The Motel Life (2013)

If you’re looking for a break from the regularity of your life by escaping into a movie, then check in to Grand Hotel (1932) with John Barrymore; Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby; The Hotel New Hampshire (1984) with Rob Lowe; Bed & Breakfast (1991) with Roger Moore; Hotel (2001) with Rhys Ifans; or The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) with Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson. That’s not to overlook The Motel Life (2012). Loosely based on Willy Vlautin’s same-named novel, this mystery movie follows brothers Frank (Emile Hirsch) and Jerry Lee (Stephen Dorff) Flannigan. The two live on the fringes of society, working odd jobs, drinking hard, and jumping from one cheap motel to another throughout the sparsely-populated areas of Nevada. Things get really difficult when Jerry Lee hits a boy on a bike and flees the scene, forcing the siblings to head across the state to hide out at the home of Frank’s old gal pal Annie (Dakota Fanning). In an effort to deal with their emotions, the brothers ditch their wayward lives through Frank’s storytelling skills and Jerry Lee’s animation. While the brothers seem to be safe from the long arm of the law, their all-consuming guilt begins to darken their future. On the bright side, we are treated to a clear view of Mr. Hirsch’s hairy chest. If that’s not uplifting enough, we can also glance at Mr. Dorff’s naked T&A and underwear. We’d like to see if there’s vacancy there!