Why Nope is one of 2022s best films!

Jordan Peele is one of Hollywood’s most sort after talents. Behind the camera he has become one of the most important voices in modern cinema. Winning an Oscar straight out of the gate with his incredible directorial debut ‘Get Out’ in 2017 for best original screenplay. Since then, Peele has continued his hot streak with 2019s ‘Us’ and now 2022s ‘Nope’. ‘Nope’ is Peel’s highest budgeted film to date, with a reported production budget of over $60 Million. The film sees Jordan Peele re-team with the star of his 2017 film ‘Get Out’ Daniel Kaluuya, who this time plays Otis Jr (OJ), the owner and operator of a Hollywood horse business, that sees horses lent to film and television productions. After strange occurrences begin happening at the family ranch, OJ and his sister Emerald (played by Keke Palmer) become the centre of what appears to be a UFO or UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) as they’re now called, hotspot. Peele has outdone himself again, creating his most cinematic film to date and quite possibly, my favourite entry yet. Today, I will be telling you exactly why Nope is among the best of the best so far in 2022. So, lets dive into Nope, breaking down the film and why its so good and memorable and don’t worry, no spoilers ahead.

The structure and inspirations behind the film - I am a sucker for any film relating to aliens or unexplained phenomena, so ‘Nope’ was ticking all the right boxes straight away. The film’s ability to both amaze and keep you on the edge of your seat is truly awe-inspiring. The general set-up of the film is something we have seen before, with the film drawing clear inspiration from M. Nigh Shyamalan’s ‘Signs’ and Steven Spielberg’s classic ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’, however there are subtle differences, including having representation in the casting, with our two leads being African American and the sub-plot of the tv show. These differences are inspired and, in my opinion, elevate the film. This is one of the most important elements of the film and has become a staple of Jordan Peele’s filmography. It is great to see.

The characters and the performances - One of the strongest elements of the film are the fantastic performances. Daniel Kaluuya is amazing as OJ, continuing his hot streak with films like ‘Get Out’, ‘Queen and Slim’, ‘Widows’ and now ‘Nope’. OJ is a man of few words, but Kaluuya masters the minimalist approach to his character, acting through his eyes and body language to convey his emotions, fear and personality. His character at times comes off as borderline unlikeable, but this works to the benefit of the film, as it plays into his character arc, with a satisfying conclusion. For me, Keke Palmer’s ‘Emerald’ steals the show. She is witty, outgoing, and lively, which is a great contrast to Kaluuya’s OJ. The supporting cast are all fantastic as well with Brandon Perea as Angel, the Fry’s employee that installs the cameras at their ranch to catch the alien on film. Perea is funny, and gives the character of Angel depth that you wouldn’t usually see from a comedic relief sidekick, something Jordan Peele does very well. We also have Michael Wincott’s cinematographer ‘Antlers Holst’ who is gruff and a perfectionist in his profession. His character is defined by one simple characteristic, he wants the ‘impossible shot’. All of these characters are fantastic and among some of the year’s best.

The scope and visuals – Another strong element of Nope is the way Jordan Peele presents a lot of the visuals in the film. It is a great looking film, with amazing visual effects and truly terrifying imagery. Peele shot a lot of the larger action set-pieces using IMAX cameras, with adjusting aspect rations to let the audience know when these scenes are using these enhanced cameras. The scope of this film is the biggest out of all of Jordan Peele’s films so far, as the subject matter invites (without delving into spoilers) invites amazing action set-pieces that utilise great visuals and sound. Another aspect of ‘Nope’ that really elevates the film to one of 2022s best, is the imagery used in the film. We have some of the best day-for-night cinematography I have ever seen. What this means is the filmmakers used filters and camera trickery to make sequences shot during daylight, to look like they take place at night. Another aspect is the horror imagery, the film pays obvious homage to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ and ‘Signs’ that really adds a visual flare to the film that we have yet to see in a Jordan Peele film. I love ‘Get Out’ and ‘Us’ but I think that ‘Nope’ is Peele’s most visually interesting outing to date.

Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’ is a masterful film, filled with amazing visuals, stellar performances and thought-provoking themes, that will leave you analysing the film long after the credits’ role. This is a must-own for film fans and those looking for something a little different. ‘Nope’ hits DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD November 9. Be sure to head on over to your local Sanity or online to pre-order your copy today.

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here