Watch New Rose Hotel

In the futuristic world of New Rose Hotel, corporations rule the world through intellectual property rights, and a burgeoning class of "free agents" scour the world for elusive scientific talent. In this world, two such free agents, Fox (Christopher Walken) and X (Willem Dafoe) are hired by a mysterious employer to lure a famous scientist, Hiroshi (Yoshitaka Amano), away from his current employers to a new job at an undisclosed location. The mission is challenging, as Hiroshi is surrounded by a team of bodyguards who are fiercely loyal to his current employer.

Fox and X come up with an elaborate plan, which involves setting up a trap for Hiroshi using a beautiful young woman, Sandii (Asia Argento), as bait. The plan is risky and involves a significant financial outlay, but the payoff could be huge. Sandii, who is shown to be very adept at playing many roles, including a lover, a confidant, and a victim, is selected primarily because of her exceptional beauty and her ability to manipulate men. Her role in the plan is to seduce Hiroshi and get him to reveal his knowledge of a secret scientific discovery that is highly prized.

The movie is full of suspense, intrigue, and double crosses. It is never clear who is telling the truth and who is lying, and each character seems to have completely hidden motives. As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that Fox and X are not the only ones after Hiroshi, and that there is a high-stakes game at play, with many moving parts. The relationship between Fox and X is also of particular interest, as it seems that they were once close friends, but their relationship has soured for reasons that are never fully explained.

One of the most striking features of the movie is its use of color and imagery. The neon-lit streets suggest a world that is both exciting and dangerous, while the flashes of red and green imbue the movie with a distinctive visual style. The music, too, is fittingly atmospheric, with thumping beats and ominous, pulsating sounds that build suspense and tension.

The characters in the movie are all expertly played, with Walken and Dafoe shining in their roles as the seasoned free agents who know the game inside out. Argento is equally impressive, bringing a kind of feral energy to her role as the young woman who is both victim and predator. Together, the trio create a sense of unease and unpredictability that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.

The movie's themes are also interesting, exploring issues of identity, memory, and desire. Sandii's character in particular is fascinating, as she seems to embody a kind of ultimate fantasy, simultaneously embodying innocence and corruption, seduction and danger, and ultimately proving to be an elusive and enigmatic figure. The movie's treatment of these themes is never heavy-handed or dull, instead allowing the story to unfold organically while leaving plenty of room for interpretation.

In conclusion, New Rose Hotel is a tense, stylish and thought-provoking movie that explores some of the most pressing issues of our time. Its characters are intriguing and expertly played, and its visual style and music make it a feast for the senses. Whether you're a fan of sci-fi or just looking for an engaging and intelligent thriller, this movie is definitely worth a viewing.

New Rose Hotel is a 1998 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1 and a MetaScore of 31.