Nope: #NoNeedToBelieve

Jordan Peele has had an incredible rise from the sketch comedy show Key and Peele, to Get Out (winner of best screenplay), Us, and now Nope.

One thing I have always tried to do with these reviews is avoid spoilers, and focus more on the “why” I rated a movie from great (#NoNeedToBelieve), to horrible (#WeComeInBoredom). This can be tricky for a mind bending, “what did I just watch” film like Nope is.

First off, I loved it. And now that I have dissected a few scenes on YouTube I think it get the premise a bit more, but it took a few days to really sink in. I love that about it, and to be honest if you’re ok with spoilers, this reddit comment, which is the best review I’ve read so far.

The NYTimes review is good too, featuring this gem:

The main target of its critique is also the principal object of its affection, which we might call — using a name that has lately become something of a fighting word — cinema.

The history of westerns and “the other” dates back since the dawn of film itself. For awhile, the “other” were the indigenous people throughout the Americas, see The New World. Then came Cowboys & Aliens and the symbolic relationship continues with Nope.

Hollywood loves a movie about itself (LaLa Land anyone?) so I will be surprised if Nope isn’t nominated for Best Picture, if not win it. I personally have never liked this trope, it gets in the way of the suspension of disbelief, which ironically in someways is the whole point of the movie. To break those barriers and awaken you to the cost of your entertainment.