BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE - REPORT CARD

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REPORT CARD

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE:  20^th Century Fox

SUMMARY   Grade = B+	This is a thriller that has everything going for it; a solid story, great acting, fine cinematography and a most excellent soundtrack.  Where it fails is in the editing.  It’s too long.  Easily 30 minutes could be trimmed, making a most noble film.  This will especially appeal to fans of the noir genre.
STARS	Chris Hemsworth; Jeff Bridges; Jon Hamm; Dakota Johnson; Lewis Pullman; Carlee Spaeny; Cynthia Erivo.
TECH FOLKS:	Written and Directed:  Drew Goddard Cinematography:  Seamus McGarvey Editor: Lisa Lassek Music: Michael Giacchino Production Design: Martin Whist
IMPRESSIONS:	This is the second time Goddard has worked with Hemsworth; the first in CABIN IN THE WOODS. It is apparent Goddard fashioned this movie in the style of Quentin Tarantino, complete with grindhouse graphics opening each scene, and sequences designed to reveal the plot, but not necessarily in chronological order.
ACTING Grade = A	The acting is first rate.  It’s tough to beat Bridges and Hemsworth is really stretching out of his Thor pattern.  Most notable are the women actresses, especially Erivo and Spaeny.
SCRIPT   Grade = A	The script by Goddard is solid.  It begins with a vignette from a decade ago, and then shifts to a fateful night where seven strangers, each with a hidden purpose, meet, through circumstance, at a closing hotel.  It is cleverly written with a spicing of humorous one-liners.
TECHNICAL:   Grade = B	The cinematography is great.  McGarvey is one of the finest in Tinseltown.  The soundtrack, with the exception of Deep Purple’s HUSH,HUSH, is comprised of classic Motown hits. The problem is with Lassik.  She’s made the film too long, clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes.  Easily 30 minutes could be edited, making the film tighter and more intense. Goddard, in an effort to be Tarantino-like, falls into Quentin’s trap of not knowing how to trim a sequence.  He needed to corral Lassik more.
RECOMMENDATIONS:	Brace yourself for a long movie.  Once you have, you’ll enjoy this film noir ‘who done it’ immensely.  Most of the unnecessary footage occurs in the opening reels, but the rest of the trip is worthwhile.  You’ll want to see this on the big screen.  It adds an engaging aura TV won’t provide.