Nobody

The simplicity and directness of the 1980s, the audiovisual drive of twenty-first century action flicks and the most unlikely action hero ever. But above all, the enormous enthusiasm that literally oozes from the film. Ilya Nayshuller delivers a more classically conceived action film this time, but Nobody had me smiling with satisfaction from start to finish. Bob Odenkirk shines, whether in a loser or killer mode, and gives it his all. The story doesn't shy away from its simplicity and thanks to the short running time you don't even think about it too much, and the director isn't afraid to pepper it with enjoyable dark humour or slightly bizarre moments. And even the cheesy bad guy can be as scary as he is funny. Then there's the imaginative, perfectly paced, bloody and cleverly devised action. I was a little worried that Nobody would want to follow in the footsteps of John Wick, but director-producer David Leitch and his team ended up going in a slightly different direction and betting on action that's more bloody, painful, and ugly. In terms of inventiveness, Nobody keeps up with Wick, but it goes in a slightly different direction and it’s nice to see that it's not just a rip-off with an unexpected star, but a confident and, for all intents and purposes, well-functioning action romp. I enjoyed it immensely. (16/04/2021)

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)

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)

A John Wick alternative with a seemingly goofy plot and without the sometimes complicated kung fu combos. While there's no shortage of fine characters and a fast pace with a very simple script, the second half is merely a clichéd countdown of level-up situations, including the over-the-top finale. By around the halfway mark, the film was set to be an absolute smash, because the bus brawl will belong in the showcase of action films, just like the stairs scene in Atomic Blonde. This guy from Russia could be big in some time. (17/04/2021)