Chloé Zhao's 'Nomadland' is immersive and poetic with a stunning performance from Frances McDormand
- "Nomadland" was directed by Chloé Zhao, who also wrote, edited, and produced the movie.
- It follows a drifter named Fern (Frances McDormand) who lives like a modern-day nomad in the American Midwest after losing everything during the recession.
- Zhao proves she is a master filmmaker in this slow-burning character study.
- Frances McDormand's performance is also terrific.
- Some viewers may find the movie too slow, but it's a poetic and purposeful film.
Chloé Zhao's latest film "Nomadland" could not be more different than her upcoming Marvel movie, "The Eternals."
While "The Eternals" promises to add lavish visual effects and sci-fi set pieces to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Nomadland" is the opposite. Based on Jessica Bruder's book of the same name, this movie is a quiet, understated film that meanders through its story. There isn't really a plot at all, but character studies told with patience and poetry.
The story follows Fern (Frances McDormand), who lost everything — including her husband — during the recession. Fern lives life as a modern-day nomad traveling the American Midwest and living in her beloved van.
Why you should care: Chloé Zhao is a talented director to watch
Much will be made about Frances McDormand's internal performance as Fern, but this movie belongs to Zhao. It's a showcase for her talents as a filmmaker. Surely, she is a shoo-in to become only the sixth woman to be nominated for best director at the Oscars.
With "Nomadland," Zhao confidently helms a film that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it well. Zhao has crafted a character study about the sort of person we don't usually see in movies, and it's so exact and specific in its portrayal of Fern's world that it feels like we're watching a documentary rather than a fictional film.
In fact, Zhao populates the movie with real-life drifters she met while making the film. It adds depth and texture to the story, making it feel like an immersive experience for the audience.
When the final credits roll, the on-screen text reads: "Written for the screen by, edited by, and directed by Chloé Zhao," letting us know that this impressive director did all three jobs (as well as produced!) with prowess and technique.
It feels like a statement, and so does this film.
What's great: It's a gorgeous film to watch, and McDormand anchors the movie with one of her best performances
This is the sort of movie that features a lot of "beauty shots," or long, wide-angle shots that showcase the scope of Fern's world.
Zhao and cinematographer Joshua James Richards capture every detail — from the light of the sky to the vans and their world-weary inhabitants — to make each scene look like a visual poem. It doesn't feel vain, either. It feels like it's bringing us closer to Fern and her experience.
It also seems to bolster McDormand's performance. McDormand has always been a witty, intelligent actress, which is why she excelled so much in both the Coen brothers' "Fargo" and Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." She won best actress Oscars for both of those roles.
In "Nomadland," she is quieter, more laid bare and toned down. But she conveys just as much emotion and depth with a singular glance or knowing smirk as she did delivering evocative monologues in "Fargo" and "Three Billboards."
Fern herself is reserved, particularly towards David Strathairn's fellow drifter David. But McDormand's performance and Zhao's script slowly opens Fern up with empathy and realism. It's rewarding to watch.
McDormand could easily win her third Oscar for best actress here. At the moment, she's probably the leading contender.
What's not: It will be too slow for some and there isn't really a plot
It would be hard to believe that anyone could fault the technical prowess of this movie, but the style of it will not be everyone's cup of tea. As audiences become more and more used to plot-heavy, bombastic movies like those featured in the MCU, "Nomadland" feels like a deliberate standout.
The movie quietly moseys on, following Fern as she lives her life as a drifter, taking odd jobs here and visiting other nomads there. Nothing in the movie is rushed, which means it will be too slow for some.
The last few scenes of "Nomadland" also frustratingly felt like the movie was ending, only for another scene to begin. It promoted a feeling of restlessness — particularly as this is a film with no real plot or dramatic stakes to keep an audience invested in any mainstream way.
The bottom line: An expertly crafted and beautiful movie that offers a lot
Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland" won't be to everyone's tastes, but it is a thoughtful character study if you are able to switch everything off and immerse yourself in Zhao's world. The film was expertly created and anchored by another terrific Frances McDormand performance.
Grade: A-
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