‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

‘Blu-ray or Bust’

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (2018, R, 141 minutes, TSG ENTERTAINMENT/20TH CENTURY FOX)

There have been several good films that got their start as stage productions; some classics would include A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, DRIVING MISS DAISY, and GLENGARRY, GLEN ROSS.

Sometimes the transition from stage to screen isn’t all that impressive, and much is lost in translation. BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BILOXI BLUES, despite being written by esteemed and legendary playwright Neil Simon, were horrible films. Hollywood may want to take over the world, but there are times when it fails miserably.

So to watch a film and think that it would probably work better as a play is something different for me. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE was written and directed by Drew Goddard, the same man who wrote several episodes of “Lost”, the wonderful CABIN IN THE WOODS, and WORLD WAR Z. He has written for television and the big screen, but this time around, you wonder if he hasn’t become a playwright as well.

The El Royale is a hotel/motel built along the California/Colorado line. The film takes place sometime in the late sixties; there are references to an unnamed senator having an affair there, all of the vehicles and music are dated, and there is even a Charles Manson-like character looming in the distance. Several characters show up on the same day at the otherwise vacant hotel, and of course their paths must intersect in murder, mayhem, and madness. Literally.

The cast includes Jeff Bridges as an aging ex-con, whose brain is slowly withering under the pressure of Alzheimer’s; Jon Hamm as a salesman who isn’t selling anything; Chris Hemsworth as a psychotic cult leader; and the versatile Cynthia Erivo, whose wondrous singing voice lifts this film up when it shouldn’t. There are others here as well, but there isn’t enough variety of craft to consider this an ensemble piece. Sure, everyone is game (especially Hemsworth, who seems overjoyed to finally be playing a bad guy), but there isn’t enough going on during the two hours and twenty minute runtime to keep you interested enough to care. The cinematography by Seamus McGarvey (GODZILLA, THE AVENGERS) is a character unto itself, insomuch as that is one of the main reasons I think this would work perfectly on stage.

There are some sweeping shots, flawlessly executed, showing what is going on within the rooms of the El Royale. These fluid moments are actually quite lovely; they give a certain grace to the proceedings, lend it a sophistication (much like Ms. Erivo’s voice) it really doesn’t deserve. And this isn’t a horrible film—it’s an okay movie. But it would probably make a great play, and that isn’t what we’re here for, is it?

There are enough gunfights, violence, and musical moments to deem this a necessary Blu-ray purchase—but only if you must own it. Everyone involved here has been in (and directed) better films. This one struggles far too much to try and be noir. The packaging is cool, and some of the lines are funny and/or memorable, but methinks it would be a better time on Broadway. Seriously, there would also be an intermission.

Film Grade: C

Blu-ray Necessary: Only if you must

- T.S. Kummelman