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Daniel Kaluuya. © 2022. Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions. Directed by Jordan Peele. Watched it in IMAX 70mm @ Cinemark
Are you ready to experience the spectacle of your lifetime? NOPE became a big YUP! After the film, I will see the clouds like their terrorists. However, in this film, aliens will eat you like it's nothing and it's one of the most fucked up elements of this film. If you want to see that, the only way is to see it on the biggest screen possible and experience the sci-fi spectacle. This film was truly a spectacle and I can't describe the horror of this film. It's jaw-dropping and one of the best original films of the decade so far. Plus, it still has the flavor of Jordan Peele's comedy and it's a film that will haunt you days after you watch the movie. I would never see one day a sci-fi Peele film but here we are. Let's dive into the UFO and explore why this spaceship is hungry for human flesh. Two siblings who run a California horse ranch discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above, while the owner of an adjacent theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon. But they don't what this UFO is capable of and they must survive in order to protect their land. There are a lot of amazing elements in this film including the characters, story, cinematography, production, and symbolism. A lot of symbolism and Jordan Peele really likes to play around with that with his social commentary about society. But he also taps into the film industry as well and as a filmmaker, this film made me think harder and appreciate the Easter eggs he dropped into his film. But what really made this film go deep within its symbolisms and the critique of Hollywood's production and underappreciation is the animal wrangler crew. A crew that deals with animals and while it doesn't directly connect to the major UFO, it does connect to the character's story and some of the messages Peele is trying to connect into his film. That's where we lead into the opening shot of the film which is one of the most haunting opening shots I've seen on film. More fucked up than Harambe. The opening shot of the film still haunts me, even writing this review. The monkey connects to the larger symbolism of the film and social commentary about animals in Hollywood productions. The monkey gets loose in the shot and it cuts to the present time which was pretty horrifying. I really loved it and that's how you start a horror film. Then after that, it goes to the main story about OJ and his father and the unexpected death of his father. His father's death haunts him but he wants to know what really killed him. OJ's sister Emerald is staying over at his place but she also encounters the UFO in the sky. That's where the plot really starts to get in and shit goes loose after that. It's slow but engaging. Before I get into the UFO stuff, I really want to get into the social commentary about the film industry which was depicted very great in the first 30 minutes and throughout the film. Throughout the first act, we see OJ trying to work in Hollywood with his horse but his horse gets mad and they replace it with a fake green screen horse. This is the nature of Hollywood and it's a critique of commercials and big-budget films that won't use practical effects. Some of the crew don't know how to handle animals so it's best to hire animal wranglers. But it takes time so they rather use a fake horse just to keep the production going. Animal wranglers are a key part of the social commentary in this film alongside filmmaking. This connects back to the monkey scene and the most important message of the film which is about spectacle and entertainment. After looking at some explanation videos and watching clips from the film, I can see why it connects so heavily to the social commentary about entertainment. People view disasters as a piece of entertainment. For example, the monkey scene was turned into a funny SNL skit and it was made for entertainment. It's towards a critique to obviously SNL but horrifying events like you see on LiveLeak or gruesome videos but you don't stop watching it because it entertains you. This connects back to the monkey scene which is horrifying to watch from the point of view of the young child, but you still watch it because it entertains you. Entertains. This word is important and it's a theme that circles around the film. This film is full of messages and themes and it connects more with the main story and Jupe's story. Without giving main spoilers, Jupe (Steven Yeun) opens a new attraction to entertain people to see a possible UFO. In the main storyline, OJ and his sister buy new cameras to capture the UFO on digital and earn money from it because it will entertain the audience. But they will suspect that it's fake because it's digital and they use film prints to capture it to make it as legit as possible. I really like how this film really goes in-depth with the message about entertainment and going as far as to earn that entertainment and make that profit. But also this film is about grief and tragedy. This film doesn't shy away from violence and tragedy through sounds and performance. This film is about a brother and