A man plays the cards that are given him in Nightmare Alley, the latest from co-writer/director Guillermo del Toro.
This is another stab at adapting the book of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, which was first done in 1947 but proved too sordid for the time. Sure, it was the height of film noir, but shady dealings at a carnival, nightclub, and psychiatrist’s office by a lone man with seemingly no morals? It was too much!
Now, though, the scheming Stan will fit right into our film world. Starting out as a carnival barker but dreaming of bigger things, he charms and swindles his way out of the side show and into the company of those who are his ruthless equals (or so he hopes). Underestimating any of his new associates would be big trouble, but the tightrope he walks seems to thrill the cunning man.
The story may be fit for our time but it’s a curious one for del Toro, whose specialty is finding beauty in monstrosities. It would be difficult to find a silver lining to Stan and his associates, but then again, the story could appeal to del Toro’s love of a classic story. The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, and even Pan’s Labyrinth are all rooted in classic storytelling premises, and Nightmare Alley, underneath all the grime, is as well.
Staring as the shifty Stan is Bradley Cooper, who hardly needs the career turn the 1947 version provided for Tyrone Power, but it’s still a good role for him to sink his teeth into. Co-starring with him is the requisite A-listers for such a high-profile project, including Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, and Toni Collette.
Obviously, some money was thrown around for this adaptation, and if you should trust anyone to turn that into cinema gold, it should be del Toro.
Nightmare Alley is directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, and Cate Blanchett. It will be released in the US on December 17th, 2021, and in the UK on January 21st, 2022. For international release dates, click here.
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