Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)'s comments

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Forzelius

I think the writer-director wanted to push through one too many ideas and storylines without fully developing them to make them interesting. The FBI and the cult-ish angle could've been more thought out.
The ending or rather the last third also fizzled out for me a little but overall it was enjoyable.

5 years 4 months ago

Siskoid

Bad Times at the El Royale is set in a hotel literally sitting on the state line between California and Nevada, introducing the concept of duality from the beginning. The end of the trendy 60s and start of the corrupted 70s, red and black, rain and fire, good and evil... and the duality within as well. No character here is what they seem at first, or even at second, if you'll pardon the expression. So I don't want to say too much because almost everything is meant to be a surprise. But it is about making choices. While one character says choosing right and wrong is merely a distraction perpetrated by those on high so they can take advantage, I think the film itself has a different opinion, and ultimately this Coen-sized fiasco story belongs to lounge singer Darlene because she gets the best speech, a bold choice of sorts that sends us into the climax as surely as if she'd been the action hero of the scene. So while this is a perfectly entertaining and gorgeous-looking ensemble crime picture, it's also about something more. About American amorality, false prophets, and ultimately, what it means to do the right thing.

5 years 6 months ago

Emiam

7+/10
What a nice movie - see it if you can! Nice tempo, nice music, nice dialogues, nice actors. Unpredictable, different and exciting all the time. This is the safest minus four I ever sat, hence the plus! ;)
How can this NOT be in any film toplist?!

3 years 2 months ago

Withnail33

A lot of Tarantino influence in this one. Goddard's new film starts out good and is quite entertaining for the first act. But the film loses steam as character's backstories are delved into for too long and it starts to get predictable once Chris Hemsworth's character shows up. The film jumps around too much in terms of settings when it really needs to focus more on the El Royale.

The character of Darlene Sweet was, in my opinion, a little too simple. I wanted to see her have an ulterior motive or a dark past. She has a great voice and Goddard wanted to display this but I feel it was a bit overused at times.

None of the cast members really stood out to me. Jeff Bridges was alright and Cynthia Erivo (Darlene) was good but there wasn't really an actor that elevated themselves above the rest.

An entertaining movie but a concept and plot that has been done numerous times, some even better than this. Give it a go if you want a decent movie to watch or if you are a fan of Drew Goddard which is why I went.

5 years 6 months ago

monclivie

Could be much better without Dakota Johnson and all the things going wrong all the time in an extremely contrived way. How dumb can an FBI agent be, and how awesome is Billy's logistics?

1 year 7 months ago

Sk1337

Really enjoyed this one. Although it has a a long runtime, i kinda wish it had a longer runtime to look more into each individual charachter. Specificly Hemsworth and Hamm’s characters

4 years 6 months ago

richjenkins28

I really enjoyed the first probably 2/3rd of this movie but then spoiler

Still probably worth a watch though because I really did enjoy the first 2/3

9 months 2 weeks ago

Earring72

Underrated stylish crime drama. Strangers meet in a hotel but nothing is what it seems. Good stuff. A bit too long but looks and sounds great. Cast is clearly having a ball.

2 years ago

BadFluffy

Struggles a bit in the last act after Hemsworth drops in and starts chewing the scenery. Maybe the last part could have brought more tension with proper casting for that crucial part.

3 years 4 months ago

ikkegoemikke

The El Royale is a bi-state establishment.
You have the option to stay in either the great state of California…
or the great state of Nevada.
Warmth and sunshine to the west…
or hope and opportunity to the east.
Which would you prefer?

Let me get straight to the point. Yes, this film by Drew Goddard refers to several masterpieces from the past. And yes, it has the atmosphere, story structure and the look of a Quentin Tarantino film. You will probably read this on every movie site. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Does this mean Goddard doesn’t have his own style? Is it necessary to compare a brilliant film such as “Bad times at El Royale” with Quentin Tarantino’s oeuvre? Personally, I don’t think so. When I get sucked into the story while watching this film, just like “The Hateful Eight” did with me, then this is a merit of Goddard himself. If a movie succeeds in keeping my eye fixed on the screen for more than 2 hours, then it’s worth a compliment. And when one compares it with another grandmaster, I guess it’s a compliment for both of them. I’m sure Tarantino will like this film as well.

