Nobody

If you see Nobody and Naishuller's previous Russian pogrom Hardcore Henry on the same day, you'd almost think Ilya had farted a bit. Understandably, though, that's because this young directorial hopeful mainly had to show that he could make a film beyond gimmickry, with characters that were more than just amusing caricatures. While I don't know if it was very successful, but in a genre now dominated by overstylized John Wick spectacles, Atomic Blonde, and Gareth Edwards massacres, we could probably hold that bar a little closer to the ground. But it's a fact that nobody came here for character nitpicking, so let's stop worrying about the film (a dumbed-down mid-life crisis in which Kolstat managed to sell the same script a second time, doctored it with all sorts of picked-over heists from True Lies to The Equalizer, all in the name of small-town values) and address the action scenes. While what I remember most from the film is the awesome one-shot in which the antagonist walks into a bar, still I have to admire in particular the imaginative and joyful disposal of the poor and virtually mentally incompetent bad guys. Perhaps the blood is digital and the night scenes often don't look like they're set on planet Earth, yet most of the fatalities can still be enjoyed with fulfilling relish and the fifty-seven-year-old Odenkirk is simply believable. In the context of a TV movie (as we should approach a VOD production), a nice lunch break that will be fine for talking to your mates about how record companies should make the rights to use songs they own more expensive again, because this movie à la jukebox thing is becoming quite an annoying trend. (16/05/2021)

“Give me the goddamn kitty cat bracelet, motherfucker!” This magnificent action masterpiece that flips the finger to all the trashy action movies and hated entities that will suffer and sigh about how little dramatic, emotional, and philosophical its. I suffered through those boring artsy dramas for over a year, so fucking finally it's my turn for satisfaction, and I've reached more peaks than a horny nymphomaniac. Nobody takes the best from Taken, The Equalizer, and John Wick, and even though it borrows a few ideas, it upgrades, evolves and transforms them to a much bigger and more intense level, and it's an absolute gem in every way. Bob Odenkirk, at 58 years old, as a family man, shows that he has bigger balls than the entire Russian mafia. He trained intensely for two years, learned martial arts, worked like crazy for the role of an action hero, and you can fucking see it. He's a splendid and charismatic badass hero with a mysterious past that demands respect and nobody wants anything to do with him. He delivers great lines, is very convincing in action, very resourceful, intelligent, and you can see that he's still just a human, so he gets his ass kicked as well, he feels fatigue, vulnerability, and exhaustion. A precise technical aspect, a perfectly fitting soundtrack, honest old-school craftsmanship with well-utilized R-rated action, lots of great and funny ideas, the insertion of exaggeration into action scenes works absolutely perfectly, and there are several moments that I feel like replaying immediately. The grandpa is excellent, and his messing around with a pistol and a shotgun is awesome. The fight on the bus is properly tough and uncompromising, the shootout in the house is atmospherically intense, and the finale in the warehouse literally shatters your balls – I purred with pleasure like I haven't in a long time. (Putting the sniper rifle on the shoulder, firing and instantly knocking out the other guy with the recoil just blew me away). I also liked the Russian villain, and the action and the story itself are definitely above standard. If an action fan doesn't appreciate Nobody, they might as well commit seppuku or find another hobby. American cinema won't make a better action movie. After watching, of course, sweaty like Usain Bolt running the 100 meters, and that's how I like it! I hope for a sequel already in theaters and preferably with Naishuller collaborating with Evans and Stahelski. 10/10. (15/04/2021)

Derek Kolstad opened his few years old screenplay for John Wick in Microsoft Word, went through it and replaced every instance of the name “John Wick'' with "Bob Odenkirk", chopped out/adjusted/adapted a few things here and there, and suddenly a new screenplay was born! I really cannot believe he did not put in some more effort! However, it is really stylishly shot, it draws you in visually, and the carnage and havoc wreaked by the trio of Bob Odenkirk, RZA, and especially the eighty-two-year-old Christopher Lloyd (!) is dynamic and just incredibly cool, however, the recycling of the screenplay itself was a real slap in the face and really undermined the entire experience. (23/09/2021)

If you prefer art films and find explicit violence off-putting, steer clear of this movie. I have no idea if the filmmakers were serious or just wanted to have fun shooting a good old action movie, but I was royally entertained. I did enjoy the film throughout, I just won't give it a five because it smacked too much of Home Alone at times. (24/07/2021)

Like Liam Neeson in 2008, another great actor has become an absolutely believable action hero, and someone that we did not expect it from. And Nobody benefits from how great an actor Bob Odenkirk is, just like from the action scenes directed by Ilya Naishuller. We are interested in Hutch's gradually uncovered past, we are interested in how much his loved ones actually know about him, and at the same time we are having fun with scenes such as the huge brawl in the bus, which reminds us that even such heroes get hit. Along with all this we get humor to lighten it up at the right moments, a great song soundtrack, Christopher Lloyd... Although, unlike John Wick, I don't want a sequel all that much, Nobody is still a great film. (24/06/2021)