Watch 28 Hotel Rooms

28 Hotel Rooms from 2012 is an American indie romantic drama that was directed and written by Matt Ross. The film is a unique exploration of a casual fling between two nameless characters, referred to in the credits as "Man" and "Woman." The story follows the couple as they meet for the first time in a hotel room, and then progress to have an occasional affair, visiting different cities over the course of several years.

The plot of the movie is a little unconventional. The film is structured into 28 different vignettes, each a different night from the couple's rendezvous. Each fleeting encounter takes place in a different hotel room, which gives each scene its own unique feel, look and mood.

The film stars Marin Ireland as Woman and Chris Messina as Man, both of whom deliver powerful, nuanced performances. They both have good chemistry that's both believable and unique. Robert Deamer is credited with playing the hotel manager, but his role is so small it hardly matters.

The movie is successful at creating an intimate, realistic portrayal of a romance lacking a concrete path: one that isn't anchored in the trappings of traditional partnership, instead characterized by the fleeting nature of life, which often takes a back seat to work, relationships, and other obligations. 28 Hotel Rooms is an insightful exploration of the modern romantic connection and the complex emotional nature of adult dating.

The film doesn't shy away from exposing both characters' weaknesses and vulnerabilities throughout their secret affair. Several scenes are raw and unflinching, with Man and Woman each exposing insecurities about their jobs, their relationships with their families, and their own self-worth. There is no artifice between them and the viewer- they are shown as flawed humans with the accompanying baggage that comes with.

One of the standout features of 28 Hotel Rooms is the attention given to the presentation of each location: the different cities and hotels. The different hotels act as an extension of each character’s moods, as well as the passing time during the relationship. The lighting and cinematography reflect the varied states of mind and attitudes of the couple in each scene.

Another key feature of the film is its sound design. The score is light and unobtrusive throughout most of the scenes, instead opting to fill the sound with the white noise of hotel rooms, or the natural sounds of the couple's interactions, whether it be the sound of the ocean in one scene or the gentle whirring of a fan. This technique immerses the viewer in the couple’s private moments, making the experience more intimate.

The dialogue in 28 Hotel Rooms is sparse, but when used, it's honest and real. It's impossible not to be drawn into the characters' encounters, as their conversations build depth and familiarity with each other. The lack of names or background knowledge about the characters helps the film to focus much more intently on the connection they share.

In a world of endless romantic comedies, 28 Hotel Rooms stands out for its efforts to portray love the way it is experienced in real life. Ross's preference for subtlety over grand gestures throughout the film makes the moments of true romanticism stand out even more authentically.

In conclusion, 28 Hotel Rooms is an intriguing, subtle, and highly focused indie film that explores the nuances of modern adult romance. The film's emphasis on realistic dialogue, small romantic moments, and the emotions of two flawed individuals, keeps its audience captivated and introspective until its final moments. It's a film that would appeal to anyone looking for a more true-to-life romantic story.

28 Hotel Rooms is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 50.