Nope – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Nope – Lights, Camera and Aliens: A Hollywood Tale

From the thoughts of one, endless possibilities await.  An innate string moves through the mind, pushing forward colors and excitement.  Even with inventive detail, it can still make you ponder for more.  The sense of creativity sparks the arts, especially in the world of film.  In this review, I look at the latest film from Jordan Peele.  A writer/director known for thought provoking journeys, this next outing is no exception.  Pushing intuitive ideas through the lens of Sci-Fi, Nope is an inventive tale that will have you wondering … what is worth in the moment. 

The story follows two siblings, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer), as they try to find a path to live in the wake of their father’s death.  Through all of this, they witness a suspected UFO sighting.  As strange things begin to happen, will they be able to survive … and capture a moment of a lifetime.  When it comes to Jordan Peele (writer/director), he creates stories that layer concepts within the actualization of events.  With this film, there is a sense of intrigue (of the unknown) that coincides with the genuine detail of the character(s) lives.  The story begins with OJ and Emerald trying to figure out what to do with the ranch (after their father’s death).  Having a footprint with Hollywood for years, it becomes a struggle to keep the business afloat.  Because of this, they negotiate terms with Ricky Park (Steven Yeun), who runs a ranch show in town.  Within all of this, an unknown entity begins to hover over the skies.  As this entity begins to terrorize the area, OJ and Emerald convive a plan to try and capture video to show proof … aliens exist.  From this point is where Peele’s ingenious goes to work.  Within the layering of character detail and Sci-Fi elements, he provides aspect of personal struggles within a slow burn of tension.  This allows for situations to heighten with emotional detail, creating the allure of the ominous.  As the feeling of dread looms, it slowly leads into the idea of spectacle.  Within this focal point, it showcases a series of consequences that lead characters to face certain truths of their own guise.  Through visual quips, unique dialogue and subtlety of humor, you get a dynamism of concepts that pushes the envelope of delight, wonder and fear.  The overture of the Sci-Fi foundation provides a spotlight on the character’s own indulgence, showcasing societal blinds while also creating a journey of riveting potential.

From this point, the less spoken about the journey the better (to not spoil the outcome).  The second half leads into thought provoking moments, creating a platform that showcases concepts introduced throughout.  Within this latter half, scenes do drag at times (over explanation), but the emotional tension holds together because of the parallels of society and spectacle.  As we head into the climax, there is a sense of closure with an alluring thought of truth.  Nope is a film brimming with strongly woven concepts within Sci-Fi tropes.  Even if things aren’t all hitting, the overall journey leads to an intriguing conclusion.  If you are a fan of Jordan Peele, Sci-Fi or creative filmmaking this is for you.  I say it is worth checking out, see what you think of it on the big screen. 

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)