Review of Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) by Joshua S — 10 Nov 2018

It's said that once in every director's career, they attempt to remake Goodfellas. I'd argue it's that or Pulp Fiction. Yes, independent directors of the late 90's and early 00's were often quite guilty of trying to emulate Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, giving rise to the term "Tarantino-esque". But that influence survived the era and one can see that in Bad Times at the El Royale. One would assume from the trailer and the first fifteen minutes that you are settling in for a quirky Coen Bros-style film with plenty of colorful characters and awkward violence. Not the case, as we get slow-burn conversations punctuated with sudden violence and plenty of the subtle references to cinema that Tarantino is fond of.

I won't give away the plot, but it revolves around a dilapidated hotel and several criminals who converge on it, for various reasons. Drew Goddard who previously directed Cabin in the Woods and wrote Ridley Scott's The Martian, really expresses great flair here, without overindulgence. Yes, El Royale is perhaps 30 minutes too long, but it earns its extraordinary runtime. The performances are exceptional. Jeff Bridges and Cynthia Erivo have great chemistry, Dakota Johnson plays Chaotic Neutral better than one would expect, Jon Hamm was born to play men from this era, and Cailee Spaeny and Lewis Pullman will surprise you. And Chris Hemsworth essentially dominates as a Charles Manson style cultist. It's not perfect, but it nearly is. The soundtrack is phenomenal, and the aesthetic is that late 50's style Western kitsch found in Fallout: New Vegas or even parts of Fear and Loathing. I don't think it will earn many awards, but it's worth your attention. Break it up into two sessions and enjoy your stay.