Nomadland (2020)

This is easily one of the most acclaimed films of the year and a frontrunner for the Oscar for Best Picture. It marks the third feature from Chinese-American director Chloé Zhao. Having watched her previous work, >, I was quite impressed, which led me to set my expectations fairly high for this project—especially given the glowing critical reception. However, I have to admit that the film didn't quite hit the mark for me. Given the subject matter and the director's established style, I went in fully expecting a slower pace, and I certainly don't mind a meditative tempo. My issue lies with the protagonist; despite appearing in almost every single scene, she felt incredibly distant, both emotionally and in terms of character depth. After over 100 minutes of screen time, I feel as though I couldn't even tell you two meaningful things about who she actually is. Furthermore, the movie maintains an unrelenting, singular tone from start to finish, composed of short, sometimes disjointed scenes that reminded me of those indie dramas you see coming out of small-town Midwest cinema. All things considered, I would give it a generous passing grade, but I wouldn't watch it again, and I suspect it will fade from my memory quite quickly.

Boring... 5/10

The movie isn't even really about the nomad lifestyle. It’s more about the grind of getting old while stuck in this brutal capitalist machine. At least, that's how it feels for the first two-thirds before the whole thing just loses its way. The directing is sharp enough, I guess—using those minimal shots and wide landscapes to set a mood works fine—but everything else? Forget it. It’s forgettable. Watch it once if you must, then move on with your life. If this is supposedly the best film of 2020, it says a lot about what a garbage year it was. And honestly, that goes for more than just movies.

6/10

I thought this movie was absolutely stunning—poetic, heartbreaking, yet somehow optimistic all at once. It’s really a story about survival and carving out your own path in life, no matter how unconventional that might look. I actually ended up tearing up by the end... it hit me right in the feels 🕺
Maybe that's because I know what it's like when life hits you like a runaway semi-truck, then decides to circle back and run over you two or three more times just for kicks. And then you're expected to just get up and keep going, right? Find a way. This woman (and several people around her) did exactly that. She found a way that was uniquely hers.

Look, I get why it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, and honestly, it probably won't be for people looking for some typical Hollywood formula. It’s slow, the pacing drags a bit, there isn't much dialogue, and the lead character is totally locked away in her own head. If I had to agree with any of the critics, it would be the claim that Fern doesn't show any emotion or refuse to open up. That's debatable, though, considering she had plenty of chances for both romance and deep friendship and turned them all down. But then again, wouldn't the whole point of the movie be lost if she had just stayed with that guy or moved in with her friend?

It’s a special film, and I’m really glad I watched it exactly when I did in my life

The film was so gripping that I drifted off after forty-five minutes—and subsequently wiped it from my hard drive the following day. I was expecting something akin to a high-octane Michael Bay production... instead, I got something utterly, mind-numbingly boring.

Honestly, even that three-billboard sequence feels like a cheap shot at an Oscar-winning film...
I actually liked the part where she turns down "love" and rejects her friend's help...
It felt authentic, if you ask me...
I mean, when you're completely broken and haven't even pulled yourself together, romance isn't exactly top of mind—nor is jumping into a relationship from a place of weakness, if I can put it that way. She really needs to embody a much stronger personality in this film...
John handled the friendship aspect similarly...

I’ve already posted my full review over on the front page of Variety...
Just to update my thoughts after a second look: I went back and watched some other stuff by Chloe, and frankly, I think her earlier work was much more successful...

Finished it yesterday. I expected more struggle, but I sat through the whole thing without much fuss. The issue isn't the lack of drama—not in a genre sense—but in the most basic storytelling sense. McDormand is predictably understated; she plays the role with such raw, unpolished grit that you don't even expect "acting," making the whole performance feel as plain as Nivea hand cream. The most fascinating part is the sheer vastness of the landscape. As for McDormand herself, her involvement is actually the most glaring example of that unbearable hypocrisy—that constant sucking up to the artsy Hollywood elite. It’s all lovely—the scenery, the authentic faces—but nobody would even watch this if it didn't feature a festival-circuit A-lister in a supporting role, basically acting as Lady Gaga for aging industry academics.

