Ty Watches "Nope"

Over the weekend my wife and I went to see "Nope". I remember when the first preview came out I mentioned how this may be the movie to get me back into the theaters. I did see two movies before this one, but I was most excited about seeing "Nope" on the big screen. I am a big time Jordan Peele fan. I love "Key and Peele". "Keanu" is a delight. Both Peele and Keegan Michael Key were probably the only reason to ever watch "Mad TV". And "Get Out" and "Us" are masterpieces. I prefer "Us", but both movies are unique, original, scary, funny and just flat out good. There is a reason why Peele has won an Oscar and is making the type of movies he makes. He is masterful at his craft.

What grabbed me most about "Nope" was how little I knew about it. This was purposeful on my behalf, and I have to guess on Jordan Peele's side as well. I did not want anything spoiled for me. That was how I approached his first 2 movies and that is the only way to do it. I want to be shocked and surprised and think about the movie for days after seeing them. That is exactly what happened with "Nope". I had no idea. I only knew that Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer were starring in it. Even when people started to theorize what was happening, or more info was coming out, I stayed away. I had some downloaded podcasts I skipped because they talked about the movie. I didn't want to know. And it was perfect.

I was enthralled by this movie. I loved almost every second of it. I will try to be as spoiler free as possible, but some stuff may slip. Sorry.

"Nope" is very different from "Get Out" and "Us". It is more sci-fi than horror. There is some humor, but not nearly as much as Winston Duke gave in "Us". The movie is also very, very big in scope. It is a spectacle. A lot of people online have said that this is Peele's version of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and I really agree with that sentiment. Peele goes for it in "Nope" and that is wonderful. He takes a big swing. Some stuff doesn't connect, but that is few and far between. There were a few little things I would have cut to make the movie a tight two hours, but that is me being very nitpicky with a movie I adore. The way Peele tells the story of this movie had me engaged the whole time.

The very, very short synopsis of the movie is about a family that has horses that work in Hollywood and they are losing money. There also happens to be an alien-like creature eating people on their land. The moral, at least in my opinion, and other people's that I have read, is you cannot tame a wild animal. Peele tells that story brilliantly. The movie is put into parts. Each part has a title, and it is an animal's or person's name. Then we get to see the title person/animal go through their story. It was fascinating. Again, I do not want to spoil anything, but Gordy was my favorite/most horrifying story in the whole movie. It was done exceptionally. The performances were really solid too. Kaluuya is great. He is dour and down and over his head and does not want to be in charge. Keke Palmer is fast paced, the heart of the movie, she is funny, quick witted and commanding. She deserves awards consideration. Keith David is barely in it, but he is memorable. Steven Yeun is dynamite. I was telling my wife how great his post "Walking Dead" career has been. He is doing wonderful things. Michael Wincott has the coolest voice I have ever heard. And Brandon Perea, who I have never heard of, is really, really interesting and does a very good job as an added person to Kaluuya and Palmer's family farm.

I have now listened and read other people's reviews of this movie and they are generally mixed. I think people expect too much from Peele. They want everything he does to be this thought provoking, mind melding process. I do not know how these people did not see that in "Nope". I have not stopped thinking about it since I saw it. It is living in my head at the moment. I keep going back and reading more and more about the movie everyday. I loved it and I definitely recommend it for everyone.

"Nope" is a spectacle that should be seen on the big screen. I know that I'm glad I watched it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches the Trailer for "Nope"

When the Super Bowl was on, during a commercial break, they aired the trailer for the new Jordan Peele movie "Nope". I, like everyone else for that matter not involved in the movie, had no idea what the movie is about, but I am damn sure going to see it. Hell, I will even go to a theater if I have to.

The thing with Peele, he has knocked two grand slams out of the park with his first two movies. "Get Out" is original and hilarious and scary and wonderful. Peele got a much deserved and well earned Oscar for that movie. And I liked "Us" even more. Again, it was original and unlike any type of psychological horror movie I have ever seen. I still, to this day, think about the ending of that movie. So when he announced this new movie I knew I was going to see it. I also told myself I would not make the mistake of waiting to see this movie. I do not want a thing spoiled for me, and nowadays, people are spoiling movies left and right. Even if you ask them not to, they will spoil minor details that prove to be major. Luckily I avoided spoilers for "Get Out" and "Us", but I feel like it will be next to impossible to avoid spoilers for "Nope". They will be on the internet moments after the movie is released. So, like I said, I may have to go to a theater on opening night to see this movie. I do not mind wearing a mask, and I can go to an early afternoon show with the hopes that the theater will be pretty empty.

