Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) doesn't have anything to boast of, no reputation, wealth, or expertise. But he has an ambition to make it big in life, by any means, and will latch on to the slightest opportunity available to turn it into his fortune. Coming from a less than modest background, he enters a Circus company where he acquires the "skill" of being able to convince people that he can read minds, gauge personalities, look into the future and even become a medium to connect with the dead. In doing so, he commits a crime, that too, without any remorse. But he finds an ally in Molly (Rooney Mara), a colleague from the circus with whom he develops a romantic relationship, and the couple aspires to build their own fortune in the big city now. Years pass by with Stan and Molly making a comfortable living with the "art" of deception, until one evening a mysterious woman, Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) challenges his act.
Instead of being unnerved by the sudden challenge, Stan is able to pull off yet another con act and eventually raises the stakes in his game in partnership with Lilith, who is actually a psychotherapist with high profile clients. Stan starts to use Lilith's confidential resources and reaches out to the high and mighty, making tons of money in the process. He trusts Lilith and even starts a passionate affair with her. Molly observes the changes in Stan and warns him about his newfound high stakes, but he has commenced a journey on a one-way street from where there's no turning back. Suddenly, Stan's greed for more spirals out of control, and he is caught in web of deceit that he couldn't have gauged for himself.
Director Guillermo del Torro's remake of the 1948 classic about greed, lust, crime and punishment is a startling essay about desires, ambition and uncontrolled passion. Bradley Cooper is stunningly emotive in presenting the dark side of the human mind, whilst Rooney Mara represents the softer aspects and a balanced personality with poise. Cate Blanchett indeed has a diabolical role and ushers in intrigue and unbridled passion in a persona that has many layers to it. "Nightmare Alley" leaves you pensive and introspective about the darkness of the mind, but is a bit too long for the story it has to tell. It could have been 20 minutes shorter to have become sharper, focused and more incisive, for its running time of 150 minutes allows an extent of monotony with the progress at times.
Instead of being unnerved by the sudden challenge, Stan is able to pull off yet another con act and eventually raises the stakes in his game in partnership with Lilith, who is actually a psychotherapist with high profile clients. Stan starts to use Lilith's confidential resources and reaches out to the high and mighty, making tons of money in the process. He trusts Lilith and even starts a passionate affair with her. Molly observes the changes in Stan and warns him about his newfound high stakes, but he has commenced a journey on a one-way street from where there's no turning back. Suddenly, Stan's greed for more spirals out of control, and he is caught in web of deceit that he couldn't have gauged for himself.
Director Guillermo del Torro's remake of the 1948 classic about greed, lust, crime and punishment is a startling essay about desires, ambition and uncontrolled passion. Bradley Cooper is stunningly emotive in presenting the dark side of the human mind, whilst Rooney Mara represents the softer aspects and a balanced personality with poise. Cate Blanchett indeed has a diabolical role and ushers in intrigue and unbridled passion in a persona that has many layers to it. "Nightmare Alley" leaves you pensive and introspective about the darkness of the mind, but is a bit too long for the story it has to tell. It could have been 20 minutes shorter to have become sharper, focused and more incisive, for its running time of 150 minutes allows an extent of monotony with the progress at times.