Monday Movie Review: Bad Times at the El Royale

Hooray,  Its Monday. That means like most of you, and the rest of the free world, I got to hit the theaters over the weekend. I like to do this every weekend. I wanted to take a little bit of time to tell you my experience at the movies. Just a minute to shed a little insight and perspective on Hollywood’s latest hit. Seeing a great movie in the theater can be a life altering experience. It can also be an easy way to waste a couple of hours and 30 bucks. My hopes is that with a quick review, from this self proclaimed movie connoisseur, I can save readers  a few hours.  Or better yet, possibly change a few more lives. Last night I caught Bad Times at the El Royale.

Bad Times at the El Royale is a suspense thriller set in the El Royale hotel. Written and Directed by Drew Goddard ( Lost, Cloverfield, The Martian, Daredevil series, and The Cabin in the Woods) He is very, very  good.

For a quick summary, The El Royale is run-down hotel that sits on the border between California and Nevada. It soon becomes a seedy battleground when seven strangers — a cleric, a soul singer, a traveling salesman, two sisters, the manager and the mysterious Billy Lee — converge on a fateful night for one last shot at redemption before everything goes wrong.

Bad Times at the El Royale 83% Life Altering

For starters it has got Jon Hamm. He steals the opening scenes almost immediately and sets the stage for a fantastic movie. The Story is toned a little slow purposefully with quick, violent, unexpected pops and twist. Each character is mysterious as the El Royale itself. Any and all foreshadowing is very subtle and does not overexpose the film.

Everyone in the film is fantastic. They each own their characters and bring the depth to the next level. Jon Hamm takes a slight step from his usual stoic role to be a little more of a wild card. Jeff Bridges, the master, the dude, does exactly what Jeff Bridges does. A consummate professional that instantly makes any character he plays better. Cynthia Erivo is beautiful, talented singer named Darlene Sweet. Cynthia’s performance is ernest, delightful and on point. She is Darlene.

Chris Thor Hemsworth

Enter in Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson and little Boots just to pepper the steak. It is fascinating the blend of story, visuals and characters. It’s done in such a way that movies just don’t take the time to do anymore. Then just when you think you can come to a conclusion about a small character it swings back adding in another set of fun emotions.

The only thing negative I can say about El Royale is that it at time does get slow and drags, but I can’t say that those scenes are not brilliant and needed. I loved the set up plot drivers that don’t get answered, It does not tie in to a neat little package. Or pretend to add some insight and perspective about our lives. For example the content of the mysterious tape, for one, was never shown directly to audiences in the crime thriller. Because? Who cares? Who cares what was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction? It just is  Bad Times at the El Royale and nothing more.

The Final Thought

Ive kept it quite vague intentionally, its to much fun to not let you experience it for yourself. All you know watching this is that you know nothing. Something is going on, something is gonna happen but what, who or why? All you know is it is going to be a bad night. It starts to feel a little Tarrentioish but snaps in to its own place and rocks it. It’s a Movie for movies sake with nothing to say but a good show. If you like Movies its an instant classic.