Nightmare Alley (2021)

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette

Synopsis:
A drifter joins a circus troupe, where he learns the tricks of the resident mentalist to start his own act.

Impressions:
I haven't been keeping up with recent releases, so I had no idea this movie was being made. I only watched it because I'd seen the original and didn't like it that much, so I wanted to compare and contrast. Had I realized going in that this was a Guillermo del Toro film, that would've been additional incentive. I had to admit that I got the vibe as Del Toro's style is rather distinct. (If nothing else, young Enoch should've tipped me off.) Now, I watched the original just because I'd taken an interest in the work of Tyrone Power and he was the main draw of that film. I have to credit Bradley Cooper's performance as it feels quite different from other roles of his that I've seen. The highlight is the battle of wits between Cooper and Cate Blanchett's characters and I wish this was more the focus of the film. Much as with The Shape of Water, I really like how the time period is brought to life. It's not too often that a remake improves on the original, but I'd say this is one such example. Especially if you're a fan of Del Toro's work, I recommend giving this a watch.

Rating:
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