Jordan Peele continues to elevate his craft with each project. Nope is exquisitely directed, each shot layered and utilizing the full scope of the frame. Special praise to Hoyte van Hoytema for the gorgeous cinematography, vibrant daylight shots, amazing nighttime moments, complimenting an intelligent script and fun, likable characters. The main duo compliment and contrast with each other rather brilliantly, Daniel Kaluuya may be one of the best and most understated actors on the planet, conveying more with glances and silence than any single line, while Keke Palmer is boisterous, bombastic and consistently hilarious. The rest of the cast is equally good, with some excellent turns from veteran actors Kieth David and Michael Wincott. The writing is sharp and layered, most lines have multiple meanings and nuance, including the title itself. Peele here has found the goldilocks zone for balancing commentary with the narrative, where the two inform and enhance each other rather than feeling forced or ham-fisted. Due praise given, it is unfortunate the film is not particularly scary. One of the more overt themes of the film concerns the nature of spectacle and carnage, and while there are moments to illustrate and emphasize this, there’s surprisingly little onscreen of either. There are horrific elements, and scenes drenched in surreal nightmare, with one particular flashback being the most horrifying moments this movie has to offer, but the overall product feels less horrific and more adventurous. The film mimics the structure of Jaws rather well, where the first two acts of mysterious attacks culminate in an action packed hunt. The finale is bombastic, and Peele ends his homage to the unsung heroes of Hollywood with a series and sequences of iconic shots from the history of film. Were this movie slightly more frightening, this could have been one of the more effective horror films of the year, but it happily settles for just being a really good film hearkening to the blockbusters of summers past.
Nope (2022)