Monster movie?

Monster movie? An homage to cinema? A screed against capitalism? A statement against the erasure of Black contributions to American history? All of the above or perhaps just simply escapist fare?

After reading the script and watching the movie, I think it’s all of the above and escapist fare. What Jordan Peele has achieved with Nope is to explore several different narrative and cultural themes while creating an edge-of-your-seat entertainment. Another way of putting it: Nope is a popcorn movie that engages the mind as well as emotions.

I’m still unpacking the overall narrative in my mind because its various subplots, some of which are tied to the storylines of specific characters, feel at times as if they are off-center. I found myself at times thinking, “Where is this thing going?” That’s the thing with most conventional Hollywood fare: We know where the story is headed. Not necessarily how it’s going to get there, but there is a kind of comfort knowing the confines, if you will, of the overall narrative structure. And yes, in Nope, we eventually know we’re going to a have a Final Struggle (culminating event in Act III) where humans (or in this case, human) battle the alien.

But there are all those themes, all those ancillary characters (e.g., Jupe, Antlers) whose storylines have to be serviced … and somehow tie into the plotline (A-story).

So, I hope this week to come to a deeper appreciation -- and maybe understanding – of Nope. Next: Plot.