Nobody is directed by Ilya Naishuller who, as Bob Odenkirk recounts, wanted to make a movie with someone who is now a drama actor, but had a background in comedy. He loves action movies and after his success with Hardcore Henry (2015) he wanted to continue with something fresh.
Ilya talks about Nobody as a story about addiction. Our protagonist Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) was clean, no violence for decades. With overcorrection he became a ‘nobody’. He’s an unhappy man who rediscovers himself and embraces his dark self. Let’s not forget that this is written by Derek Kolstad, who wrote the John Wick trilogy (with a 4th in the making). We know to expect a lot.
The film opens with Hutch in what appears to be a police interview room. Smoking a cigarette looking quite nonchalant, who opens a can of tuna and feeds it to a cat that he’s stowed away in his jacket. We cut to his two interviewers who ask, “Who are you?”. This is going to be anything but your run-of-the-mill action flick so let’s find out who he is.
In a montage of breakfast making, coffee cup filling, spread sheet entry and bedtime, we can see the monotony that Hutch has to deal with in his day-to-day life. What is notable is that Hutch and his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) are separated by a large pillow, blocking view of each other as they sleep. Things ain’t great. The montage continues again; breakfast, coffee, spread sheet, bed, again and again until the montage is just a blur. Each night after his wife falls asleep, Hutch is up and walks around the house. There’s something in his psyche that won’t let him sleep. I mean a giant pillow between you and your wife is enough to keep you awake.
We know something is bothering him, and we know from the trailer, he has a past. This secretive past is known by his wife but unknown to his son Blake (Gage Munroe) and young daughter Abby (Paisley Cadorath). One night during his wonderings, he notices a disturbance in the house. Two people have broken in. In a scuffle, Hutch manages to ‘get the drop’ on one assailant, golf club in hand, but doesn’t take the swing. Instead, he alerts the two intruders and makes them leave, not before one of them sucker-punches his son, who had attempted to assist. Hutch doesn’t want to awaken something dangerous in himself. Until…
There’s a fantastic scene where Hutch is riding home on a bus, where a car has just pulled up next to it and crashed. A group of drunk gang members pour out of the car and decide to take their evening's frivolities on to the bus and harass the passengers, especially a teenage girl. Needless to say; Hutch snaps. In scenes reminiscent of John Wick (2014), Taken (2008) and the close contact pugilism seen in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) we see Hutch completely unbridled. In air-punching, fist-flying, teeth shattering violence, we can’t help but side with Hutch, hey, these guys deserve it, right?
As a side note for this, scene, all I’ll say is… If that was a paper straw, he’d have died.
Due to this encounter, Hutch manages to tick off Russian gangster and drug lord Aleksey Serebryakov (Yulian Kuznetsov) an absolute maniac who has a penchant for singing in front of his night club’s captive audience. His maniacal tendencies are shown when he’s walking to the club through traffic, directly on the stage in said night club and after performing a terrible song walks to his private balcony where well-wishers and patrons are clapping and jeering, He notices one heavy-set bad-ass looking type is just staring, no appreciation of his performance, so Aleksey decides to pick up a wine glass, smash it, and drive it directly into the face of this unsuspecting big guy.
Hutch is now in direct conflict with Aleksey and the violence, explosions and body-flying action that ensues is delightful. One problem for me, there isn’t enough. I wanted more. The fight sequences are expertly choreographed, you wince at every moment you’re supposed to wince at and certainly laugh at every moment you’re not supposed to laugh at (or supposed to laugh at). It’s so much fun.
Hutch is in contact with Harry (RZA) a confidant from his past, who offers advice through the medium of an old radio, very secretive indeed. Hutch also has support from his father, David (Christopher Lloyd). Yes, Doc himself, yes Taber himself. Great casting! David is now in a home for the elderly and yet, still has his wits about him and is able to coach Hutch and offer advice. The casting in this is really something, Bob Odenkirk, RZA and Christopher Lloyd - it just works.
I loved the feel of the film, it felt like a new telling of a man stuck in a life he didn’t quite expect, think American Beauty (1999) if Spacey’s character had a black-ops past. Also, we had the feeling of the classic 80s action movies, especially in the climactic scene which has the resonating single guitar note with slow above shot pull-out of the carnage reminiscent of Lethal Weapon (1987) and the like.
Bob Odenkirk is fantastic, I mean just think of the two main television series he’s famous for: Breaking Bad (2008) and Better Call Saul (2015). He also brings the humour he honed writing and performing on SNL (1975) and countless other comedy series. He certainly does play an anti-hero. We shouldn’t really support his choices, ultimately, they are wrong, but Odenkirk has this ability to switch from comedy to drama in the blink of an eye, which means his acting can catch you off guard.
I’d also like to mention the soundtrack, skilfully chosen tunes that fit with the feeling of the film in all moments of action, drama and comedy. Honestly, when I saw RZA credited in the opening credits, I thought he was repeating his genius from his soundtrack work in Kill Bill (2003). Only when I saw him on screen did I twig.
With some seriously impressive scuffles, genuine heart-felt drama and jokes a-plenty. Nobody was a delight. I will see it again and again. I hope there are more in the series, albeit a prequal or sequel. When I know when it will be streaming, I’ll be shouting about it. So, keep an eye out!
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