sister and trying to protect one another and re-connecting for the better. But also protecting their business name in the Hollywood industry. A family story in Hollywood and I really like that this film explores that. The social commentary, messages, and themes were presented very well in this film and it's a film that will be analyzed more in the future because it critiques not just society, but the Hollywood industry, the use of animals, and pushing far to reach for that glorious entertainment. This was very smart within its screenplay and Peele knocked it out of the park. While yes, some people will be divided because of the monkey scene because it doesn't connect directly to the plot. But it connects directly through the overall social commentary and it's very smart through its symbolism. I really loved what Peele explored in this film and it's one of the smartest films I've seen in a long time. Especially for a blockbuster film. He has really outdone himself in his past two films and this is his deepest and most creative film yet in his career. Moving on from the social commentary, the story itself is very strong and very original with a mix of horror, sci-fi, and comedy. While the tone of the film is very serious including its themes and characters, this film also has a huge spectacle within its visuals and the good old comedy is present through Peele's screenplay and directing. The story develops way better in the third act of the film with every important character all going for one objective and that's where the plot twists in unexpected ways. It's brilliant and it's fresh. The spaceship itself in the story was quite a twist without giving spoilers. Overall, the story was very strong in this film and while people won't enjoy the side plot of the story, it was still very great when it connects back to Jupe. This story is very original and that's what I like to see. Original stories are taken in a huge way that feels small. The execution worked and the film was a wild ride from start to finish. The characters in the film were also fantastic. Even the small supporting actors really helped the story drive and they had a purpose with the main story. OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) is a great character in the film. He suffers the tragedy of his father's death but also maintains the land that his father owns to support Hollywood productions. His character was great and Daniel's performance is fantastic. His character is very serious and he doesn't talk too much like the other characters in the film. But his performance really sold his character and his story arc was very strong due to the relationship with his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer). Keke's performance was very strong and the best part of the film. She was very energetic and she was basically the comedic relief character but also a serious one. She wants to be like her brother and help him in any cause. Plus, her character grows when she discovers more about the UFO and tries to save his brother from the UFO. She was very great and her character was well written into the story. The side characters were also great like Angel (Brandon Perea) and Antlers (Michael Wincott). These characters served the main story and they were utilized well in the social commentaries of the film. Angel is a tech-savvy guy and they explore a little bit of his personal life and Peele comments on today's technology through his scenes. Plus, Angel helps in the story by also recording the UFO and providing the resources the crew needs in order to complete their task. He's also a funny character and his performance was very great. After hearing an interview that he wants to be Nova, I'm all in. The other character Antlers is also great in the film and actor Michael Wincott is very great in the film. I really liked his performance and his dead humor. He's the one who captures the footage on film for the crew and he's the cinematographer who wants to capture it all. Peele uses this character to criticize filmmakers to push harder on certain productions and wanting to get the impossible shot. For Micahel's character, he wants to get the impossible shot and he will do it for the money and potentially, his own life. His character was great, even with less screen time, he impacted the story very well. I cannot forget Steven Yeun's character Jupe. Steven Yeun's performance was very great and the child actor who played as young Jupe did also a great job. His story is the most tragic one in this film and his character arc is pretty disturbing without giving major spoilers. But he was great in the film and the character was very well written. Even though he's not a lot in the film, he serves a major purpose within its commentary and themes surrounding the film. All of these characters serve a purpose through social commentary, plot, and themes. It all comes down to the writing of the film and the screenplay is very strong. While you may be confused at first, you will understand much better on second viewing and it will all make sense. It's not like Tenet where the plot is everywhere but in this one, it's consistent and the biggest element that makes the story so fantastic is the social commentary. The story and characters were amazing