Review: Us
Watch yourself.
Adelaide, (Lupita Nyong'o) her husband Gabe, (Winston Duke) and their two children Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex) are off to their summer home. After Adelaide reluctantly gets dragged to the beach and asks Gabe if they can leave in the morning, they start being terrorized by people who show up to their home and look exactly like them.
You've probably already read to go into Us knowing as little as possible and I agree with that. The less the better, even though the trailer truly does spoil a lot of things. I had good time watching this. It was tense, yet still had moments of amazingly subtle humor. As someone who frequently jokes when I feel uncomfortable, I liked that Zora and Gabe did that occasionally. It makes this family feel like real people and not just characters.
The actors are all fantastic, especially Nyong'o who carries the majority of the film. She had good chemistry with Duke. She was the serious parent and he the goofy one, I thought they played off each other well. The supporting cast of Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker aren't in it for very long, but I liked what they did as well.)
But there's one thing that needs to be said about Us. While it's very enjoyable throughout, and it's something I'd certainly watch again. It's one of those films where the more you think about it, the more the story kind of falls apart. I'm going to put a few questions I had in white text below for those who have seen the movie to let me know what you think too. If you are one of those people who don't take movies home with you, I don't think this will be an issue, but if you like to sit with them for a while you may find yourself picking this story apart. Still, I don't think you should avoid watching this for that reason. It's a very good film with an amazing cast, an interesting concept, beautiful little details, and an amazing score.
Recommended: Yes
Grade: B
Memorable Quote: "Dad, nobody wants your boat." - Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph)
Spoilers! Highlight over the white text below to read
1) Why didn't the real Adelaide try to escape the tethered since she was aware of the outside world? Was Red only allowed to get to the entrance because her doppleganger was there? Is that why Adelaide never tries to leave?
2) Was there only on facility? If they're trying to form a chain across the world, there had to be more, right? If so, how were they communicating to know Red's plan?
3) Were they only cloning people at the fair? Or are we to deduce that EVERYONE is cloned?
4) How did they survive after it was abandoned?
It's funny, questions 2,3, and 4 are ones I had but actually loved not having answers to. I think Peele could have taken the film in the direction where he explored more of that world but it would be a dramatically different movie.
ReplyDelete(SPOILERS) As for question #1 - real Adelaide was unconscious as she was dragged down below and cuffed to the bed. She didn't know the way back. As for how Red found her way to the surface, I have a theory on that which involves something we see with Jason. Maybe be entirely absurd though. LOL
But they had to uncuff her at one point and then she would be free to roam around and figure it out. It also brings me to another question, since she wasn't originall tethered, why was she forced to tether herself to Red? What makes that happen? lol
DeleteAnd also what's your theory?
Delete1. No one knows
ReplyDelete2. No one knows
3. Everyone lol, so that's even dumber
4. No one knows
Mess...it was such a well done movie but that script, I'm astonished Peele decided to go ahead and film it without working on it MUCH more
1) makes sense to me as to why she couldn't leave, but because they never flat out say that who knows if I'm right? lol. It's the best excuse for it, imo.
DeleteI don't really have any answers for those questions although I think it's best if they remain unanswered. As a film, it was a truly what the fuck moment. The whole human chain I think is more of a representation of community and solidarity rather than what Hands Across America was really about which was this false sense of patriotism in a fight against hunger and the homelessness. I knew that stunt was a bunch of shit.
ReplyDeleteRight, it was really the last thing she probably remembered from watching TV. I just feel like a few lines of dialogue could've answered those questions and then we wouldn't be here.
DeleteNice post.Keep sharing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any of the questions or the white part so I can't answer but it sounds like some of the films from the 70's that wanted to make you think but, in the end, you find out the writing was not that good.
ReplyDeleteYou have to highlight over them, but you're probably right. I usually don't need all the answers but in this case I would've liked a bit of them.
DeleteI think the revelation about Adelaide/Red at the end was included thinking more about theme than plot. I KIND OF get the movie's logic regarding your first question, but I had the exact same other questions regarding the scale of the world they created. Didn't mar my enjoyment of the film at all, but was definitely an annoyance after the fact.
ReplyDeleteGodDAMN, Lupita is GREAT in this.
Exactly. It didn't bother me during my viewing, it was only afterwards that I was like "wait, what?"
DeleteAnd YES Lupita!
I definitely enjoyed the movie and I'm all for having some unanswered questions that leave you thinking but your first question is the one that I just can't let go of, and it's really starting to annoy me!
ReplyDeleteThe first question seems easiest to answer but I wouldn't have to think of it at all had they just said something . lol
DeleteI have so many questions. SO many. Like: if they could Amazon prime over millions of red jump suits and gold scissors, why couldn't they also get some Doritos or something?
ReplyDeleteBut you know, I still really enjoyed the movie, and have been picking it apart every since, searching for clues, too afraid to rewatch!
LOL that's a good question too. How does this happen
Delete1) My guess is that Red was able to get there only because Adelaide was there too, and for the same reason, actually the opposite since Fake Adelaide was not there, real Adelaide could not escape
ReplyDelete2) I don't know
3) everyone in America
4) I don't know
It didn't make a lot of sense but I loved it. And Lupita was insanely good! Nice review!
She was! I would like to see this again.
Delete1) I like Sonia's answer.
ReplyDelete2) The answer lies in the info we're given at the very beginning. That "facility" is the thousands of miles of tunnels below the country's surface.
3) Everyone, but that's more philosophical than logical.
4) Red sort of answered that question during her intro.
Those rabbits must have been pumped with a bunch of extra vitamins lol
Delete