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Realism, resources, and poverty are the key elements that make up Nomadland’s emotional theme. Director Chloe Zhao chose real-life nomads, and their performances are so authentic that viewers are able to see the emotions from their own life and hardship in this deep motion picture drama. This moving film is powerfully invigorating with its setting featuring life after the Great Recession in rural Nevada. Frances McDormand plays Fern, someone who strives to make ends meet no matter the cost. She delivers a legendary performance in this heartbreaking ride of doubts, financial constraints, and planning for the future in a dark time. Nomadland leaves a trail of questions.

In Nomadland, the introduction focuses on Fern, a middle-aged woman who lost everything in the Great Recession and is on a journey to start over again. She lives in a van and works at an Amazon warehouse to try to get by. Fern has adapted to living in her van and learning to be resourceful as she journeys through the American West. Fern hopes that she can find a path to regaining a life of normalcy again. The friends she makes along the way are the ones who are real nomads. Those real nomads are Gay and Linda (played by Gay DeForest and Linda May). They have adapted to believing their nomadic life of poverty is their new normal, but Fern has bigger aspirations.  The question is whether she can financially overcome her challenges.

The struggles in Nomadland, especially the financial constraints that Fern encounters, are partially due to how rural Nevada lacks the resources for assistance she needs. There are times where her vehicle is glitchy and times where she realizes her health may not be the greatest.  During these scenes, the cinematography is faded with cold blue skies and the mountains of Nevada. The film’s artistic and dramatic direction portrays that the journey for Fern is much harder than she realizes. It is a journey of heartfelt moments and emotional realizations and the film’s storyline and scenery left me breathless by how captivating it was.

In this leading role, Frances McDormand has the talent and attitude required to deliver a outstanding performance as a woman determined to not give up on life. She has the serious looks, the intense attitude, and the attention-grabbing voice which combine to make Nomadland believable. As she says in the film, “It’s strange that you encounter people who invest their whole life savings, go into debt, just to buy a house they can’t afford.” Her honesty and realistic tone send the message about what she may be trying to pursue despite the hardship she has endured taking a toll on her character. It is emotionally riveting!  Nomadland is a film of sorrow and joy that I found to be a true artistic masterpiece. I believe that McDormand’s role is Oscar-worthy, and that Zhao has made her mark with a film that explores values, beliefs, and morals that her audience will cherish. Four stars.

David Fincher is a director who is all about silhouettes, repeated action-take shots, faded scoring, and cinematography.  He is an auteur director who found his inspiration to be a filmmaker from the George Roy Hill classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). In Mank, Fincher’s well-known film elements are there, however, this movie is different than what his fans normally love. His father, Jack Fincher (who was born in 1930 and died in 2003), wrote the screenplay for Mank based on the era in which he lived. Mank is a biographical setup with black and white cinematography. The film is a true story that transitions between present and past through the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz (played by Gary Oldman), called Mank for short. The performance by Oldman as Mank is enthralling. Mank’s connections and subsequent withdrawals with various people in the era of 1930s Hollywood is thought-provoking. The luminous story is where the film is a triumph due to the brilliant acting by Oldman and directing by Fincher.

The plot of the film is solely focused on Herman J. Mankiewicz. Throughout the film, the movie business is featured during an era when there were no technological advancements. The film shows Mank in many endeavors ranging from coming up with film ideas for success to determining what studios are looking for.  Most importantly, the story is about Mank trying to achieve accomplishments in the film industry, while also dealing with his alcohol abuse. The other characters question Mank and his behavior throughout the movie.  They include Marion Davies (played by Amanda Seyfried), Rita Alexander (played by Lily Collins), Charles Lederer (played by Joseph Cross), William Randolph Hearst (played by Charles Dance), and many other important characters who question his decisions. The worrisome, yet entertaining factor is that the scenes take place during the development of the Orson Welles’ classic Citizen Kane (which officially released in 1941). Oldman has the sense of humor, the looks, and the egotistical manner which defines his performance and makes it Oscar-worthy.

I found myself having to pay more attention to Mank to stay interested. Most of Fincher’s films hold your attention with his action scenes and harrowing moments.  To be entertained by Mank, it requires viewers closely follow the story and the characters. While watching the film, I had to focus on the conversations and the various conflicts to keep myself abreast of the premise.  Mank’s erratic humor can almost lead towards disbelief. “But you sir, how formidable people like you might be if they actually gave at the office.” This quote is from a conversation with one of the filmmakers and it truly shows that everyone associated with Mank knows he is a self-absorbed cynical jerk much of the time. Mank does not care, and that is where I found the movie captivating.  Specifically, he keeps pushing to take risks with his films and his health issues in order to make bank in a time when Hollywood’s focus was on the content speaking to audiences over the plot of films.

Mank is brilliant with its acting, its story, and its structure, but it is quiet. I enjoyed it, but not as much as originally expected.  Some portions were rewarding mainly due to the cinematography, the writing, and how faithful it is to the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz through the eyes of David Fincher and his father. I believe that it is an essential film that simply requires viewers to think…a lot.  Three stars.

From the start of the film to the end, David Byrne’s American Utopia is a monumental and uplifting performance that many fans will cherish for ages. The film is set in concert-mode and it continues throughout its hour and forty-five-minute running time. The stage setup, the camera angles, and the cinematography combine for pure astonishment that will blow viewers away. The songs of Byrne are ones that will elicit deep joy from fans.  I felt positive vibes throughout the film which endured even once it ended.

There is not a plot, but there is an objective throughout the concert/movie. Specifically, the objective is to deliver zeal to viewers through the eyes, the words, and the music of David Byrne. Byrne creates many compelling connections and brings them to life through diverse choreography that make his American Utopia performance extremely unique and genuine. Many from around the world will feel touched by the credit Byrne gives to each of his performers in the concert/movie. Giving credit is only one way that Byrne touches the hearts of his fans in his American Utopia performance. He also credits much of his music back to The Talking Heads, the group that Byrne was the master and creator of which sadly that came to an end in 1990. Byrne has still got it…with the voice, the dancing, and the brilliant mind for music that explains and celebrates life.

What especially spoke to me throughout the film’s concert performance was how during the transitions between songs, Byrne speaks to his fans about life and challenges. He has a wonderful way of tying his commentary to the upcoming songs on his setlist. Director Spike Lee (who is brilliant for catching and repeating angles in his films) directs the concert in a narrative tone. With classic songs ranging from Slippery People to This Must Be the Place to Burnin’Down the House, I felt like I was transported to a universe of a bright mindset. Byrne’s connections to life and reality created through his songs had me longing for more. It is abundantly clear that Byrne is a true influencer of life-changing music.

I saw David Byrne back in 2018 at the Auditorium Theatre of Chicago when he was touring with American Utopia. That was an amazing concert, but at a much different venue. The Hudson Theatre of New York featured in the film made the experience much more intimate and joyful. Especially in these uncharted times, David Byrne’s American Utopia is the concert film that audiences need and will love right now. I loved Byrne’s words both in and between his music, and I loved the audacity of Lee’s directing which made this a visual concert experience like no other. Four stars.