Nomadland - A review

Wow, it’s good to be back. After the absolute nightmare that was 2020, I feel glad that I can go back to cinemas, and just in time for a glut of films to keep me rushed off my feet. Let’s start with a film which, as of the 28th of December, has already taken 5 Best Picture Awards from critic’s societies, Nomadland.

Nomadland comes to us from Chloé Zhao, the future director of the MCU film The Eternals, and follows Frances McDormand as she goes out into the wilderness in an RV after the Global Financial Crisis tanks her hometown’s economy. Full of grief from the death of her husband, yet full of a drive to get away, McDormand goes off into the wide world, making friendships and coming to terms with her situation along the way.

I was so interested in seeing this film. Not only was everyone touting it as the year’s best film, but I was intrigued to see a movie by Chloé Zhao, as I’m nervous around relatively independent/inexperienced filmmakers taking huge films like The Eternals (see my review of Birds of Prey for an instance where doing that was a terrible idea). I also utterly adore Frances McDormand for her work in Fargo and Three Billboards, and I know that she is a fantastic actress. And…none of those factors let me down. I adored this movie, and if someone put it as their favourite film of the year, I would totally understand, as it’s mine too.

I’ll start with the most striking element of this movie – the cinematography by Joshua James Richards. This is one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen all year, with every landscape shot and wide feeling unique and humbling. It’s almost chilling to see Frances McDormand merely walk across a landscape which looks like magic is dancing along it, speaking wonderfully about the power of Chloé Zhao’s direction. The film was also edited fast enough to make sure that no shot felt too indulgent, to long, too pretentious, and for that alone, I have to give it major credit.

Another thing that utterly amazed me with this movie is that I was never bored for a second. A movie like this dependent on silence and contemplation could be very boring, but the movie ensures a constant shift in locations and time in order to keep our brains catching up, as well as the power of Frances McDormand’s magnetic performance, to make sure that something’s always happening. It also introduces a very clever motif using rocks which are scattered throughout the film, which makes the audience contemplate the meaning of the film and therefore pay more attention to the emotional sparring going on onscreen.

Nomadland’s strongest element by far, however, is definitely Frances McDormand (who also acts as producer, and whose character is also named Frances McDormand, funnily). She is giving a magnificent performance in just her face alone, coming off as funny, depressed and joyful throughout the movie. Her acting is pitch perfect, and she is so good, I just love her so much.

Interestingly, the rest of the cast (with the exception of David Strathairn) are actually non-professionals and real “nomads” instead of actors, but you couldn’t tell it by watching the film. They are magnificent and utterly natural in their performances, and they always engaged me. In fact, one of them (Charlene Swankie) gets what is hands down the most emotional scene in the entire movie, where she talks of her cancer diagnosis with McDormand, and the camera and music swell beautifully to the point where I had tears coming out of my eyes. That was great filmmaking.

You two did great. Keep doing it.

The only problem I have with Nomadland is this one tiny nit-pick which always bothers me. So there’s this scene where McDormand’s on her cell phone, and we get a brief flash of the screen, which displays the homepage instead of the call screen. It’s not that hard to cover that up guys, come on! Just download a Google Image of the call screen or screenshot it, open the Photos tab and tap the image so the info-bars disappear. It’s so easy.

It’s a dumb nitpick, I know. But it’s the only problem I have with this movie.

To cap off, this is the best film I’ve seen so far in 2020 (I still have Soul, Promising Young Woman and WW84 to get to). Nomadland is effing fantastic, and I’m convinced now that The Eternals is in safe hands.

I’m going to give Nomadland an A.

Have you seen Nomadland? If so, what did you think of it? Leave your answers in the comments below.