The only thing that actually worked for me in this movie was the incredible soundtrack; it fits the vibe perfectly, especially with how the cinematographer captures the mood. Everything else felt pretty mid. I honestly don't get why everyone is making such a huge deal out of this one.🍿

To be perfectly honest, I just don't get this whole nomad lifestyle obsession! Some people claim they're just victims of a ruthless capitalist system... but if you ask me, living out of a van, bouncing from one campsite to the next, is way harder financially and practically than just having a steady job and renting an apartment somewhere...

Just imagine constantly switching jobs... always stuck in those adaptation and adjustment phases... and on top of all that, fighting for survival in a van when it's -5°F outside!

Because from what we see in the movie, our lead actress is actually hardworking and responsible... which means she hasn't just given up on life.
I find the bums under the bridge who do absolutely nothing much easier to understand... they just lie there waiting to kick the bucket! But these people? I don't get them at all.🤔
Think about it for a second... what kind of "freedom" is that? What did they actually find?! Purpose? Please!

They are prisoners of their own disappointments and failures! And now, through this way of life, they are consciously destroying their own essence!
Pure masochism! Systematically and slowly tearing themselves apart is the only pleasure they have left. It's tragic...

I have to wonder... how did this movie generate such massive hype in the first place?! It was an absolute favorite for the Oscar from the moment the nominations were announced, so it’s hardly a shock that it actually won.

vividstag16 said:Honestly, I don't get this whole nomad lifestyle thing at all. Some people claim they're just victims of a ruthless capitalist system... but if you ask me, living out of a van, jumping from campsite to campsite, is way harder financially and practically than just having a steady job and renting an apartment somewhere...

Just imagine constantly switching jobs... always going through those adaptation phases where you have to adjust to everything... and on top of all that, you're fighting for survival in a van when it hits -5°F!

Because from what we see in the movie, our lead actress is hardworking and responsible... which means she hasn't just given up on life.
To me, the people who make sense are the transients under the bridge who do nothing... just lying around waiting to kick the bucket! But these people? I don't get them.🤔
Think about it for a second... what kind of fuckin' freedom is that? What did they actually find?! A purpose?!

They're just prisoners of their own disappointments and failures! And now, by choosing this lifestyle, they're consciously destroying their own existence!
It's pure masochism! Systematically and slowly tearing themselves apart is the only pleasure they have left. It's sad...

I wonder... how did this movie even get so much hype?! It was an absolute Oscar favorite from the moment nominations were announced, so it’s hardly a shock that it won.

In the States, you need decent credit to even rent an apartment; usually, they want three to six months of rent upfront, plus security deposits and all that.
If you actually paid attention, every single actor in this movie is working low-paying, seasonal, temp jobs. How the hell are they supposed to save up enough for rent with that?
Sure, you could live in a motel, but that's more expensive and lower quality than owning your own vehicle.
What you unfortunately don't grasp (and you don't have to, really) is that in America, there's a massive, rapidly growing population of people over 60 who are living on the edge of poverty or are outright destitute—people who are too sick or old to work. This movie is just a tiny snapshot of that reality.
There are plenty of good documentaries on the subject; look some up if you want. Or just keep believing the nonsense you wrote. ☕

Look, I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’m talking about what’s actually happening on screen here. From where I’m sitting, the lead actress looks perfectly capable and healthy. And her friend? He seems just as fine, doesn't he? Plus, by the end, we see he’s got a family and a solid support system behind him. Honestly, none of the others look sick or even remotely unfit for work to me. Hmm... I don't know.🤔

I mean, I don't really see this as a direct hit on capitalism, even if you want to read it that way... since the whole plot basically kicks off in the wake of that big recession from about a decade ago. But honestly? It feels more personal. Fern just decides to embrace the nomad life on her own terms after losing her husband and getting laid off when her company folded. She doesn't even seem interested in going back to her old life, even when David—one of those nomads who chose to settle down with his son's family—offers her a place to stay.

Exactly. This feels more like an ode to eccentricity than any actual critique of society or the system.

The movie is mind-numbingly dull... if people already find Malick boring, then what is this supposed to be?? Just a vanity project for Frances, indeed. ☕

Henry Mitchell29 said:Yeah—it feels more like an ode to eccentricity than an actual critique of the system or society.

