View Poll Results: Yay or Nay?

Voters
8. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yay

    5 62.50%
  • Nay

    3 37.50%
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Nightmare Alley (Guillermo Del Toro)

  1. #1
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Denver
    Posts
    30,597

    Nightmare Alley (Guillermo Del Toro)


    Barbarian - ***
    Bones and All - ***
    Tar - **


    twitter

  2. #2
    Producer
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    2,936
    In term of GdT's too-slick prestige phase, I like it slightly more than The Shape of Water, since the director is more at home with dark descent than fairy-tale transporting. There are stretches here (often crossing the line over into drags) that it feels even mesmerizing to luxuriate in a gorgeous, expensively made production of paradoxically such cynical, bleak material. 6.5/10
    Midnight Run (1988) - 9
    The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) - 8.5
    The Adventures of Robinhood (1938) - 8
    Sisters (1973) - 6.5
    Shin Godzilla (2016) - 7.5

  3. #3
    A Platypus Grouchy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    9,853
    Having seen the original recently (it's free on YouTube) I can confidently say this is a wonderful remake or re-adaptation, keeping everything that's unique, twisted and morbidly appealing about the story while significantly expanding on the character development and motivations. I impulsively bought a ticket because I had a few hours to spare and didn't realize the version still on theaters is the black and white one. While it grabbed me all the same, I have to say I owe myself a rewatch now because I kept wondering how each scene and set piece would look in color.

    One thing that tickled me a bit is the wonderful use of typecasting - it actually saves a lot of time to have every talented actor portray exactly the type of role he's most famous for, and I can picture Del Toro watching Carol or Mindhunter and going "I need Blanchett and Mara in period costumes" or "I need Holt McCallany as a tough bodyguard".

  4. #4
    A Platypus Grouchy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    9,853
    Just watched this again in color and I can confirm I missed a lot in theaters - not really convinced the black and white was a good idea here despite the film's noir roots. I can also confirm I much prefer the "pure" genre Del Toro films (like this and Crimson Peak) to those that combine Horror elements with uplifting drama like The Shape of Water.

  5. #5
    Very, very dull. Del Toro has taken 50s noir and embalmed it.
    Last 10 Movies Seen
    (90+ = canonical, 80-89 = brilliant, 70-79 = strongly recommended, 60-69 = good, 50-59 = mixed, 40-49 = below average with some good points, 30-39 = poor, 20-29 = bad, 10-19 = terrible, 0-9 = soul-crushingly inept in every way)

    Run
    (2020) 64
    The Whistlers
    (2019
    ) 55
    Pawn (2020) 62
    Matilda (1996) 37
    The Town that Dreaded Sundown
    (1976) 61
    Moby Dick (2011) 50

    Soul
    (2020) 64

    Heroic Duo
    (2003) 55
    A Moment of Romance (1990) 61
    As Tears Go By (1988) 65

    Stuff at Letterboxd
    Listening Habits at LastFM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
An forum