Film Review: “Nope”
@JordanPeele’s ‘Nope’ is a masterful and meditative exploration of blackness in cinema — with roots hidden in cowboy culture, showmanship, animal taming & the circus, and of course the wild western. The first film ever made of horse locomotion depicted an unnamed black rider. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/LZgRX42LIN
— Sajid Sarker (@SajidSarker) September 29, 2022
I’m reminded of HBO’s Watchmen immaculately blackwashing the origin of the superhero genre (roots again in the strongman of the circus). The ‘Lone Ranger’ of a black gunslinger on Tulsa theatre screens, based on Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves, inspired Hooded Justice in his … 2/4 pic.twitter.com/Rs3zeHDZty
— Sajid Sarker (@SajidSarker) September 29, 2022
… tragic origin. Just as Muybridge set out to capture the impossible shot of black jockey bolting atop horse, so do Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, and gravelly Michael Wincott who set out to capture their own impossible shot. 3/4 pic.twitter.com/IhqHRdqAgh
— Sajid Sarker (@SajidSarker) September 29, 2022
It is genius how Peele captures the metaphor: that our protagonists realise the viewer is titillated by their fear. Maybe we aren’t trying to be scared, but seeking catharsis in the fear of those whom we are viewing. Peele’s filmography deserves a name à la Cornetto Trilogy! 4/4 pic.twitter.com/HDZQLb5dvC
— Sajid Sarker (@SajidSarker) September 29, 2022