Let’s be real—it's that exact system that allows them to maintain their entire lifestyle. Which one did they settle on?They aren't "modern pioneers," regardless of how one side character in the film puts it. It’s just an unskilled workforce looking for any road they can drive on—knowing there’s always a city just over the horizon where they can lean on family for interest-free, likely unrecoverable, loans when their vehicles break down. "Nomadland" isn't a critique; it's a glorification of an American system where even these social outcasts always have gas money—and the absolute worst that can happen to them is being told they can't sleep in a private parking lot.

northerncrane4 said:Look, if we’re being honest, this whole setup is exactly what lets them live the life they chose for themselves. They aren't some group of "modern pioneers" like that minor character in the movie claims. It’s just unskilled workers driving their rigs down gorgeous backroads because they know there’s always a town over the horizon—a place where they can call family to borrow cash interest-free, and let's be real, probably never pay it back. “Nomadland” isn't actually a critique; it’s basically a tribute to the American system where even these semi-antisocial types always have gas money, and their biggest nightmare is just getting kicked off a private parking lot at night.

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What northerncrane4 is getting at actually makes sense. Whether you're looking at the States or any other country in Europe, there are always going to be old, sick, or just plain incompetent people hanging around. It’s not like there are these nomads driving around in vans living in mobile camps avoiding everything.

The whole system in the USA is exactly what enables those American nomads to exist in the first place. In America, finding temporary work is incredibly easy. You know? Like, if you hit a rough patch, you can just pick up a gig for a few days, grab some quick cash... and just keep that cycle going indefinitely. It works completely differently here.

Actually, because of my line of work, I find myself traveling to states like New Jersey and Florida quite often. Everyone I've met—and most of them are immigrants who moved to the US—tells me the same thing: in America, absolutely anyone who is willing to put in the effort can live a decent life. You just have to work! But the point is, everyone gets a shot because the work is always there.

I caught this about a month ago, and honestly, I didn't walk away with any real impression... if anything, it felt a bit monotonous and just plain tedious. Plus, it feels like the Oscars have turned into nothing more than a giant political circus lately.

Ugh, just finished watching it.
I didn't have high hopes, and honestly, even Frances McDormand rubs me the wrong way sometimes—she always comes across as a bit pretentious and trying too hard to be "indie." I was texting a friend earlier who started it a few hours before me; he messaged saying, "I'm only thirty minutes in and I already want to die," and his final verdict was, "The whole movie is just people talking. And everyone is a hippie with terrible hygiene. I'm not feeling it." We usually have pretty similar tastes, so I hit play with a healthy dose of skepticism.

It actually ended up being better than I expected. As much as I consider myself a rational person and totally get where northerncrane4 was coming from, a part of me desperately wants to see even a tiny glimmer of human resilience or the possibility of healing.
No matter how much I dislike that lifestyle—and believe me, I’m typing this from the comfort of my own home, surrounded by my things, with lunch simmering on the stove while my cat naps on her blanket—I realize that everyone chooses their own way to fight, and they cope with pain however they can.

I'm genuinely surprised I liked it.

And yeah, I did cry during one scene and at the very end.

northerncrane4 said:If we're being honest, the system is exactly what allows them to maintain the lifestyle they've chosen. They aren't some kind of modern pioneers, despite how one side character in the movie describes them. It’s more like an unskilled workforce that wants the freedom to drive those beautiful backroads, knowing there's always a town just over the horizon—a place where they can call family for a zero-interest, likely unreturned loan if their vehicle breaks down. "Nomadland" isn't a critique; it's actually a tribute to the American system, where even people living on the fringes always have gas money, and the absolute worst-case scenario is getting kicked off a private parking lot.

The system is exploiting them, and you've completely missed the point...

bluesurfer6 said:I caught that movie about a month ago and, honestly, it didn't really do anything for me... if anything, it felt kind of monotonous and just plain dull. And let's be real—the Oscars have turned into a total political circus.

I second that last part!
To be totally blunt, the soundtrack was the only thing that actually left an impression on me—the actual plot was pretty meh 🥱