Jordan Peele’s Nope to Colorism is a Yep to Great Storytelling
A modern spin on the alien-spaghetti western-sci-fi-horror genre
For those of you unfamiliar with Jordan Peele’s cinematic portfolio, you’re not alone. Nope is my introduction to the acclaimed Black filmmaker: producer, director, writer, and actor in various projects, and I am mesmerized.
I’ve also been warned by many that his other films may be too gory-horror-psychologically disturbing for me. Letting others know who also watch this as a first film of Peele’s and are unaware of his typical film style.
Have you seen the trailer for Nope? No? Yes? I’ve posted it at the end of the review so you can watch or rewatch if you wish. It doesn’t really make any sense. It’s odd in a way that made me chuckle under my breath and wonder at life’s absurdity.
Rewatching the trailer post-viewing, it makes total sense.
There’s a reason the trailer doesn’t tell you the plot. To know the plot will ruin your experience.
Nope is a serious work of art disguised as a kitschy spaghetti western alien horror sci-fi film. I’ve also heard it’s a celebration of Black joy. It’s something to think about.
The casting is phenomenal. The co-heroes of the movie are brother and sister pair OJ and Emerald Haywood played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. respectively.
The loyal yet oft-sparring brother and sister pair find themselves on a quest of sorts at their family homestead. They end up relying on the hilariously Eyore-mopey and lazy Angel, who works at an electronics store. Brandon Perea commands this role for maximum comedic effect. The apathetic type who’s given up on any joy in life unless there’s some kind of big payout.
Juxtaposed to Angel’s boyish laziness and wonder is OJ’s work, ethics, and loyalty to family history and Emerald’s creative artsiness with a commitment to teaching Black history to the public at large. The chemistry between these three actors is phenomenal.
I can’t leave out Ricky “Jupe” Park played by Steven Yeun. In Nope, Yeun he plays former child actor “Jupe” who experience a trauma involving a chimp violently losing it on set when he played Gordy. Now he runs a fun ranch experience that looks much like Six Flags and Disneyland had a baby — on a smaller scale.
OJ and Emerald are Hollywood horse trainers, so this makes sense.
Park is Asian. OJ and Emerald are Black. Angel appears to be of Latino descent. When I think of westerns, I think of white cowboys in old US films, but they aren’t a genre I watch. Emerald teaches some Black cowboy history to a Hollywood set, and therefore the audience, at the beginning of the film. I personally like the diverse cast. It normalizes BIPOC in this kind of movie, which has been available for white actors since westerns were invented.
In summary, without having spoiled anything, I hope. Nope is a lot of things. It’s absurd, much like life is absurd. This is most visually nailed in the Gumbies dancing in the desert scene. It’s funny. Humor is used to diffuse suspenseful situations and the actors have great chemistry for this. It’s artsy. The sound effects, set design, costumes, special effects — all of these details are attended to with great care.
And, it’s challenging, at least as a white audience member, to recalibrate which genres I am used to not seeing Black actors appear in.
Beyond race, it tackles the dilemma of what we chase as humans. Whast are we all hustling for? Is it worth the chase? What are our motives? Who would “win” in an equitable world? What are we all hustling for?
The subtext is strong and I’m gonna have to think about it for a while.
