Nomadland

Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: December 4, 2020

7.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 342 Ratings

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User Reviews

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EFRAMMar 17, 2021

I'd heard about this film for weeks and decided to give it a go. I'm a Frances McDormand fan so I thought, well, lets see what she's up to. Five minutes in I realized I was watching a fictional account of a non fiction book. ( I had no ideaI'd heard about this film for weeks and decided to give it a go. I'm a Frances McDormand fan so I thought, well, lets see what she's up to. Five minutes in I realized I was watching a fictional account of a non fiction book. ( I had no idea that the film was structured that way). This left me disturbed, annoyed and bit confused . I kept on thinking, why not make this a true documentary with Frances McDormand BEING Frances McDormand and interviewing these wonderful "Nomads' who live their lives on the fringe of society. I understand how some people see this film as a milestone or a real triumph in character study, but I saw it as a bit of a manipulative exercise in taking real peoples stories and fictionalizing them for the aggrandizement of I can't imagine who. I won't get into the acting because the real people were so much more engaging than the stars, and that was the problem. The directing was at the best description adequate but nowhere near the skills et of someone like Aaron Sorkin, or Emerald Fennell who really created something amazing and impactful with "Promising Young Woman". I don't want to take anything away from Ms. Zhao. it takes a lot to get any film made, but in this case, I felt like a nomad myself, wandering between scenes trying to find an emotional truth to what she saw and portrayed onscreen. If this was a true documentary I believe it would have had a lot more impact. As a vehicle for Hollywood stars it fell far short of its intended emotional impact for me.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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OfengFeb 24, 2021

Meandering and romanticizing American poverty. Long pan shots of beautiful landscapes with ambient music == atmosphere although it seems that this is such a common trend in cinema nowadays, but it comes off as rather lazy film-making to meMeandering and romanticizing American poverty. Long pan shots of beautiful landscapes with ambient music == atmosphere although it seems that this is such a common trend in cinema nowadays, but it comes off as rather lazy film-making to me reminiscent of a film-student’s idea of what is “artistic” rather than being particularly deliberate.… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

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Lambo442Apr 23, 2021

If the purpose of art is to leave you feeling empty and depressed then this is a masterpiece. Nothing inspiring here, nothing to hold onto or that gives hope. Just a miserable, self-pitying woman wondering around bleak landscapes to sombreIf the purpose of art is to leave you feeling empty and depressed then this is a masterpiece. Nothing inspiring here, nothing to hold onto or that gives hope. Just a miserable, self-pitying woman wondering around bleak landscapes to sombre piano music. Even the homes she enters seem bereft of joy or life. It was painful to endure. The Director would probably say 'then it served it's purpose.' Gee, thanks mate...… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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mccullahApr 11, 2021

I'm 59 years old, and this is bottom 5 worst movies my wife and I have seen. Daughter hated it to. Annoying, not enjoyable and nothing interesting. A complete waste of time. This is like how some artist gets a monkey to draw art and getsI'm 59 years old, and this is bottom 5 worst movies my wife and I have seen. Daughter hated it to. Annoying, not enjoyable and nothing interesting. A complete waste of time. This is like how some artist gets a monkey to draw art and gets artsy people to buy it, who in the end really have no taste at all. There are no spoilers to give, its that boring.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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carldamnitFeb 19, 2021

I'm feeling pretty disappointed so far. I can't stop comparing this to an episode of Dirty Jobs, with Frances McDormand as whatever that guy's name is. All the characters are just monologuing at each other. it's driving me nuts! I reallyI'm feeling pretty disappointed so far. I can't stop comparing this to an episode of Dirty Jobs, with Frances McDormand as whatever that guy's name is. All the characters are just monologuing at each other. it's driving me nuts! I really wanted to like this too.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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MurrayT57Apr 25, 2021

This is the most boring movie I've ever tried to watch. The fact that it's up for so many Academy Awards is a depressing indictment of the film industry.

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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AniTitoJan 18, 2021

If Nomadland achieves anything at the academy it'd be a disgrace to its longstanding heritage of awarding films that leave an impact on its audience,and for me it left just none - not because the issue it addresses is insignificant rather itsIf Nomadland achieves anything at the academy it'd be a disgrace to its longstanding heritage of awarding films that leave an impact on its audience,and for me it left just none - not because the issue it addresses is insignificant rather its of prime importance but the presentation is slow, scattered, and doesn't capture your attention for too long. Frances Mcdormand had taken up more challenging roles in the past, and this isnt even near to her best. Finally, this film must be released immediately to the global audience instead of travelling through and garnering festival fever. Only then, can Nomadland be truly judged for its forgettable film-making.… Expand

9 of 16 users found this helpful97

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darkoS2kApr 28, 2021

boring boring boring boring oh and did i forget to mention boring and boring???

