Motor City (2026)
6.4 /10
88 Reviews
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In 1970s Detroit, John Miller falls for a local gangster's girl and lands in prison for a crime he didn't commit. With his life ruined, Miller plots revenge against the man who took his girl away.
Videos & Photos
cast
... John Miller
... Reynolds
... Sophia
... Youngblood
... Singh
User reviews
Alfred Hitchcock once declared that filmmakers "should only resort to dialogue when it is completely impossible to tell the story visually" and famously critiqued dialogue-heavy films as merely "photographs of people talking."
However one approaches director Potsy Ponciroli's **MOTOR CITY**, one thing becomes immediately clear: this is a visual story that throws out the rulebook of more traditional action films.
With nearly zero dialogue -- co-star Ben MacKenzie's character never utters a single word -- and an enviable 1970s soundtrack -- Ponciroli picks up Hitchcock's gauntlet and delivers a crowd-pleasing revenge actioner with one of the most talented casts working in Hollywood today.
Brick shithouse Alan Ritchson fills the screen as John Miller with his hulking, brooding presence, carrying nuance like a kettlebell in scene after gloriously action-packed scene from beginning to end. His love interest -- Sophia (played by Shailene Woodley) oozes thoroughly believable onscreen chemistry with Ritchson. Their happy, blue-collar life is suddenly torn apart with a conspiracy to rival Alexander Dumas's ***The Count of Monte Cristo***.
With telling flashbacks and a **SERPICO**-esque glimpse at police corruption in 1970s Detroit, what happens next will slake the thirst of any action fan, as Ponciroli's film rides hell for leather in a relentless and brutal sequence of revenge.
Co-starring Ben Foster, Pablo Schreiber and Lionel Boyce, and a cameo by Detroit's own Jack White (who serves as one of the 28 executive producers) -- **MOTOR CITY** confirms what most action films dare to risk: dialogue is optional when a filmmaker understands how to tell a story visually.
**MOTOR CITY** is sure to divide critics -- and is likely doomed at the box office for the misfortune of being stuck between a rock and a hard place (released between **THE ODYSSEY** and **SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY**) -- yet one hopes it will build on a solid word-of-mouth success and excel once it moves to streaming.
In a "less is more" approach to this revenge actioner -- which is precisely what made George Miller's **MAD MAX: FURY ROAD** and both of Jalmari Helander's much-loved Finnish **SISU** films so great -- **MOTOR CITY** gives audiences a visual feast without holding their hands.
The principal cast offer standout performances -- especially in one memorable, entirely wordless seductive sequence between Woodley and Foster in a late-night coffee shop rendezvous. This is arguably Woodley's best work. Equally impressive, Ritchson cements himself as one of the most watchable actors in Hollywood today.
Reviews of
Motor City
Alfred Hitchcock once declared that filmmakers "should only resort to dialogue when it is completely impossible to tell the story visually" and famously critiqued dialogue-heavy films as merely "photographs of people talking."
However one approaches director Potsy Ponciroli's **MOTOR CITY**, one thing becomes immediately clear: this is a visual story that throws out the rulebook of more traditional action films.
With nearly zero dialogue -- co-star Ben MacKenzie's character never utters a single word -- and an enviable 1970s soundtrack -- Ponciroli picks up Hitchcock's gauntlet and delivers a crowd-pleasing revenge actioner with one of the most talented casts working in Hollywood today.
Brick shithouse Alan Ritchson fills the screen as John Miller with his hulking, brooding presence, carrying nuance like a kettlebell in scene after gloriously action-packed scene from beginning to end. His love interest -- Sophia (played by Shailene Woodley) oozes thoroughly believable onscreen chemistry with Ritchson. Their happy, blue-collar life is suddenly torn apart with a conspiracy to rival Alexander Dumas's ***The Count of Monte Cristo***.
With telling flashbacks and a **SERPICO**-esque glimpse at police corruption in 1970s Detroit, what happens next will slake the thirst of any action fan, as Ponciroli's film rides hell for leather in a relentless and brutal sequence of revenge.