and I really enjoyed what Peele offered through his directing style. Jordan Peele's directing was very strong and this is the best work in his filmography. He delivers tension in every scene and lets the audience interpret what's going on screen. He lets the moments play out in a slow way to make the viewer feel scared and think about what's going to happen next. The barn screen is a fantastic scene with minimal editing and with a slow build-up to get tension. That scene was so good and it scared the audience at my screening. What Peele has done differently from other horror or sci-fi films is that the camera is sticking with the point of view of the characters. You get to see the UFO but all from the point of view of the characters. It feels like you are there with them and seeing the horrors and their reaction to the situation. Plus, you get to see the violence but not quite a lot. While yes, the violence is pretty disturbing, what's more, disturbing is that you hear the violence and point of the view of the character witnessing the violence. It's very scary and disturbing. I almost gagged in one scene and I was legit fucking scared. There are certain moments that are still haunting my brain and if that happens, you know the director did a great job ruining your brain. Now that's great directing. While the horror was very great, the spectacle and sci-fi elements were jaw-dropping on the big screen. A lot of beautiful spectacle shots to give a sci-fi feeling and witness a spectacle like never before. Peele does it in a slow way but the end result feels like a true award and beautiful. The spectacle is beautiful and watching it in IMAX was definitely an experience. The production in this film is amazing. The house is cranky old but feels modern as well. The Jupiter's Claim set looks amazing and it feels so real. It feels like a real place I want to visit just to meet Jupe. The bloody practical effects are amazing and the costumes are very great and distinct in each scene. The visual effects are amazing and I'm glad this film didn't delay due to rumors that the VFX wasn't going to be finished in time. But it looks well on the big screen. The UFO itself is simple yet amazing. It's scarier in the final hour of the film and when it turns into its final form, it's beautiful yet disturbing. That's why it's called a spectacle my reader. The cinematography is beautiful because it was filmed by Hoyte van Hoytema who did Dunkirk and Tenet. He filmed it with IMAX 70mm film cameras and it looks beautiful on the big screen. I saw it at the biggest IMAX theater in Chicago and it looks fantastic. This is the perfect film to see in IMAX 70mm and an experience I won't forget. A lot of jaw-dropping scenes and the night scenes feel legit. The night into the sunrise scene was beautiful with a mix of gray and black color grading. A lot of beautiful steady shots and Hoyte delivers every shot like it's his final one. Beautifully executed and he remains one of the best cinematographers working today. He's coming back for Nolan's next film in IMAX 70mm and the teaser trailer looks spectacular. But what really made these memorable scenes in this film was the score. The music is fantastic and it pays tribute to Spielberg's films including Jaws. It starts to feel like Spielberg around the final act and it feels epic. The music really elevated me and Michael Abels really outdone himself again with his past two films with Jordan Peele. "The Run" score is my favorite track in the film and it felt like a mix of Jaws and classic horror music. That was brilliant. I really loved the score and I hope he continues collaborating with Peele. Overall, the production itself was fantastic and the film feels like a huge blockbuster on a smaller scale but done very well. There are no negatives about this film except that this film will confuse and divide audiences. Some will think that the monkey scene didn't make any sense or some will find the plot confusing. Plus, the alien part will disappoint audiences, and Steven Yeun's character Jupe didn't do much in the film. Plus, I felt like some scenes were stretched out in dialogue scenes only. But that's a little nitpick for me. Not everyone will think this film will be amazing but at least they will earn the enjoyment of this film. For me, this film was fucking brilliant on every level and I need this on Blu-Ray! Perfection. This film is a masterpiece spectacle on every level. The filmmaking is brilliant and Peele delivers some of the best sci-fi moments in cinematic history. I'm not kidding. This film was a total blast from start to finish. Beautiful IMAX cinematography, amazing story, fantastic characters, well-written social commentaries, and brilliant directing. This film was truly a spectacle and it's a film that will stick with me forever in my film heart. I really really loved this film and I highly recommend you watch it on the biggest screen possible near you. It's legit one of the best science fiction films I have ever seen. A masterpiece. I cannot wait for Peele's next project and I bet it's going to be bigger and crazier! Now Playing Only in Theaters in IMAX and Dolby Cinema. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
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