It's simply put -- an early frontrunner for my favorite movie of the year until something else comes along to knock it off its perch.
It's one of those films where I was white knuckled throughout, hanging on every scene and bit of dialogue (this movie has a lot of funny lines to go along with the scares), and when it was over I immediately wanted to see it again.
Now that it's plot twists and the fear factor have subsided, there's a lot to unpack.
I love that there is no apparent single explanation for what transpires here -- there are plenty of interpretations -- from the film's title and premise intended to be a shoutout to the U.S.A. and a cloning type conspiracy operated by unseen unknown puppet masters.
There's all the symbolism if you want it here but I never felt beat of the head by it. This is a movie that moves -- I was on the edge of my seat for the whole two hours and was even thirsty for more.
The cast is great -- but the greatest asset this film has is Lupita Nyong'o who gives a riveting lead performance that should be in the running for an Academy Award for her startling dual role here. After years of being overlooked or sidelined by Hollywood, she has really come to her own with star turns in Black Panther and now here.
More than any role she's had before -- this one capitalizes on her remarkable physicality (she has the grace of a dancer), her vocal chops (she produces an eerie whisper of a voice for her terrifying doppelganger) and her emotional range -- she gets the whole gamut here -- she's funny, haunted, frightened, determined and ultimately a bit of a wild card. What a tour de force for her.
But also Jordan Peele's genius is on display here. And I don't throw around that word lightly, but he has now demonstrated that he is a provocative and profound director of the first order. It's true that Us is not as accessible as Get Out, it's more of a true horror film -- harder, gorier and more relentless than Get Out -- but it's really rewarding if you pay attention to all its little clues and Easter eggs.
I spontaneously clapped at a bravura scene in this movie, and I also found myself oddly moved in other moments. It's a wild and unsettling ride, and perhaps a timely one, since it's arriving at the moment the Mueller report has been completely and we appear to be poised to plunge into a period of uncertainty and recrimination.
Us doesn't have the hopeful finale that Get Out had -- and fans of that film may recall that Peele's original ending was much bleaker. Here he is using the capital he earned from that unconventional Oscar blockbuster, to make a Shining for a new generation.
People will be be mulling this one over for years. And that's a good thing..
No comments:
Post a Comment