The title of the film Bad Times At The El Royale (2018) rather translates as “Bad times at The El Royale”, but the translators of the rental version did their job like this: “Bad Times at the El Royale”, they are partly right, of course. A promising poster, movie reviews were full of messages that it looked like Tarantino. Yes, there are similarities with “Four Rooms” and “The Disgusting Eight”, but in comparison with the first film, the local porter lacks some kind of character, and with the second, the similarity is only in the plot plot: the main characters all gradually gather in one place, and the action seems to take place in this rather limited space. But the film still didn’t turn out to be hermetic: occasionally the action leaves the hotel in the heroes’ memories.
For some reason, the very first scene of the film immediately made me think about the cliches in all thrillers – well, you don’t have to go to the door, look through the peephole and open it without hitting anyone, usually followed by shooting. After all, it always comes out that way, according to the laws of the genre. The gun that should go off has long been in someone’s hands.
Добряк-священник и соул-певица
One of the memorable moments is how the Black woman Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo) sings and beats the beat, clapping her hands, while the holy Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges) at the same time, in order not to be discovered, knocks with a hammer, imperceptibly opening the floor in the room. Gray-haired Flynn solves his problems with a glass of whiskey, but overplays the role of a priest: a kind-hearted old man arouses suspicion, especially with his persistent courting of a soul singer. And this episode is about her musical career? As I understand it, she eventually decided to move on her own, without resorting to the ambiguous services of an entrepreneur?
Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) portrays some semblance of Charles Manson, pushing “family” as speeches some kind of utter meaningless nonsense. And why they organized this fight between the girls is completely incomprehensible. How did he manage to charm and attract so many people? Their relationship with Rose’s younger sister is also poorly shown: it’s obvious that he just wants to fuck everything that moves, but she doesn’t have any special feelings for him, although she sacrifices her older sister for him. And what does he call the girl – “Bots”? And she’s on it, seriously?
Билли Ли скорее бодибилдер из спортзала, нежели чем идеолог хиппи
But somehow he’s too pumped up for the leader of a hippie commune and, moreover, with a hairless chest. In the yard of the “shaggy” 1969 year! Well, what kind of unfinished moustachioed lout? And he should have appreciated the Negro singing at least a little bit, but no, he completely rejected her version of the song. I liked him a lot better as a Thor.
OST Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)
02 Edwin Starr – Twenty Five Miles
03 The American Breed – Bend Me, Shape Me
04 Cynthia Erivo – This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
05 Alana Da Fonseca – He’s A Rebel
06 Four Tops – I Got A Feeling
07 Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
08 Four Tops – Bernadette
09 The Crystals – He’s Sure The Boy I Love
10 The Box Tops – The Letter
11 The Mamas & The Papas – Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)
12 Tommy Roe – Baby, I Love You
13 Cynthia Erivo – Hold On I’m Coming
Download the soundtrack of Bad Times At The El Royale, mp3, 87 Mb:
The only employee of the hotel (Lewis Pullman) was shot in the face with a shotgun – well, or a hail of glass rained down on him. Multiple wounds on half the face, but everything is so neat that the eyes are not hurt. Probably a happy occasion! This Miles Miller only annoys with his whining and uncertain physiognomy, showing his more outstanding qualities only at the end of the film. That showdown was really cool.
Ну и безобразия творятся! ..А мы ведь боремся за звание дома высокой культуры быта!
Despite the stellar cast, the film disappointed. Rather long and boring. Even a good soundtrack doesn’t save it, but it’s far from a masterpiece, if you compare it, for example, with the Quarry soundtrack.
It’s nice to look only at the hero Jon Hamm (the head of all Mad Men, it’s just a pity that he disappeared here for nothing), Jeff Bridges (if something is wrong, he has a good excuse: he’s very old), black Cynthia Erivo and kind-of-cool girl Dakota Johnson (50 shades of gray) in tight ass jeans.
Well, I disagree. The film may be slightly delayed, but this is the only drawback. Of course, this is not such a masterpiece as the Disgusting Eight, but still an extremely strong and good movie. Drew Goddard can get into directing, screenwriting, and producing. I used to doubt it, but now I will definitely watch the Martian.
In the first scene of the film, that cat obviously opened the door to someone familiar – he turned his back on him too indifferently and waved his hand, saying, come in, so the shot was still unexpected and not so cliche.
Regarding Darlene, you got it absolutely right – her manager/producer says, they say, either you’re with me or you’re performing on a shabby stage in Reno. And in the movie, where is she going? That’s right, to perform in Reno. This is, as it were, almost the whole point of the film: they say, act according to your conscience and you will be rewarded. At least that’s how I took it.
About Billy Lee, I agree. There’s been a lot of hippie cultists in the culture lately (Mandy, Far Cry 5), and they start infuriating pretty quickly. But I don’t agree about Bots. Boots is a great nickname. Spooky Boots is generally one of the best rockabilly songs of all time.
Miles Miller is one of the best characters of the last few years, very neatly and elegantly revealed. He has tons of dark secrets, one is tougher than the other, and, of course, that scene at the end is just a bomb. She is still unexpected, although by that time, perhaps, anyone will already suspect that Miles is not who he seems. I haven’t seen such catharsis for a long time.
And yes, Dakota Johnson… You probably only looked at her jeans. She’s a log! Does not play at all! Not a single emotion for the whole movie! Damn it, in terms of acting, only Dakota Johnson failed. What is she even forgetting in this movie? Is it called 50 Shades of El Royal? Wow, man, the one I didn’t like was Miss Johnson…
well, about the tape… Yeah, I thought it was Kennedy, too. But as the film progresses and all sorts of nuances are revealed… Well, for example, why would Kennedy even pay attention to some kid from the reception? In general, as a result, I still decided that Elvis Presley was on the tape. In general, it would be cool to hear more opinions. This film is the coolest part of the film as a result, it is hammered into my head for a long time.
Well, yes, Dakota doesn’t have many emotions. Maybe I’ve just had enough of women’s emotions in my life, and I don’t want to see them in the movies. It’s not that I’m hooked on her jeans, but it’s the best thing about her role, and that says it all. And here’s another argument in Kennedy’s favor – they say that the one on the tape has already died. In 1969, thanks to his comeback, Elvis was remembered again, and they certainly know that he is alive.
By the way, do they say in the movie, what year is it? It’s just that I suddenly realized that even though the article says it’s the 69th, I didn’t remember any dates from the movie itself. When watching, for some reason, I decided that it was the mid-seventies.
Edit: I found an article on the Internet in which the dude says that the film is still in the 70s, since at one point in the frame Nixon makes a rather famous cease-fire speech, which, in fact, was delivered in 1970. The same guy suggests a third candidate: Martin Luther King might be on the tape.
The opinion is beginning to creep in that this is not a feature of the film, but a jamb, and that the authors just didn’t bother so much with the background.
Given the recent publicized facts about King, this is the most likely, and not so hidden, version.
Remembering the kindness shown, according to the receptionist, coupled with his (the receptionist’s) religiosity, the piety towards Mr. King is not at all surprising.
https://inosmi.ru/politic/20190527/245156123.html
Damn, thanks. Interesting information.