The Night Clerk (2020): A crime mystery with lots of heart
The Night Clerk, 2020, directed by Michael Cristofer, streamed on Paramount+, 2.5 stars. This indie crime drama is watchable for the strong performances of its lead actors, Tye Sheridan and Ana de Armas. Unfortunately, it didn't stand much of a chance, getting a limited theatrical release right about the time Covid sent everyone scurrying for cover. Sheridan plays Bart, a 23-year-old autistic who works the graveyard shift as a hotel clerk. He places hidden cameras in one of the rooms so he can study people in hopes that he can learn how to function in social settings. He gets into trouble when he sees an assault happening and ends up a murder suspect. The crime plot is fine, it's just kind of there moving along at a snail's pace in the background. The heart of this movie is Bart's character arc as navigates his predicament without admitting to the crime he did commit. De Armas enters the picture as a hotel guest who catches Bart's attention and tries to coax him ou...