Written by: Kevin Berge
If you told me Jon Hamm was just playing Don Draper again, I wouldn't be surprised. (Image Courtesy of: digg.com)
Quick Take: Bad Times at the El Royale captures a spirit and vibrant energy that is tough to ignore. While its reach exceeds its grasp, it is unlike anything in cinema right now, making it one of the best experiences of the year even in its most uneven moments.
***This review will avoid spoilers beyond the basic set-up of Bad Times at the El Royale. If you plan to see the movie already, I would still advise watching it first as the less you know the better for this wild ride.***
Drew Goddard (The Martian) has often been one of my favorite screenwriters to follow. His work always sparks with an undeniable fire that few others can match up to. Bad Times at the El Royale is only his second directorial effort on the big screen, and it is similar to The Cabin in the Woods in many ways.
This is a film that is first and foremost a mystery but is built on multiple subversive foundations that makes it stand out. It is loaded with fantastic talent while moving an unwieldy pace that is particularly problematic right at the climax. Both are really good films but not quite great.
Bad Times at the El Royale showcases the intersecting tales of a group who all meet up at the rundown hotel, the El Royale. The guests are Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), and, Emily (Dakota Johnson), all greeted by the sole concierge Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman).
Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim Uprising) also play crucial roles in proceedings as the story quickly and viciously turns sour. Loaded with talent and frantically paced, this is a movie that will likely be improved on repeat viewings with so much that can be easily missed.
That said, it's hard to say just how good the movie is. It's certainly intense and enjoyable, but it's also far too long, clocking in at 141 minutes with those minutes felt particularly down the stretch. This is a movie that just tries to do much and could have been edited to be far tighter and more consistent.
Some of that unwieldiness though does have its charms. This is an absurd movie at times. It gets out of control with the climax of the movie just a wild ride of hard to follow twists and turns. Some of the reveals feel totally unnecessary if not counterproductive to the movie going in, but they certainly all fit the atmosphere.
Drew Goddard (The Martian) has often been one of my favorite screenwriters to follow. His work always sparks with an undeniable fire that few others can match up to. Bad Times at the El Royale is only his second directorial effort on the big screen, and it is similar to The Cabin in the Woods in many ways.
This is a film that is first and foremost a mystery but is built on multiple subversive foundations that makes it stand out. It is loaded with fantastic talent while moving an unwieldy pace that is particularly problematic right at the climax. Both are really good films but not quite great.
Bad Times at the El Royale showcases the intersecting tales of a group who all meet up at the rundown hotel, the El Royale. The guests are Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), and, Emily (Dakota Johnson), all greeted by the sole concierge Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman).
Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim Uprising) also play crucial roles in proceedings as the story quickly and viciously turns sour. Loaded with talent and frantically paced, this is a movie that will likely be improved on repeat viewings with so much that can be easily missed.
That said, it's hard to say just how good the movie is. It's certainly intense and enjoyable, but it's also far too long, clocking in at 141 minutes with those minutes felt particularly down the stretch. This is a movie that just tries to do much and could have been edited to be far tighter and more consistent.
Some of that unwieldiness though does have its charms. This is an absurd movie at times. It gets out of control with the climax of the movie just a wild ride of hard to follow twists and turns. Some of the reveals feel totally unnecessary if not counterproductive to the movie going in, but they certainly all fit the atmosphere.
Many actors might have been good for Hemsworth's role, but few can pull off being shirtless all the time like he can. (Image Courtesy of: npr.org)
While everyone is good, the dramatic standout in the film is Cynthia Erivo (Step) who adds a real humanity to her character while also adding some musical backdrop to proceedings that makes the film stand out. On the more wild comedic side, Hemsworth is electric in every scene with Jon Hamm (Mad Men) also hilarious often.
Ultimately, it can be tough to pin down exactly what Bad Times is trying to say because each character has a unique story to tell. They don't come together into a cohesive message, but there's discussion here about corruption, violence, discrimination, abuse, and how we process our own sins.
The most effective focus in the movie is how these different flawed, violent characters rationalize their decisions. Moreover, what pushed them to make these decisions when they knew they were wrong? Goddard digs deep enough on this front to make for some powerful resolutions.
However, it does feel like Bad Times is a bit of a scatterbrained project. The talent is all there. Goddard directs a beautiful and distinctive-looking film with a script that gives the cast a lot to do and would have been just as clever read on a page if lacking the actors' personalities.
The director though still seems to be struggling to find the right balance, showcasing his voice as more than clever ideas brought to life. He's a fascinating creator to watch, but he has not yet found the right balance to put his own ideas on screen with complete cohesion. He has needed other directors to do that for him.
Bad Times is a fun ride that I would gladly take again. It is an exciting mystery thriller that more than does the talent involved credit; however, the film ultimately does not live up to its potential with an unwieldy pace and an overlong run time that comes off as Goddard needing a strong editing voice behind him to cut content.
Ultimately, it can be tough to pin down exactly what Bad Times is trying to say because each character has a unique story to tell. They don't come together into a cohesive message, but there's discussion here about corruption, violence, discrimination, abuse, and how we process our own sins.
The most effective focus in the movie is how these different flawed, violent characters rationalize their decisions. Moreover, what pushed them to make these decisions when they knew they were wrong? Goddard digs deep enough on this front to make for some powerful resolutions.
However, it does feel like Bad Times is a bit of a scatterbrained project. The talent is all there. Goddard directs a beautiful and distinctive-looking film with a script that gives the cast a lot to do and would have been just as clever read on a page if lacking the actors' personalities.
The director though still seems to be struggling to find the right balance, showcasing his voice as more than clever ideas brought to life. He's a fascinating creator to watch, but he has not yet found the right balance to put his own ideas on screen with complete cohesion. He has needed other directors to do that for him.
Bad Times is a fun ride that I would gladly take again. It is an exciting mystery thriller that more than does the talent involved credit; however, the film ultimately does not live up to its potential with an unwieldy pace and an overlong run time that comes off as Goddard needing a strong editing voice behind him to cut content.