In any case, the location where the story takes place is in itself already original. A captivating motel/hotel built on the border between Nevada and California. You cross the border, as it were when you walk from the reception to the jukebox. And different laws are applied in every part of this unique hotel. But since a while, it’s abandoned. Far away from other metropolises so consequently it’s also cheaper. In earlier times though, the “El Royale” was a secret location where public figures stayed over for a night and where they could engage in rather appalling practices, far from civic life. This is where the entire story takes place. A story with different storylines with each time a character in a leading role who happens to looks quite ordinary at first acquaintance. As the film progresses, it turns out they all have their own hidden agenda. And all these storylines are entwined with each other until it finally ends in a rousing apotheosis.

So, it’s not a secluded cabin which is unreachable thanks to excessive snowfall (I know. I’m comparing again). And the pawns that are set out at the beginning (like in a game of Cluedo) are a priest (Jeff Bridges), a soul singer (Cynthia Erivo), a vacuum cleaner salesman (Jon Hamm), a rebellious young lady (Dakota Johnson), and a shy young receptionist (Lewis Pullman). A grab-bag of people who apparently happen to spend the same night in El Royale. After the introduction of the characters, the film is divided into episodes and a fragmentary web of storylines arises in which the dark secret of each character comes up. And before you know it, the vacuum cleaner dealer is someone who resembles a secret agent, the priest is looking for something more valuable than God’s message, the rebellious lady is on the run from someone devilish and the receptionist has a past full of victims. Only the soul singer seems authentic and has a damn good voice.

Maybe it sounds a bit vague. But believe me: the less you know, the better. I was surprised again and again by the various twists. And those twists sometimes come from an unexpected angle. It wasn’t only the way of filming that pleased me, but also the subtlety with which it was all interwoven. Some story elements were shown from three viewpoints. Time and time again in a new storyline. Normally this could lead to confusion. But here it fits perfectly. And this all in a typical 60s setting with accompanying props, appropriate clothing and a Wurlitzer that produced that distinctive Motown sound. Take “Pulp Fiction”, “Twin Peaks” and “The Hateful Eight” and you get a movie like “Bad times at El Royale” after a good shake-up. Simply wonderful.

Let’s talk about the renditions. Actually, there is no character that disappointed. Each has his/her reasons for being there and has his/her own personality traits. It was clear from the beginning they were all enjoying themselves while playing their part. Once more the acting of Jeff Bridges as a priest was a joy to watch. Even though he talks as if he’s nibbling on chewing tobacco or a hot potato as in “R.I.P.D” and “Seventh Son“, I simply thought he was sublime as the priest with Alzheimer’s. And certainly, the interactions between him and Cynthia Erivo are simply great. She also has a beautiful voice that came in handy in a specific splendid scene.

Personally, I thought Lewis Pullman was the most imaginative character as the labile receptionist. And Dakota Johnson not only had the most titillating body contours, but she also took on the most insane part. And finally an honorable mention for the admirable performance by Chris Hemsworth (he’s forgiven for his role as Kevin in “Ghostbusters“). He’s a cult leader who shows up as a dead calm Jim Morrison-like creep (Watch him dance). The beginning of an out of control denouement.

“Bad times at the El Royale” is definitely recommended and is not boring for a second. I thought it was an original tinkered story that ends in a shrewd way. Add to that a top cast and an atmospheric décor that is put in the picture with the help of masterful footage, and you can be sure that you’ll enjoy the full two and a half hours. And claiming that the film is right up Tarantino’s alley, certainly is true. But to assert that it’s a shameless imitation, I find a little bit exaggerated and a typical sour note from a sourpuss.

More reviews here

5 years 2 months ago

ucuruju

Better than Four Rooms at least— but a far cry from Pulp Fiction. Seems like a script that was written in the late nineties when Tarantinoesque was still a popular term among film critics. It starts off great, with lots of mysteries to discover, but tangles itself up in so many plot lines that it has to blow the whole thing up with a fiery climax and phony sentimentality just so that the movie can end. The worst thing about it is Chris Hemsworth as the cleanest hippie cult leader you have ever seen. Everything in this movie is fake, but his storyline is the one that seems to me the most artificial. All in all this was good and I’d recommend it. Just bear in mind that it is loooong and -when you think about it- about as dumb as your average blockbuster.

2 years 1 month ago