26 Mar Nobody Review

NOBODY

dir. Ilya Naishuller, starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, the RZA, Aleksei Serebryakov, and Christopher Lloyd

Nobody follows a man who helps a stranger being harassed by a group of men, only to become the target of a vengeful drug lord.

Hutch Mansell, unassuming, affable, and mild-mannered family man is floating through life working for his father in law at a nameless office. His humdrum life is interrupted by a home invasion that kick starts a number of events that leaves many people dead and many things in flames. As Hutch’s wife and son distance themselves after his cowardly performance during the home invasion, he comes to the defense of a young woman on the bus, toppling a domino that puts his family in danger and forces Hutch to fall upon skills long put to pasture. What follows is an incredibly entertaining ride of quirky characters, car chases, and karaoke.

Nobody will (understandably) draw comparisons to other movies that comprise the Old Men in Action genre: the John Wicks and the Takens and Equalizers will be the touchstones and barometers of success used to measure Nobody with. Where this particular film succeeds is in character development; Nobody sets a firm base for who Hutch is, where he’s at in his life, and anchors the audience who can sympathize with his day in and day out life rhetoric.

Acting wise, Bob Odenkirk has seemed to eschew his comedic personality almost completely these days. Now known far more widely for his portrayal of Jimmy in the drama Better Call Saul than his days with Dave Cross doing Mr. Show, Odenkirk has proven that he can also hang in the action genre. His unshaven, world weary Hutch is relatable the moment we see him on film; the way Odenkirk holds himself and uses his body to portray a beaten, downtrodden man makes for great acting. Comparatively, Aleksei Serebryakov playing villain Yulian Kuznetsov also comes across as a man who’s been battered by life and ready for a change. Another feather in the cap is how Nobody plays with its villain: the bad guys in the majority of Old Men in Action movies are flat, one note characters that are only on screen to sneer and dispatch faceless goons to be shot at by our heroes. Here, Serebryakov plays Kuznetsov almost as a reluctant villain, a man who’s just as eager to be through with it all as Hutch is. The only time we see any life in him is on the karaoke stage, leaving us to believe he’d be much happier entertaining people than being a sociopathic drug lord. Unfortunately, Connie Nielsen doesn’t have much screen time, but what little she does she uses effectively, playing Hutch’s distant and seemingly emotionless wife that exists to remind him he forgot to take the garbage to the curb. Still, anytime Nielsen in on screen is an enjoyable treat. Christopher Lloyd and the RZA round out the cast as Hutch’s father and half brother, respectively. While their screen time is also minimal, it’s always to a joy to see Lloyd on screen and the RZA’s sassiness makes for great comedic contrast with Hutch’s dourness.

Directed by musician and filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, Nobody is a master class on how to establish characters and tell stories quickly and efficiently. With a sleek 92 minute run time, the film flies by largely due to how fun it is. Naishuller’s simple camerawork is effective, choosing to let the story and the actors do the heavy lifting. The key to the enjoyment of the film is in how Naishuller bides his time, letting Hutch wind up as much as possible before exploding into the first full action scene. Whereas others in this genre are eager to get to showing the audiences what they came for, Nobody withholds the sweet treats to give us a reason to care about the characters first. The action scenes are expertly choreographed and believable; Hutch is no unstoppable superhero. The fights are brutal and people tire out but it’s Hutch’s determination that keeps him moving. The third act climax is a predictable delight, similar in tone and style to 2014’s The Equalizer, but still no less enjoyable to see some old men cut loose.

Overall, Nobody is a fun ride from start to finish. Clever directing, great acting from Odenkirk, and a quick pace makes the movie feel like an out of place summer blockbuster. With a great helping of heart and humor, Nobody has injected fresh blood into the usually dour Old Men in Action genre. Odenkirk shows us yet again why he’s one of the best working actors by delivering a world weary performance that makes the audience immediately empathize and relate to. This movie is perfect for a Friday evening with a few beers and some friends to (safely) enjoy it with. Nobody hits theaters March 26th.

Review by Darryl Mansel