Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper in Nightmare Alley.

WARWICK SHOWCASE

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
* * * *
(A must for Spidey fans)

Tom Holland makes a most believable Peter/Parker/Spiderman in this latest Marvel Comic adventure.

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” is the unabashed theme of this long, but action-packed movie that opens with Spiderman’s secret identity being revealed to the world by that mean old Dailey Bugle publisher, J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons).

Peter, girlfriend MJ, best friend Ned, and Aunt May are hounded by the press and public. Half of the people hate him and the other half aren’t sure.

Peter turns to his old friend Dr. Strange (Great performance by Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell that will make everybody forget that Peter is Spiderman.

Things go amuck and somehow supervillains from other universes appear to do him in.

Thus begins a long, long battle with the likes of Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), and a handful of others from past Spiderman episodes.

There are also appearances from two  other characters, which I won’t spoil if you haven’t heard, which picks the plot up and makes for a great final act, filled with action and some very funny lines.

Marvel Comics fans know that you never leave when the credits appear, but wait patiently for a scene that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the movie.

After that all the other credits featuring anybody that had anything to do with the movie roll quickly on the screen and all but the true fans head for the screen, unaware that a teaser will follow to whet your interest as what is yet to come.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY
 * * * *
(Film Noire)

We both enjoyed this remake of a 1947 film noire starring Bradley Cooper as Stan Carlisle as an ambitious carnival worker who quickly learns the con game and rises to the big time, conning the very rich out of their money.

The film opens with Stan burying a body under the floorboards and setting the house on fire. We later learn who and why.

Stan finds his way to a carnival run by Clem (Willem Dafoe) another devious character who hires him to do odd jobs.

Stan quickly learns the lay of the land, working his way up with his clever mind, learning the tricks of the trade, and eventually teams up with Zeena (Toni Collette) in a mind reading act that is still used today in a more sophisticated way.

He falls for Molly (Rooney Mara) who does an act with electricity, and the two run away, planning on upscaling their cons.

All this is done in classic film noire style under rainy skies and muddy fields with grubby carnies duping local townsfolk as they move from town to town.

The atmosphere takes a sharp turn as we next see Stan and Molly in a ritzy hotel, dressed to the hilt as they use their mind reading act to con the rich.

Stan is challenged by a sultry psychologist (Cate Blanchett) and the two team up to con a wealthy old man who wants to make contact with his deceased wife.

Enter Rhode Island’s own Richard Jenkins, who you may not recognize at first, but once you hear his voice will know.

Like good film noire, things get very intense and you know that you are in for one heck of an ending, something missing in too many current movies.

The acting is great, with Jenkins and cooper showing their tremendous talents.

Director Guillermo del Toro is a director who understands the importance of establishing atmosphere. His techniques, plus the great story and acting will hold your interest right up to the shocking finale.

If you like good movie-making, this is the one to see.

Rated  R with violence and some profanity.