NOBODY - Movie Review (7/10)
2021’s Nobody is another addition to the John Wick genre – ordinary man with a shady past is pulled back into his old life through unforeseen circumstances. But there is a key difference here that makes Nobody as fun as it is – the main character himself (portrayed wonderfully by Bob Odenkirk). While somebody like John Wick comes back because “he has no choice”, Hutch Mansell is a man who craves the action. The montage of his day of day life clarifies his frustration, a man just looking for a way out, someone who’s tired of being a “nobody”. And this transfers into a character who feels in control, adding to his charisma. The bus fight, the first true action sequence, is choreographed beautifully. It isn’t Gun-Fu, but a brutal, slow, and realistic take on a gang fight. Hutch uses his environment and slowly yet satisfying deals with the enemies. This is also where Bob Odenkirk deserves credit for doing most of his own stunts. Because the camera doesn’t need to cut around his body double, we get a clear and concise view of all the action which only adds to the fun. The fights are also quite diverse, moving from hand-to-hand, stealth, locked-room, and full-blown shootout. All the licensed music really adds to the atmosphere, building great bridges between the action. I also liked the glimpses at a deeper world, and I’m excited for the sequel setup. Overall, though it can sometimes feel like a John Wick reductive, Nobody manages to build a unique enough vision for itself. There isn’t an overarching tale or complicated motivation: its just a story about a guy who’s tired of being a nobody, and it creates an extremely fun adventure from that premise.
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