Write what you are looking for and press enter to begin your search!

Logo
live-news-icon

Live News

Tekken 8 Eddy Gordo Trailer Reveals The Capoeira Fighter Arriving Next Week: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here // LEGOLAND Malaysia Brings Raya Theme To The Park & The World’s First LEGO Friends 4D Movie Premiere: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here // New Visions Of Mana Trailer Showcases Elemental Combat & Characters: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here
post-16 post-13

Nightmare Alley’s Noir Tale Burns Bright & Really Slow

If there’s one thing you can fault auteur filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, it’s his indulgence. The man is known for lavish setpieces and ephemeral shots and cinematography, but his penchant for handling talking heads can drag a bit.

Juggling Act

This is definitely exemplified in his remake of the 1940s novel and film Nightmare Alley. There is really no fault in the casting here. Bradley Cooper plays an aspiring grifter and con artist named Stan, learning the tricks of the trade and rising to the top of society. Rooney Mara plays the moral compass love interest and circus act assistant Molly to try to get his act straight at times. Cate Blanchett steals the scene as the psychologist Lilith who ends up in the middle of it all during Stan’s time with fame and high society, as well as instigates Stan to pull off a bigger con.

The soundtrack also bears mentioning. The menacing score of Nathan Johnson is just as ominous as the storm clouds and rain in the film’s noir setting, which is just lavishing to absorb and behold thanks to Toro’s direction.

Freaks & Geeks

Unfortunately, Nightmare Alley’s ephemeral vision is the contrast to the film’s narrative and pacing. The more beautiful and alluring the film is, the more tedious and bloated the film shows itself to be. While the backdrops and literal alleys speak for themselves, the characters aren’t as fleshed-out as you would think, coming off as just enhanced tropes you’ve seen in thrillers and film noir made for the generation. The show really needed to be trimmed and tightened up from its 2 hours and 30-minute runtime, with the second act being the main culprit, though it does pay off at the very end.

Still, you can’t fault Guillermo del Toro for sticking to the trappings of the original 40s film. At the very least, Nightmare Alley is a lavish and meaty remake that could lose its many moments of self-indulgence. Still, a middle-tier film in Guillermo’s portfolio is still a better and memorable cinematic experience in general, at least for the start of 2022. Just prepare to steel yourself for a slow burn of a flick if you’re planning a trip to this alleyway.

Final Score: 70/100

Related News

post-07
11 Things I Love & Hate About The New Mortal Kombat

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: NetherRealm-branded 2D fighting with ninjas Right from the game's launch trailer (which came out days before...

post-07
Godzilla Vs Kong Delivers The Epic Titanic Clash We All Wanted

The titanic clash decades in the making has arrived. The last time that the two iconic movie monsters met was in 1962's King Kong Vs Godzilla and that...

post-07
LTTP: CrossCode

In our last LTTP column where we talk about games we missed a year ago, we talked about an anime game in Yakuza clothing. This week, we have an indie ...

Write a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tournament Tool Kit

Kakuchopurei Community