#btater

Writer-director Drew Goddard apes every Tarantino trick in the book except for virulent racism, and weaves a tale of some good people with bad pasts, bad people with bad pasts, and some people that live somewhere in between all running into each other one dark and stormy night. Everyone’s got a secret, but not as many secrets as the El Royale herself...and as they say, secrets secrets are no fun, secrets secrets hurt someone. Pretty sure the pile of dead bodies this movie racks up would agree.

Some thoughts:

The movie’s strongest asset is its cast, and, given the 2 hr 21 min running time, each of them gets the chance to shine brightly. None moreso than the standouts Cynthia Erivo as a lounge singer trying to make her way in a hostile industry, and Chris Hemsworth as Billy Lee, a charismatic and deeply violent cult leader who acts as the nitroglycerin in the film’s explosive third act. Erivo is radiant, and actually gets the chance to show off her incredible singing skills, which is a rarity in movies that cast Broadway musical stars. Hemsworth is - well just look at him up there! He’s oily, volatile, completely unhinged, and absolutely magnetic. You can’t take your eyes off him, and I promise it’s not just because of the abs. (Not that they hurt, cause like DAMN).

Also I’ve always told myself “I’m too secure and independent to ever be vulnerable enough to join a cult” but if Chris Hemsworth looked at me that way...bitch, i might be.

Shoutout also to Jeff Bridges, whose scheming and conniving are underpinned by an actual heartbreaking confession of vulnerability - a vulnerability that allows him to start a beautiful and begrudging partnership with Erivo. Their dynamic is the emotional through-line of the movie and it’s STRONG.

The soundtrack, mostly of 60s era doo-wop and Motown hits is incredible at building atmosphere, and at times, dread. Its as much a character as the seven strangers, and is incorporated into the tension and rhythm of more than one scene in ways I just don’t see directors taking advantage of that often. Really masterfully done.

I wish the pacing had been just a hair tighter. Letting everything spin out gradually is a boon to all the performances, but it definitely feels like it takes us awhile to get anywhere and then we have to double back at multiple points for all the puzzle pieces to fit together. I think some good editing could have made the whole thing feel tighter, and less lethargic in places.

Mini Parks and Rec reunion with Nick Offerman and Jim O’Heir in bit parts! I’ve actually met Jim O’Heir and I am just so happy he keeps getting character actor work because he is the nicest, sweetest man. Go Jerry!

I wish the ending of the climax hadn’t felt quite so deus ex machina - even the tiniest bit of foreshadowing would have made that puzzle piece stick a little bit more easily - but it was certainly satisfying and explained a lot about Miles’ character, even if it was a bit too out-of-nowhere.

I’m so happy to see Dakota Johnson in something other than Fifty Shades and learn that she actually can do some acting!