I did watch the trailer during the Super Bowl. I watched it intently. I went so far as to ask my guests, don't worry it was my mom and in-laws, to be quiet so my wife and I could focus, and it was amazing. I have since watched the same trailer four times, just trying to parse what I saw. The good thing about this trailer, there is little to nothing in the way of giving away what the movie may or may not be about. There are horses. I see that Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya and Steven Yeun are, possibly the leads. There also seems to be some kind of thing that blocks out the sun, causing all the lights to go out and the electronics to turn off. We also see people running away, some getting sucked into the sky and Kaluuya riding away on a horse. There is also a commercial shoot in the beginning with Palmer talking about her ranch, at least I think.

When watching this trailer, and then analyzing it, this is exactly what modern movie previews should be. Most trailers give away far too much. Some will spoil major plot lines or twists. It can be very frustrating. But Peele did not do that with this movie or any of his others for that fact. He is so good at showing the littlest bit, but at the same time making you want so much more. Like I said, I have watched the trailer five times and I am still trying to figure out what I saw. But that is great. That makes me want to see what this movie has in store. I want to know what is coming to this town. I want to know what is sucking people into the sky. I want to know about the ranch. I want to know about Yeun's character and his job and how this affects him. I want to know why Palmer runs away screaming "NO NO NO". I want to know why Kaluuya is so calm, yet he rides that horse with a fire in his belly. I just want to know what "Nope" is about. And I also want to see what kind of brilliance Peele has in store with this new movie.

I cannot wait for July 22. And until then, I will be here analyzing the trailer.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "Judah and the Black Messiah"

This morning while my daughter was in preschool and my son was in elementary school, I decided to finally sit down and watch "Judas and the Black Messiah".

From the moment I heard of this movie, and saw the trailer, it was on my must watch list. I am really into African American history, I have read a ton on The Black Panthers, and this seemed to be the most real story to date on Fred Hampton, and his importance in American history. The cast is also absolutely top notch. I am a humongous LaKeith Stanfield fan. Love him in "Atlanta", "Sorry to Bother You" is one of my all time favorite movies, he was excellent on this most recent season of "The Eric Andre Show", the dude can act. I enjoy Daniel Kaluuya as well. He first appeared on my radar in the "Black Mirror" episode "One Million Credits". Then I saw "Get Out", which was followed by his role in "Black Panther" and I most recently saw him in "Queen and Slim". He's great. I am a Jesse Plemons fan too. He is becoming one of the nicest creeps in Hollywood. He is a force. All three of these guys are the main dudes in this story, and they all absolutely nailed their roles. Sure, Martin Sheen is eerie as J. Edgar Hoover, Dominique Fishback is wonderful as Deborah Johnson, Ashton Sanders, from "Moonlight", has a nice and important part, and Lil Rel Howery is only in five minutes of the movie, but man is he memorable. Really though, this is Kaluuya and Stanfield's movie, with some nice spot duty from Plemons.

In the movie Stanfield plays former car thief turned FBI informant Bill O'Neal. He is so good as the rat. He is squirrely and squirmy and it appears at times he is going to be had, but he always finds a way out somehow. Stanfield nailed the nerves, then belief, then betrayal and looking out only for himself to perfection. I openly rooted for him at times, but in the end, I loathed him. I know Stanfield and Charlamagne the God have some kind of beef over this role. What Charlemagne needs to understand, Stanfield is acting. He is not this person he is portraying. Charlemange needs to get off his jock because Stanfield was incredible. He is a creep, and he deserves all the bad he gets in the end. Plemons is the FBI agent who convinces Stanfield to be his rat. Plemons plays this role very monotonous, but it is clearly on purpose. He is an officer trying to catch someone who he believes is a "bad guy". He is as creepily quiet, and almost endearing in this role as he was on "Breaking Bad", or the season of "Fargo" he was on. He is really good at playing someone who is sympathetic on the surface, but in the end, is a real bad dude. The scene where he sees O'Neal at the Black Panther rally speech is frightening.

With all of the great actors in this movie, Daniel Kaluuya is the absolute star of this movie. Every award and accolade he is getting is totally understandable. He nailed it. He gives a powerhouse of a performance. When he spoke as Fred Hampton in this movie, when he had an audience, I felt it. I would go to battle with this man. He was so impassioned and powerful and commanding and thoughtful and political and downright charming. For every Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr, we also had a Fred Hampton. Someone who isn't as well known, or studied, but needs to be. And Kaluuya brought this person back to life. I was moved by his performance. I watched him jaw agape because of his tremendous performance. His speech scenes were the best, but the prison stuff was very good, and his death, the day before, was brutal and heartbreaking. Kaluuya should be one of the frontrunners for Best Actor. I'd say it is Delroy Lindo for "Da 5 Bloods", or Kaluuya for this role. They are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack this year. I loved him in this movie and in this role.

I highly recommend this movie for everyone to see. It is important American history brought back to life by some really great actors, writers and a director. Check it out. It is great.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.