Nightmare Alley

— An incredible cast under the direction of an incredible director make for a pretty interesting remake of a film-noir drama. You know you’re in something different when, even before the titles roll, two visually-stunning scenes evoke masterpieces (Gustave Caillebotte’s “Floor Planers” and Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World”). From there we plummet into a grimy world of carnivals, magicians, freaks and geeks, violence, and even psychoanalysis. Along the way, we start to think everyone’s pasts and secrets have similarities and are a layer of human nature. The storyline may not be completely original, but the telling is just the right mix of visual elements, sleezy characters, fantasy, and crime. It may be a little “art housey” to have done well at the box office, but it’s nice to see it streaming. [HBO Max and Hulu streaming.]

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[2021. 150 min. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, and Mary Steenburgen.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nightmare-alley-movie-review-2021