The third film by Jordan Peele, and yet again, it’s something totally different to anything he had done in the past. And although Nope barely missed out on the full 5/5 rating, just based on the scale of this film, I can already say with confidence that Jordan is one of my new favourite directors, at least regarding the modern-day era. He must be up there with Nolan, Fincher and the rest of the directors who have helped reshape the cinema from the 1990s until today. And with only three films under his directorial belt… Not too shabby, Jordan.
I missed this movie in the cinemas, and now, I genuinely regret it because the scope is something I appreciated on my nice TV, but I can’t help imagining what it must have been like watching it in the cinemas. It’s hard to say this without sounding cheesy, but Nope is one of those big films that should showcase why the cinema experience is needed and should not go away. After the COVID-19 pandemic and people streaming more than ever, the cinema still has a place for some films, and this film is, without a doubt, one of them.
Everything in this movie simply fits together. But unlike with other films, you don’t have to “catch on” all the themes instantly to have a good time. This is why I am not shy to compare Peele to someone like Nolan, as both filmmakers make movies where they only explain the bare minimum. They still trust the audience to “fill in the gaps” because they both provide you with the necessary tools to understand what is happening. Sure, at times, it takes one or two rewatches, but everything is here. Nope comments on trauma, history and, in a bizarre way, the idea of organised chaos and how it’s acceptable, no matter how horrific it seems. Without giving anything away, there was a scene towards the end that reminded me of the quote from The Dark Knight (2008):
You know what I’ve noticed? Nobody panics when things go “according to plan.” Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it’s all “part of the plan”.
The Joker, The Dark Knight (2008)
Before continuing, I swear I had no idea I would reference Nolan and his movies that much that wasn’t part of my plan. 😉
And to a certain extent, Peele plays with that idea too. But I am sure I am only scratching the surface here, and just like with his other movies, the more you revisit them, the more things you will catch, knowing where the story goes. And that is one of the most obvious “tells” how to spot a director that plays on a different level. There were many times I watched and even loved a film, but when I rewatch it after a couple of years, it plays fine, but it’s not as exciting because it is precisely as I remember it. But I bet you when I rewatch Nope, I will notice more things, catch on to different ideas and read some scenes differently. And as Martin Scorsese famously said:
Another thing I loved was the cast. All actors were perfect, but we must address the two performers Nope relied on the most, Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. The fact Daniel “Oscar Winner” Kaluuya is a phenomenal actor isn’t really surprising unless you have never seen him act before; in that case, you are in for a treat. His performance might be his subtlest yet, as his character is going through a lot in this movie, both physically and mentally, and Daniel played it perfectly. Regarding Keke, I love the “resurgence” she’s been having lately, and it seems the world is entering its Keke era, and we are better for it. On top of that, they both had that instant brother/sister chemistry; I want them to star in more movies together.
Now, I also understand people who said that Nope was one of the biggest snubs of the 2023 Oscars. If for nothing else, the cinematography, the soundtrack and the directing, it felt like Nope should have been there. Regarding acting categories… as much as it pains me to say that, they were pretty stacked, so I am not necessarily arguing that, despite my enjoyment of our leading actors. The thing is, there is always one or two “obvious” movies that get snubbed each year, and in ten or twenty years’ time, film people will look back and presume Nope must have been nominated for this and that, only to discover that nope, nothing there.
I can also easily see Nope being much more celebrated in ten to twenty years, the same as what happened with most of the “bonified classics”. People often forget that many movies we now view as undisputed classics have flopped in the cinemas (for example, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Blade Runner (1982) and many more), and I will make a bold prediction and say Nope will become a classic. And even though it’s hard to say how much has Nope flopped (but it seems it lost money), it does not matter, as only time will tell. Maybe I am totally wrong, and nobody will remember, let alone talk about this movie in twenty years, but something tells me that history is repeating itself again. Yet again, we have a high-concept film which, for a variety of reasons, has been ignored by the Oscars and didn’t do great at cinemas, but movie people love it. The only question is whether the “general public” will join them in the near future.
The only reason I can’t give this movie “the full 5/5 rating” is that something was holding me back, even if it was a tiny bit. But I am not worried I can easily see myself, upon a future rewatch, falling in love with the movie completely, discovering all the things/ideas I have missed on my first watch. I am already looking forward to it.
Overall, Nope is a straightforward movie told in a very deliberate way. Sometimes, the word “deliberate” has negative connotations, but I can assure you that’s not the case here. Jordan Peele knows exactly what he wants to say, and he does it, and while he does it, he remembers us, the audience members and gives us a good old fashion spectacle that needs to be on the biggest screen possible. This might be one of my biggest regrets of last year, the fact I didn’t watch Nope in the cinemas. Well, lesson learned, the next movie by Jordan Peele, I am there, no matter what the plot will be. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
That’s all for today! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke
