Whenever a movie wins the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, we should make it our obligation to keep our eyes on that movie. It was a shock when Joker, a comic-book movie, won the Golden Lion simply based on the type of a movie it is and what it’s based on. Usually, a movie that takes home such a prestigious honor is paving the way for that movie to get some Oscar attention and any movie that’s getting any major Oscar buzz is one that we should all rush out to see. However, every once in awhile, there’s always that one movie that gets huge acclaim and insane Oscar conversations that might not warrant it all that hype. Roma (yeah, I said it), Crash and even The Hurt Locker are examples of movies that get a lot of Oscar buzz that might not have necessarily earned and esteemed award nomination simply because the quality of the movie might not be as great as some suggest. Now that’s not advocating that these movies are bad, it’s purely for the reason that maybe these movies aren’t Oscar quality. We can debate if this Academy Awards should even happen this year, but what we can’t deny is the buzz that Nomadland is getting because it’s certainly justified. Nomadland is an elegant, intimate and relaxing movie with superb performances from Frances McDormand and the entire supporting cast. It works as a piece of entertainment, while also offering a deeper and philosophical approach on finding commonality with strangers and finding true unity.
After losing entirely everything because of the Great Recession, Fern (Frances McDormand) goes on her own into the American West with just her van, that’s made into her own little home. On her journey she stumbles across a new face of reality that’s outside of the more “traditional” lifestyle by living life as the modern day nomad.
Frances McDormand is, by all accounts, one of the best and most talented actresses that’s ever lived. She’s a five time Oscar nominated actress and two of those nominations are Oscar wins for Best Actress for her performances from Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. We often through out names like Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett or Julianne Moore and rightfully so, but Frances McDormand absolutely deserves to be in that conversation. She always gives world class and top notch performances in any movie she’s featured in and her performance in Nomadland is exceptional. There’s so much angst, despair and a sense of brokenness to her character that’s symbolizes the talent that Frances McDormand can bring to the screen but also speaks volumes to the people who have lost everything. Fern is the type of character that embodies pain, but can still walk through life with a slight side of confidence. Nomadland beautifully explores the character by giving you all of what you need to know about her when it doesn’t solely rely on any unnecessary exposition. There really isn’t a strong buzz for Best Actress for this years Academy Awards due to the fact that it’s been an awkward year for entertainment, that said, Frances McDormand is guaranteed an Oscar nomination for her grounded and powerful performance.
The rest of the cast is also remarkable. From David Strathairn, Linda May and Bob Wells, people who aren’t even remotely familiar, give terrific and fully realized and understated performances. All of the brilliant performances has to be credited to one of the hottest and best working directors, Chloé Zhao. While she’s only made two movies, this woman already has a lot of exciting things in store for her career, especially with being the director of the upcoming MCU movie, Eternals, which is slated for a release in November of 2021. With The Rider and now with Nomadland, Chloé Zhao shows her deep love and admiration for the Western genre in a style that feels very different, yet somehow still organically feels like a slow and contemporary Western. Her direction in Nomadland is almost the same at gazing at a painting that beautifully illustrates the calmness, the humanity and the quietness that bestows in the West, despite being a somewhat nonactive environment. For a movie with a shoe string budget, Nomadland is also a gorgeous and dazzling picture with immaculate shots of the desert, both at sunrise and nightfall.
If you’re looking for the next movie that’s generating great buzz and one that’s indicating some awards contentions, Nomadland is the perfect movie for that. If you’re looking for something that’s soothing and relaxing, Nomadland is also that type of movie. Nomadland is yet another impressive accomplishment from writer and director, Chloé Zhao. It features incredible performances, spectacular cinematography and substance that works for the escapists on a level of art and entertainment.
My grade for Nomadland: A
Zane's take at the Cinema's 