License
I looked forward to this week’s Friday night movie fix, courtesy of Netflix by mail. I’ve seen the 1947 version of Nightmare Alley several times and always enjoy it. The 2021 version is darker, more realistic, and completely uncompromising, abetted by the practically unlimited license of the era. Based on the novel by Lindsay Gresham, it is the story of the son of an alcoholic who goes to work at a carnival and finds his calling. He learns how to conduct a mentalist act and eventually leaves to do it in hotels, taking a good-hearted woman with him. He then begins to fleece wealthy, vulnerable souls seeking communication with the dead, aided by an unscrupulous psychologist. Bradley Cooper and Rooney Mara play the couple, Cate Blanchett the icy shrink. The depth of characterization is impressive. Although shot in color, it has all the elements of film noir, the shadows, expert lighting. And the climax is violent. The casting is first rate. Toni Collette, Ron Perlman, Willem Dafoe and David Strathairn are easily imagined as carnies. The latter is particularly outstanding as the drunken mentor. Guillermo del Toro directed and collaborated on the screenplay with Kim Morgan, only her third writing credit. Del Toro received his fifth overall Oscar nomination as co-producer of the flick. He took home the statue for The Shape of Water (2017), which I wasn’t crazy about. Of the works of his I’ve seen, Pan’s Labyrinth (2007) is my favorite, and Nightmare Alley second. 134,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of seven on a scale of ten. Running time is 2:30, 40 minutes longer than the original. It did not fare well at the box office, returning less than $40 million against a budget of $60 million, although I’d bet it has made up a lot of ground in DVD sales and rentals and streaming. It’s probably too dark and bleak for most folks. It’s another film tobacco companies would heartily endorse. Here are the leads in character, photo from Google Images:
The last name of the whacko who attacked Salman Rushdie is “Matar,” which in Spanish means “to kill.” I doubt he’s Latino, though. The author may lose an eye. He is hospitalized and on a ventilator. Iran’s hardline newspapers praise the perp.
Headline from nypost.com: “Arizona to build own wall, frustrated over Biden inaction on border crisis.” If you want something done, it’s better to do it oneself.
This sounds like good news, headline from foxnews.com: “AT A CROSSROADS: Russian troops stuck in vulnerable spot as Ukraine cuts major supply crossings.” Let’s hope they avoid a blood bath by surrendering.
RIP Anne Heche, 53, who had an impressive career despite having always seemed a troubled soul. Born in Ohio, her family moved eleven times in twelve years. Three of her four sisters are deceased. Her father, a choir director, died of AIDS at 45. Her career spanned 1987 to the present, several works to be released posthumously. There are 92 titles under her name. As usual, that does not begin to reflect her success. She was in 71 episodes alone of the Another World soap opera, 35 of Men in Trees, 30 of Hung, and made at least six appearances in ten other shows. Her most notable film role is the wife of Donnie Brasco (1997). She also has five credits as a director, four as a writer, and three as a producer. She created Bad Judge, which shot 13 episodes. She is a mom of two. May she find peace on the other side. She published a memoir. Here’s the cover of the audio version. Photo from GI:
It looked like a goose egg for the floating book shop on this gorgeous day until Monse` came along late in the session on her way for some shopping on Avenue U. She bought a writing guide, although lamenting she probably wouldn’t do anything with it, as usual. There’s always a first time, my dear. Thanks.
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