Post by mkb on Feb 10, 2022 2:14:46 GMT
Last week, I was lucky enough to see Guillermo del Toro's black-and-white, neo-noir masterpiece, billed as "Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light". It was that good, I had to see it again, but this time, his original colour version, so I could compare.
By a tiny margin, I prefer the monochrome look. It really shows off the gorgeous scene lighting to full effect. But, then again, the use of colour in the other version is a feast for the eyes. You simply have to see both.
This is a work that improves on repeated viewing, because earlier scenes take on additional resonance when you know what is to come.
Like all good noir, themes of sex and sexuality, manhood, womanhood, desire, greed, satiation and loss, all bubble away throughout. This is very much a world where the women hold the cards. The men are pawns. Characters may strive for salvation, but their moral trajectory is pre-determined by their innate nature. At times, it seems the devil himself is being summoned.
Nightmare Alley fully deserves its four Oscar nominations (costume design, cinematography, production design, best film) but was wrongly overlooked in others (screenplay, original score, direction, acting).
Bradley Cooper is a revelation. His tone is pitch perfect for the genre, and his delivery of the final line will leave you reeling. Cate Blanchett excels as the seductive femme fatale. It's the sort of performance to make this queer boy go straight. There's not a bum note from the rest of the cast either.
Nightmare Alley is an exceptional film. One for film connoisseurs, and one that demands to be seen on the big screen.
Five stars.
By a tiny margin, I prefer the monochrome look. It really shows off the gorgeous scene lighting to full effect. But, then again, the use of colour in the other version is a feast for the eyes. You simply have to see both.
This is a work that improves on repeated viewing, because earlier scenes take on additional resonance when you know what is to come.
Like all good noir, themes of sex and sexuality, manhood, womanhood, desire, greed, satiation and loss, all bubble away throughout. This is very much a world where the women hold the cards. The men are pawns. Characters may strive for salvation, but their moral trajectory is pre-determined by their innate nature. At times, it seems the devil himself is being summoned.
Nightmare Alley fully deserves its four Oscar nominations (costume design, cinematography, production design, best film) but was wrongly overlooked in others (screenplay, original score, direction, acting).
Bradley Cooper is a revelation. His tone is pitch perfect for the genre, and his delivery of the final line will leave you reeling. Cate Blanchett excels as the seductive femme fatale. It's the sort of performance to make this queer boy go straight. There's not a bum note from the rest of the cast either.
Nightmare Alley is an exceptional film. One for film connoisseurs, and one that demands to be seen on the big screen.
Five stars.
