the job and it's not long before they are back making life and death decisions, doing their best to keep people alive, whether they think they deserve it or not.

           The film is dedicated to all the EMT's and first responders who work tirelessly trying to save lives and in the balance, many times lose their own.