This is the film that has officially pushed me over the top when it comes to features released during COVID. Is it me or is everything completely dark and brooding and sad? And, to think that a lot of these movies were already in production before last March when every popcorn kernel hit the fan. Can you imagine what creative types will come up with after being stuck in the house with a wife and kids for ten plus months?
Yep, "Nomadland" is a bizarre bit of solemnity passing as entertainment. Oh, don't get me wrong. I have always enjoyed the work of Frances McDormand. But, while she is usually goofy and a trifle off-center, she is downright downcast in this one which is nothing more than a cinematic sympathy card. McDormand will likely be nominated for an Oscar whenever they can find sequined face masks for the audience. And director Chloe Zhao will get lauded for absolute genius.
But it is so depressing. And listless. It's like you mixed some Xanax with a couple of choice opeoids. After almost two hours, you wonder why you didn't just spend the time counting the number of tissues in a box of Kleenex.
McDormand plays Fern, recently widowed and now of a factory job in Nevada. For a while, she takes a job at Amazon (it was a matter of time before a film character worked there). Bored out of her skull, she sells all her belongings and moves into her van which she aimlessly drives around the most barren landscapes ever photographed. The scenery here will never be confused with the likes of the National Geographic channel. The movie was shot in color, but they needn't have bothered. Everything looks black, white, and gray.
Fern's travels take her from one dour character to another. Most are also living in cars and vans. They remind us that they are not homeless. They are houseless. Oh. Meanwhile, in a strange quirk that has confused me ever since, all the supporting characters sport the same first names as the actors playing them. Huh? I mean, the only other time I can remember that ploy was in an old episode of "Ozzie and Harriet."
Fern drives around and stops for a while, then drives some more and then stops someplace else. You've clearly caught the local and you can't wait to be home. But, since I watched "Nomadland" in my living room, I was always there. At least, I didn't fall asleep as I have been doing with all the other buzzy Hollywood fare during COVID. I stayed awake mainly because I wanted McDormand to miraculously turn into a character from one of her other movies like "Fargo."
Right, yeah, right. Except "Nomadland" is so wrong, yeah, wrong.
LEN'S RATING: Two stars.
Dinner last night: Leftover chicken cacciatore.
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