MovieChat Forums > Nightmare Alley (2021) Discussion > Stellar cast, avoid critic reviews that ...

Stellar cast, avoid critic reviews that give away the plot

posted 3 years ago by MonStar (13552)
4 replies | jump to latest

I saw an early release this week. Recommended.

Based on a 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham, it has a stellar cast that delivers: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Richard Jenkins, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, David Strathairn, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen.

As usual, critic reviews, (including The Hollywood Reporter's linked on this page), give away almost the entire plot. The story starts with Bradley Cooper in a farm house, who quickly finds himself at a carnival in 1938. The noir story develops as he deals with the quirky carny people. It is rated R for violence and runs 2 hours 30 minutes. Excellent cinematography, not for children.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

the 1947 original will be tough to beat.

[–] agentalbert (3388) 3 years ago

This (the new version) was really good. I enjoyed it quite a bit at the theater, and am looking forward to seeing it again when it hits Redbox.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18425) 3 years ago

I think the R rating gave it away that it's not for children.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

i liked the original a lot more.

i've liked a lot of del toro's stuff, loved pan's labyrinth, but i found this took way too much time in the carny section and was far too languid and way too long.

i will give it full credit for a great closing scene. on that score, it really improves on the original. but otherwise i found this to be a pretty big disappointment.