4K Digital Review: Nightmare Alley

 

Nightmare Alley is adapted from the novel of the same name by Lindsay Gresham and the basis for the 1947 movie starring Tyrone Power. The 1947 movie is considered to be one of the greatest in film noir. This time is it director Guillermo del Toro's take and it is easily his most beautiful film yet to date.  

The film opens with a mysterious scene and Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is on the run. He ends up at a traveling carnival, where the carnival's barker (Willem Dafoe) finds him a job. Soon he becomes friends with Zeena "The Seer" (Toni Collette) and her husband Pete (David Strathairn) and becomes part of their act. Stanton learns their secrets and leaves with Molly (Rooney Mara), an innocent young women who also has an act at the carnival. 

Less than a decade later, Stanton and Molly have a mentalist act that lures in the socially elite. At one of the shows, they meet Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) who is out to disprove his abilities. Will this be the end of the scam or just the start? This is now a battle to the finish. 

Audio

The Dolby Atmos track is perfect considering the film's genre of film noir.  So don't expect a lot of attention-grabbing sounds but the use of creating depth using the score as well as atmosphere and other sound effects draw you further into the movie without causing any distractions. 

Video

The streaming 4K video is fantastic with incredible detail and visual depth. With the use of many sequences of the film using close-ups the richness of the details shine. The skintones, costumes and sets are superbly rendered. The use of shadows and lighting look very natural. 

Bonus Features

• Del Toro’s Neo Noir – Writer-director Guillermo del Toro and his standout cast decipher the dark, complicated world of Nightmare Alley. The filmmaker reveals how his take on noir is rooted in classic cinema but offers an accessible, modern narrative.
• Beneath the Tarp – Production designer Tamara Deverell and her talented team skillfully delivered both a decaying traveling carnival world and a gilded Art Deco high society with striking visuals. We explore how this design supported del Toro’s genre-bending filmmaking.
• What Exists in the Fringe – Costume designer Luis Sequeira unravels his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro and reveals the symbolism that’s constantly at play in the film’s carefully crafted wardrobe’s design.

Conclusion

Nightmare Alley is a beautiful journey into film noir. The video quality is wonderful and the audio mix draws you further into the film. There is a fair offering of bonus features. You owe it to yourself to add this to your collection.

Nightmare Alley is now available on Digital and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 22. 

*disclaimer: the digital copy was provided to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of review but the opinions are strictly mine alone*

Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 Is The Perfect Start to Summer (Non-Spoiler Review)

The Guardians of The Galaxy are back in a movie that is even more action packed and visually stunning that the first! And at the same time, it is also a more deeply personal story, exploring the ever changing dynamics of the relationships between the characters. We find out even more details about the characters, what truly motivates them and sometimes with very surprising results. This isn't to say that there are role reversals but instead that these are real people with many sides to them.

One of the best things about Marvel is that they love flawed characters and showcase their issues as a conflict between who they are and what they do. Here, The Guardians of The Galaxy fight evil alien creatures and yet at the same time have a strong sense of loyalty.

One of the greatest strengths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is shown here in Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 and it is in the very characters themselves. We love the Marvel characters because of their flaws, they remind us of ourselves, and that maybe, just maybe we can also overcome our own flaws and achieve something more. This movie is more so about family than even the first one. And just like an real family, blood relatives or not, there are times we fight against one another but in the end we work together because we are stronger united.

While all of this deep character development is going on, there is still over the top action and humor that you have come to expect from the first one. If you didn't want all the Groot things before the movie, you will want them after! You will get everything that you expect and more, but the thing you will most remember is what you didn't expect from this movie. The character arcs brings some of the characters closer to one another or further apart. All the returning cast is excellent here. They take to their roles like they have been in them their entire lives. The characters of Nebula and Yondu are the defining arc here. Kurt Russell ass Ego is a welcomed addition to the cast and one can image him as Peter Quill if this film was made in the 1980s.

Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 is a pure joy. The visuals are spectacular, the humor has been cranked up from the first film, and yet it is emotional and full of heart. The nostalgia factor also plays a wonderful role here with great references to the past, Baby Groot is a winner for all age levels, a solid story and summer movie season is off to a flying start!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 - World Premiere Photos

Take a look at some of the photos from the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA!

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is in U.S. theaters May 5!

NEW Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer and Poster - WORLD PREMIERE

Chris Pratt just debuted a brand new trailer for Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! check out the trailer and a new poster!