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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TaplingerApr 18, 2021

An hour and forty five minutes of Frances McDormand trying valiantly to keep her lips around what we can only guess are the biggest teeth in Hollywood. In the process she has 2 expressions: quiet and sad, and quiet and grimacing. This, ofAn hour and forty five minutes of Frances McDormand trying valiantly to keep her lips around what we can only guess are the biggest teeth in Hollywood. In the process she has 2 expressions: quiet and sad, and quiet and grimacing. This, of course, gets old rather quickly.

Then we have the dramatic technique of having real people (non-actors) stepping into the script. This makes for 2 possibilities: the director gives them 1 line to memorize and they recite it in a monotone, or they tell their sad story to the camera. The latter is fine and would be much better in a documentary. `… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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ScruffyTopazFeb 20, 2021

Garbage. No one dies for lack of healthcare or a decent job. They die because they feel like it, or because they are misfits with personal flaws. Go read the book instead.

5 of 27 users found this helpful522

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Shadowmoon24May 23, 2021

Boring **** **** **** **** boring **** boring **** boring **** and **** **** **** ****

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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TheghostgamebrApr 27, 2021

Boring, beautiful, astonishing. Basicaly made to get an oscar. Not worth to watch tho

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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psyFungiMay 27, 2021

It *almost* makes you think. It *almost* tells a story. It *almost* has a point of view, but the director cuts it off from doing any of these things every time. It has a vast landscape shots, but honestly, a lot of it wasn't "beautiful"It *almost* makes you think. It *almost* tells a story. It *almost* has a point of view, but the director cuts it off from doing any of these things every time. It has a vast landscape shots, but honestly, a lot of it wasn't "beautiful" just... vast and empty and untouched landscape. There's no story, certainly no "plot" to follow. Someone accidentally breaking her plates was perhaps the most striking moment in the whole thing. Or maybe... oh no! drama! the main character might be getting ill?!?! No, she just has an upset tummy, for no reason hinted before nor explained after.

And these nomads, carefully un-judged by the film-maker, portrayed as neither down-and-outs ("I'm not homeless, I'm houseless") nor heros, are on one hand free to wander the huge distances of America, yet unable to afford a spare tire. Somehow able to get instant, same-day keyhole surgery in America without any concern for cost, but desperate for a discount because they don't use electricity at the RV park.

It kinda looks realistic, but was also completely unrealistic.

The cinematography, acting and music all seem to make it emotional, but the lead character who we follow minute by minute had no inner life, despite tragedy.

Way, way overrated.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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zupatolJul 17, 2021

I'm really surprised by this film's score here. I haven't felt as much let down by critics since Disney's Star Wars reboot.

The film is a jarring mixture between documentary and fiction. It's set in a part of the United States where povertyI'm really surprised by this film's score here. I haven't felt as much let down by critics since Disney's Star Wars reboot.

The film is a jarring mixture between documentary and fiction. It's set in a part of the United States where poverty forces people into nomadism. This seems sad on the surface because it makes you work in unglamorous jobs and live in your car (that's probably the documentary part of the film?). But it's really the best thing ever (which is probably the fiction?). You constantly meet really great and warm people and form deep relations of mutual gratitude. Being a nomad you end up having to leave, but since they are also nomads you bump into them everywhere. Some of them are not so good at sounding profound, but it doesn't get worse than that, and they only try this maybe two or three times in the film. The hardest part in keeping up this lifestyle seems to be turning down the rich people who constantly offer to house you for free. Maybe this is a particularly privileged part of the US. That would explain why there are no black people to be seen anywhere.

This could still be a good fiction if it actually managed to bring the human stuff to life, but this did not work at all for me. In the least convincing scene of the film Fern suddenly becomes judgemental out of nowhere. The writers follow this up with a scene where Fern's sister praises here ability to "cut through **** Having served its purpose as an attempt of giving weight to the relation between the sisters, this aspect of Fern's personality promptly vanishes from the story. Also: is this an ad for Amazon?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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AvmOnOct 22, 2022

The theme is interesting: the sad reality of some people... but the movie is very boring. I have the feeling that nothing happened all movie, or at least the "story" could fit in 15 minutes.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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