NOBODY (2021) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch | Bob Odenkirk | Christopher Lloyd | Connie Nielsen
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The bus fight scene is lauded for its realism, showing Bob Odenkirk's character sustaining and reacting to damage, unlike many 'John Wick'-style fights.
- ❖Bob Odenkirk's subtle facial expressions effectively convey Hutch's internal shifts from a mundane existence to his killer persona.
- ❖The movie's inciting incident is unique: Hutch deliberately 'kicks the hornets' nest' to find an outlet for his suppressed rage, rather than merely avenging a wrong.
- ❖The film masterfully establishes the monotony of Hutch's routine life, making his eventual 'relapse' into violence feel earned and relatable for viewers experiencing daily grind.
Insights
1The Bus Fight: A Benchmark for Realistic Action Choreography
The hosts highlight the bus fight as a standout sequence, praising its realism compared to other action films. They note that Bob Odenkirk's character, Hutch, visibly takes and reacts to damage, making the fight feel more authentic and impactful. This contrasts with more stylized action where protagonists often appear impervious to injury.
The hosts state, 'I think what I love is that he takes so much damage. That's what really makes it beautiful is I think it feels more like a proper actual fight.' They compare it to 'John Wick' films, where damage is often 'forgotten.'
2Bob Odenkirk's Subtle Performance and Character Transformation
Bob Odenkirk's portrayal of Hutch is commended for its subtlety and the clear, yet understated, shifts in his character's demeanor. His ability to convey deep internal conflict and a dormant killer instinct with minimal facial changes is a key factor in the film's success.
One host remarks, 'the subtlety of his expression was so good where it's just like the shift. Yeah. The like dead expression and then the killer.' They specifically mention the scene where Hutch realizes the kitty cat bracelet is stolen, noting his face barely moves but 'you read literally everything in that scene.'
3Subverting the Inciting Incident Trope
The film cleverly deviates from the typical action movie formula where the protagonist is forced into action. Instead, Hutch actively seeks out conflict, using the stolen kitty cat bracelet as a pretext to unleash his suppressed violent nature, effectively 'kicking the hornets' nest' himself.
The hosts discuss, 'the inciting incident of him getting attacked in his home isn't really the true inciting incident... he's the one who kicks the hornets's nest.' They note he was 'looking for a receptacle for all this anger that he's got.'
4The Relatability of Monotony and the Need for 'Variation'
The film's opening sequence, depicting Hutch's repetitive and mundane daily routine, effectively establishes his character's ennui. This setup creates immediate empathy and makes his eventual 'relapse' into violence understandable as a desperate search for excitement and purpose.
The hosts relate to the 'day in dayout monotony' of adult life, stating, 'pretty much any working adult, I think, can relate to with with very little exception of just that day in dayout monotony.' They add, 'We need a little bit of variation of something new... to feel exciting.'
Notable Moments
The bus fight sequence, where Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) takes significant, visible damage while fighting multiple assailants.
This scene is highlighted as a masterclass in realistic action choreography, setting a high bar for the film's visceral combat and distinguishing it from more stylized action films.
Hutch's subtle facial expression when he realizes his daughter's kitty cat bracelet was stolen, triggering his 'action mode.'
This moment showcases Bob Odenkirk's exceptional acting, conveying a profound shift in character with minimal movement, signaling Hutch's dormant killer instinct awakening.
The revelation that Hutch's father, Pops, and brother Charlie are also former operatives who relish rejoining the fight.
This expands the film's theme of suppressed violence and the difficulty of retirement for individuals with a 'special set of skills,' creating a compelling family dynamic.
The film's opening montage depicting Hutch's repetitive, mundane daily routine.
This effectively establishes the character's ennui and the relatability of his 'wormy life,' building empathy and justifying his eventual violent 'relapse' as a search for purpose.
Quotes
"I think what I love is that he takes so much damage. That's what really makes it beautiful is I think it feels more like a proper actual fight."
"It feels like September's almost gone... I don't know when the video is going to come out, but like at the time felt like September was just flying by. And so I watching that opening bit of just like the little beats that are all the same and it's the same days over and over again and you can just watch a week go by in a few seconds. I absolutely get that because, you know, relatively speaking, we've got a very exciting job here... but still it's like the same commute. It's the routine. It's the same time in, it's the same time out, and you can really watch sort of life disappear."
"The inciting incident of him getting attacked in his home isn't really the true inciting incident, right? Like he goes out, he's a man on a mission, you think it's going to lead to a whole bunch more stuff and then it's not. They were just a desperate family... and so then he walks away and then looking for a receptacle for all this anger that he's got, he's the one who kicks the hornets's nest."
"The subtlety of his expression was so good where it's just like the shift. Yeah. The like dead expression and then the killer."
"I tried the retirement thing. Lunch, nap, sweep. But god damn it, I fail. I've missed this."
Q&A
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