Director: Jaco von DormaelCast: Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Linh Dan Pahm, Toby Regbo, Juno Temple
Rating: Teen (horrific images, mild sexuality)
Comment: "An instant modern day classic. It should damn very well be..."
Comment: "An instant modern day classic. It should damn very well be..."
Modern day classics are very hard to come by, but when they do, it makes all the wait very satisfying. Mr. Nobody is a thinly-veiled story about choices and the possibilities they lead to, wrapped up gloriously as science fiction.
Nemo Nobody, the titular character is a 118-year-old, said in the movie to be the last mortal alive in the year 2092. On his deathbed, he reminisces his past to his psychiatrist and also to a reporter. But his past is literally unlike anything anyone has ever experienced - and not to mention it makes no damn sense to everyone around him.
Science fiction is something that is a bit of an acquired taste, and some are easily turned off by the very idea of it. But I assure you that this is one of those movies that transcends high above the genre and it makes for one very compelling movie about choices in life. Not to mention it can really cook up your noodle; one cannot be helped but ponder upon the age-old question about what is the meaning behind all the choices we made in life.
This was all told in a very spectacular fashion. Imagery, allusions, symbolism and metaphors made frequent appearances throughout the movie. For an example, there is one scene where a nine year old Nemo cannot seem to make up his mind on how to spend his money; there were chocolate eclairs and sponge roll cakes, and he opted not to buy either one. That tiny scene was a particularly nice touch, you can say that it is a small summary about life. You can spend life like how you can spend a coin; Spend it on whatever that you want, but you can only spend it once. The fact that he chose neither is an allusion to something else integral to the plot, but I'd rather save you from further spoilers. Have fun spotting them yourselves. There was so many of each literary devices, I guarantee not everybody can spot it all in just one seating.
The story is easy enough to understand, which is why I mentioned that this is not for the fans of the genre only. Simply imagine Sliding Doors [1998], but on a much more epic scale. We take for granted all the little choices we make everyday, without realising that they all amount to something in the long run. Every second of our life is a turning point, but regardless of it all, there is no such thing as a bad ending because they all mean something; it is up to us to figure out exactly what, that is why life is such a gift.
Living up to its heavy, intriguing theme and excellent storytelling, the film does not fall short in its cinematography and its editing either. To name an example, the director employed strong use of colours, each marking the significance of different choices made by Nemo. It all ended up to make one very surreal film, which worked wonders for a movie this deep.
Points Calculation
The Good [+100]
- Compelling plot
- Excellent storytelling
- Surrealism
- It's just so damn intriguing
The Bad [-0]
- (None)
100 - 0 = 100 points
Nemo Nobody, the titular character is a 118-year-old, said in the movie to be the last mortal alive in the year 2092. On his deathbed, he reminisces his past to his psychiatrist and also to a reporter. But his past is literally unlike anything anyone has ever experienced - and not to mention it makes no damn sense to everyone around him.Science fiction is something that is a bit of an acquired taste, and some are easily turned off by the very idea of it. But I assure you that this is one of those movies that transcends high above the genre and it makes for one very compelling movie about choices in life. Not to mention it can really cook up your noodle; one cannot be helped but ponder upon the age-old question about what is the meaning behind all the choices we made in life.
This was all told in a very spectacular fashion. Imagery, allusions, symbolism and metaphors made frequent appearances throughout the movie. For an example, there is one scene where a nine year old Nemo cannot seem to make up his mind on how to spend his money; there were chocolate eclairs and sponge roll cakes, and he opted not to buy either one. That tiny scene was a particularly nice touch, you can say that it is a small summary about life. You can spend life like how you can spend a coin; Spend it on whatever that you want, but you can only spend it once. The fact that he chose neither is an allusion to something else integral to the plot, but I'd rather save you from further spoilers. Have fun spotting them yourselves. There was so many of each literary devices, I guarantee not everybody can spot it all in just one seating.
The story is easy enough to understand, which is why I mentioned that this is not for the fans of the genre only. Simply imagine Sliding Doors [1998], but on a much more epic scale. We take for granted all the little choices we make everyday, without realising that they all amount to something in the long run. Every second of our life is a turning point, but regardless of it all, there is no such thing as a bad ending because they all mean something; it is up to us to figure out exactly what, that is why life is such a gift.
Living up to its heavy, intriguing theme and excellent storytelling, the film does not fall short in its cinematography and its editing either. To name an example, the director employed strong use of colours, each marking the significance of different choices made by Nemo. It all ended up to make one very surreal film, which worked wonders for a movie this deep.
Points CalculationThe Good [+100]
- Compelling plot
- Excellent storytelling
- Surrealism
- It's just so damn intriguing
The Bad [-0]
- (None)
100 - 0 = 100 points
