Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Meet Me at the Oscars, Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley is another visual masterpiece by previous Oscar winner for The Shape of Water, a beautiful tribute of sorts to Creature of the Black Lagoon, Guillermo del Toro. I must admit from the outset, I have been a huge fan of del Toro since his work in Pan’s Labyrinth back in 2006. He is back with a vengeance in Nightmare Alley, the recipient of 4 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Production Design, Cinematography, and Costume Design. In my opinion del Toro was a snub in the omission for Best Director and there is no way anyone is going to convince me that Bradley Cooper didn’t deserve a nomination for Best Actor. Both were not only deserving of nominations imho, but he should also have been a real contender for the award.
Bradley Cooper’s
character is the drifter, Stanton Carlisle who has a past. The viewer knows
something is amiss but can’t quite put it together. Carlisle joins up with a
circus led by Clem Hoatley played nicely by William Dafoe. Carlisle soon joins
up with a carnival doing a mentalism act. During his time in the circus side
show Carlisle continues to carry an air of mystery about him. He is a man who
has been conflicted, but also a man who has learned to use the system to get
the things he needs. He soon falls for another circus performer, Molly Cahill
played by Rooney Mara. The two fall in love and decide to leave the carnival
together, much to the displeasure of some in the circus including her late
father’s best friend, Bruno, the carnivals strong man played by Ron Perlman. Their journey away from the carnival seems to
lead to riches and fame, but they also provide opportunity to get caught up
into the life that has befallen many before them who sought stardom.
The visuals in this movie
and the craftiness of weaving this story together is nothing short of
incredible. This is a movie that for a very brief moment has a lapse, but it
quickly comes back together. It is a movie that if the viewer pays attention,
they will have questions and think a great deal about the characters in the
movie and where they are going. We will have questions about Bradley Coopers
character but rest assured, in the end, those questions are answered.
One of the incredible
things about this movie is its ability to have us questioning what we think is
progress or goals in life. We must question how far we are willing to go. So
many times, we think that our current situation is far from the place we want
to be in life only to later understand and realize that where we were or where
we are, may in fact be the best place we will ever be. While there may be a
desire for fame and riches, the people around us, the basic needs may provide
more joy than we ever realized. There is a price to pay for fame, sometimes the
price we pay will cost us more than we will ever realize. There are images and
thoughts of things that came to my mind like the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible, but in that
story the son realizes the need to go back to the father. What if the son never
returned or didn’t have a loving father to take him back in? In some ways, Nightmare Alley is a proverb
along that thought. In other words, what about the consequences of ones
actions, or inaction?
I loved this film, for
me, it should be one of the strong contenders for Best Picture of the Year.
While it had a moment with a lapse, it quickly came back and now weeks later,
still has me thinking. So far, it’s the only Oscar nominee that I’ve seen
twice, it’s that good. If you appreciate
the concept of thinking and pondering, with a possible life changing area, this
is for you.
On a scale of 1 – 10 for
the one momentary lapse I think the movie is deserving of a very good 9. Watch it, then ponder, can you enjoy the
place you are currently at in life without having to have more?
To see the trailer for Nightmare Alley, click the following:
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