“If you love films that keep you guessing the entire way through, or if you want to catch the sexiest man in film this year…either way – BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is the ticket for you!” – Kathy Kaiser, Matineechat.com
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE – Rated R – 2 hrs. 21 mins.
DIRECTOR: Drew Goddard
WRITER: Drew Goddard
STARRING: Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Lewis Pullman, Nick Offerman, Cynthia Erivo and Cailee Spaeny
As we meet the strangers who have unknowingly converged upon the eerily rundown El Royale Hotel, including Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), Cocktail Singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), Sisters Emily (Dakota Johnson) and Ruth (Cailee Spaeny), and Businessman Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm) it seems that each of our guests, and Hotel Manager Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman) have something they want to hide…
When their mere existence in the same place, at the same time brings many of our guests’ secrets to light, it seems that the dismal events surrounding the El Royale’s past, can’t hold a candle to what is about to go down within its walls…
I give BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE a rating of MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN: Talk about a film that is full of so many “who done its” that you need a score care to keep track…BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE Is the most intriguing film I have seen all year. Kudos to Goddard for this exceptionally written storyline, and fabulous directing too, as I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire film, just waiting in anticipation to see where we would be headed next! And talk about perfectly cast film as well – from the incredibly intense, yet super sexy all along the way performance by Chris Hemsworth, to the businessman turned agent persona of St. Louis’s own Jon Hamm, to the exceptionally believable presence of the good father, played by Jeff Bridges, to the exceptionally moving and Oscar-nod for Supporting Actor worthy performance by Lewis Pullman as Hotel Manager Miles Miller (yes, he’s Bill Pullman’s son)…BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is just one of those films that keeps getting better and better with each passing frame. And I must share too, that I’m not sure where they have been hiding song bird Cynthia Erivo either, as her incredible singing performances throughout this film are absolute perfection as well. Goddard’s direction even managed to get the best performance I have seen to date from Dakota Johnson, and I have been waiting years for her to show she really can act! Suffice to say, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is one of those films that you have to catch on the big screen…and no other way…as between the dark and sinister feel of every frame of its cinematography, to its rather unsettling intertwining storylines every step of the way, this is one of those films that you definitely must experience at a theater near you!
Kathy Kaiser
This humble opinion is brought to by you T. K. Edwards
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE – Rated R – 2 hr. 21 mins
Director by: Drew Goddard
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Lewis Pullman, Cynthia Erivo, Cailee Spaeny, Nick Offerman
The lives of seven strangers cross paths with each other at the El Royale Hotel and afterwards, none of them will ever be the same again.
NO SPOILERS BELOW
There are movies with good writing and there are movies with great writing, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is a movie with GREAT writing. This movie is going to be the sleeper hit of the year. OMG!!! This movie has it all. Great acting. Great writing. Great directing, characters, comedy, action, cinematography, editing, ghgklhag alghaihgdlkagklghaiogua’nva o ngalgndifa’nglak’g ag…SORRY…WOW…I’ll slow down. I’m talking so fast, that I’m not making any sense (LMAO). Where do I start? How about the director of BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE, Drew Goddard. Recently, Goddard has been involved with some amazing projects. He helped create one of the best Netflix tv shows to date…DAREDEVIL and has also written screenplays for some terrific films like THE MARTIAN and WORLD WAR Z. Not to mention this is his second feature film on the big screen. His first film was CABIN IN THE WOODS and I loved it and because I loved it, I kept him on my radar to watch the next film he was going to direct/write. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE went a different direction then where I thought Goddard was going to take me. I thought it would be closer to the horror movie genre, when instead he focused more on suspense and the connections of each of his well written characters. He ended up taking me to a rundown hotel that lives on both the borders of California & Nevada and introduced me to a kind of storytelling that takes a level focus and precision that not too many directors can pull off, but Goddard did and it is a sight to see. The acting in this film is beyond what you’re expecting. Each actor in this film steals the spotlight when they are talking, but at the same time they are willing to let it go, so that the next one can have their time in the sun too. And although it pains me to set aside some of the actors in this film because no one..I mean…NO ONE…did a bad job, there is one actor that just pulled away from the rest of the pack and won the race. Lewis Pullman (son of actor Bill Pullman aka “Lone Starr”) was amazing. His performance came out of nowhere and will shoot this young actor into superstardom. Be prepared to see more and more of him in years to come because this guy has earned your attention. Go see BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE in theaters, it is definitely worth your time and money. It’s films like these that get me excited about going to the movies. Until next time, thanks for reading.
P.S. – There is no post credit scene. You’re welcome 🙂
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 