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:

https://youtu.be/Q81Yf46Oj3s  


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For going on some thirty years now I have done the work of The Virtual Pew, in part planting seeds but another huge part is getting to know people and being called by many Pastor Mike by my involvement in social media. From engaging in life, I have seen the impact of my work on people on the fringes all over the world. I have run homeless programs, housed homeless people worked with drug addicts, prostitutes and much more. All while giving back my salary, and for the last 8+ years not taking a salary. You can help tremendously by supporting the work, not just from the movie reviews but the work that goes along side that in the development of relationships of helping save lives and give purpose to the lives of others. I appreciate your consideration in this calling that I have seen and know God uses. 

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