Co-starring Ben Foster, Pablo Schreiber and Lionel Boyce, and a cameo by Detroit's own Jack White (who serves as one of the 28 executive producers) -- **MOTOR CITY** confirms what most action films dare to risk: dialogue is optional when a filmmaker understands how to tell a story visually.
**MOTOR CITY** is sure to divide critics -- and is likely doomed at the box office for the misfortune of being stuck between a rock and a hard place (released between **THE ODYSSEY** and **SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY**) -- yet one hopes it will build on a solid word-of-mouth success and excel once it moves to streaming.
In a "less is more" approach to this revenge actioner -- which is precisely what made George Miller's **MAD MAX: FURY ROAD** and both of Jalmari Helander's much-loved Finnish **SISU** films so great -- **MOTOR CITY** gives audiences a visual feast without holding their hands.
The principal cast offer standout performances -- especially in one memorable, entirely wordless seductive sequence between Woodley and Foster in a late-night coffee shop rendezvous. This is arguably Woodley's best work. Equally impressive, Ritchson cements himself as one of the most watchable actors in Hollywood today.
Make sure you put subtitles on while watching this one. You don't want to miss a thing!! Non stop fun!!
Cast & Crew of
Motor City
Cast
... John Miller
... Reynolds
... Sophia
... Youngblood
... Singh
... Lieutenant Savick
... Porthos
... Aramis
... Athos
... Detective Kent
... Piano Player
... P. Garrett
... Priest
... Dad
... Mom
... Maid
... Bouncer
... Dirty Cop
... The Heavy (uncredited)
... Factory Worker (uncredited)
... Cop (uncredited)
... Funeral Attendee (uncredited)
... Prison Guard (uncredited)
... Pedestrian (uncredited)
Crew
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Writer
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Director
... Stunts
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Production Design
... Costume Design
... Original Music Composer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Designer
... Casting
... Casting
... Set Decoration
... Key Makeup Artist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Post Production Supervisor
... Post Production Supervisor
... Unit Production Manager
... First Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Script Supervisor
... Second Unit Director
... Casting
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Makeup Designer
... Prosthetic Designer
... Co-Producer
... Co-Producer
... Co-Producer
... Associate Producer
... Music Supervisor
... Stunt Coordinator
... Other
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... "A" Camera Operator
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Second Assistant "A" Camera
... "B" Camera Operator
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Second Assistant "B" Camera
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Production Sound Mixer
... Boom Operator
... Supervising Art Director
... Art Direction
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Art Department Coordinator
... Storyboard Artist
... Storyboard Artist
... Storyboard Artist
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Property Master
... Assistant Property Master
... Charge Scenic Artist
... Background Casting Director
... Background Casting Director
... Background Casting Director
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Costume Coordinator
... Wardrobe Supervisor
... Set Costumer
... Set Costumer
... Ager/Dyer
... Truck Costumer
... Hair Department Head
... Key Hair Stylist
... Wigmaker
... Makeup Department Head
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Wigmaker
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Construction Coordinator
... Key Carpenter
... Key Grip
... Best Boy Grip
... Key Rigging Grip
... Chief Lighting Technician
... Best Boy Electric
... Lighting Technician
... Lighting Technician
... Lighting Technician
... Rigging Gaffer
... Production Coordinator
... Assistant Production Coordinator
... Production Secretary
... Unit Publicist
... Location Manager
... Location Manager
... Assistant Location Manager
... Assistant Location Manager
... Location Coordinator
... Location Scout
... Location Scout
... Location Scout
... Transportation Captain
... Transportation Co-Captain
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... First Assistant Editor
... Music Editor
... Senior Colorist
... Finishing Producer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Dialogue Editor
... Sound Effects Editor
... Sound Designer
... First Assistant Sound Editor
... Foley Supervisor
... Foley Mixer
... Foley Artist
... Foley Editor
... Foley Editor
... Foley Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Scoring Mixer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Editor
... Title Designer
... Post Production Accountant
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Executive Producer
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