Nomadland is a movie that is being raved about by almost everyone who sees it, but do I think it is worth a watch?
Several of my friends saw Nomadland before me and could not say enough positive things about it. This had me very excited to watch it, but unfortunately, I think it set my expectations too high. The movie is only an hour and forty-five minutes and I found myself struggling to pay attention. It dragged on a bit, and was boring, and quite frankly, depressing.
Nomadland is about a woman named Fern, played by Frances McDormand, who goes on a journey around the country after losing nearly everything in the 2008 recession. Her town literally no longer exists, as the zipcode was removed, which is something that actually happened. Nomadland follows her as she meets other nomads and discusses their lives with them. What brought them to this point, and just what their story is.
What Worked In Nomadland
These characters are actually played by real life people and these are their real life stories, which I found very interesting. I love the idea of having them tell their stories, making this movie kind of a documentary, but not really. Many of their stories are absolutely heartbreaking and I am glad that attention is being brought to them.
The overall story that is being told is heart wrenching, and quite frankly, hard to watch at times. I will say that the journey through the country, and the scenery that they showed, was stunning. There are many great cinematic moments and half of the stills from this movie could be hung up as paintings. Simply gorgeous. That was probably my favorite part about Nomadland and I admit, it had me missing traveling.
I completely understand what this movie is trying to do, and I can appreciate it for that. However, there are some issues I have with this film as well.
What Didn’t Work In Nomadland
Right now things are not too great in the world. I think I can safely say there is no question of that. Nomadland was a depressing watch for me, and if I had to do it over again, I likely would have skipped it all together.
Besides being depressing, it is also very slow. It is only an hour and forty-five minutes but it felt so much longer. I had a very hard time not getting distracted while watching it and caught myself almost falling nodding off here and there. Maybe this means I should go back in and give it another try, but having drank a cup of coffee right before watching it, I can assure it was the movie that made me tired.
Overall Thoughts
While I understand Nomadland is meant to take viewers on a journey along with Fern, too much of it fell flat for me to make me say it is worth a watch. However, I know I am in the minority here so if you care to watch it for yourself, please do!
I wish I had loved this film, I really do. Honestly at this point I am not sure I can even say I enjoyed it. It was just too slow, depressing, and boring for me to get sucked in. All that being said, the last few minutes had me teary eyed, so I guess it did make me feel something!
About Nomadland
A woman embarks on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession.
Nomadland comes to IMAX theaters on January 29th
and traditional theaters and Hulu on February 19th.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
32 Comments
I agree completely. Everyone raving about this movie, and I just don’t get it. It feels very well made but it’s a very boring story that basically goes nowhere. It has no story elements to keep any interest. I was nodding off in the middle and I never fall asleep for anything, so this was quite the accomplishment. It was so drab and depressing, yet the cinematography was great. It had no plot device to make you wonder what would happen. It was like a “year in the life” of a nomad, and it’s not an exciting life by any means, perhaps more boring than the average person, which is remarkable considering that.
The acting was great from Francis, but this is a very far cry from the quality movie 3 Billboards. It’s neat that the rest of the cast, save one fella were real nomads. They did a great job and had an authentic feel to them.
I just don’t get who would be entertained by this. I can’t help but think many people are suggesting they love this movie more than they really do as a kind of political bragging point or something, if that makes sense. “I’m so liberal, if I didn’t have xyz excuse I’d be a nomad! Because I’m so complex and have had a hard time in life, just like the lead!”
It has a message, but it’s not a good movie. It has almost no entertainment value. Movies that provide a message and entertainment are much better in my opinion.
I would highly recommend this movie to people suffering from issues falling asleep. This was cinema ambien.
“I just don’t get who would be entertained by this”
I was. I was entertained by it. I like to study the human condition. I like to see people living authentically, and I went into it expecting it to be a quiet and introspective.
I just don’t get who went into it expecting it to be something exciting that sucks you in. It’s not a Marvel flick or something.
This movie is mean, and a punch in the gut for people who literally HAVE to live like this. McDormand is awesome as always, but us audience members all know they get to go back to their cushy lives: medical care, food, and a gorgeous home.
Way to exploit the homeless, and give people an Oscar. #GrossedOut
Just watched it as well and by watched I mean skipped forward continuously to lessen the pain. What a depressing movie. Slow isn’t the word for it…painful to watch is more like it. All the driving while looking out over a barren land and then stopping to walk through a barren land, and then standing and looking out over a barren land and a script that could fit on one page with the caption…Fern is sad at the top would be a good way to summarize. I am now bingewatching a comedy to pull myself out of the dumpster fire this moving was. Love Frances McDormand. Hated Nomadland.
All those who raved about the acting were right but great acting doesn’t necessarily mean a great movie. Sad and depressing I struggled to stay with itbut thought maybe, just maybe it would have an uplifting ending. But no it did not and honestly I wish I hadn’t watched it but having watched it I feel entitled to give my opinion.
OMG i thought i was the only one who thinks it is depressing. I was like whybis she on the road if it doesnt make her happy? I dont remember her just taking in the experience. Or maybe the kind of nomad theyre trying to portray are those people who kust move from one place to another because of the need to. But then, is her life really that sad? Help was offered to her but then she refused it. And the dialouge implied that she is out there because it is a great adventure. But then the film really didnt show that. So, why was fern really out there? Is it because ahe is too proud to accept help? Is it because she lovesoving around (which they faoled to show). Why is she nomadic? I may be missing something here but its just not that obvious. I just seemed that the nomadic life theyre trying to show is depressing.
I came away with the idea that the reason Fern (specifically) is out there is because she is so irreparably depressed and defeated that she simply accepts the fact that she deserves nothing better than that sad, depressing existence. Even when offered an alternative, she refuses the way out.
She is being portrayed as fiercely independent, a bit eccentric, and proud, but what she really is, is perpetually morose.
Nothing at all uplifting about this movie, not that that’s a prerequisite, but aside from the absolutely gorgeous scenic shots and natural beauty, this film inspired nothing but sadness.
Also they omitted so many aspects of this kind of nomadic, homeless camp type living- and none of those aspects are particularly ‘good’ – so it seems unrealistic at the core of this based on a true story movie…
I really like Frances McDormand. The trailer made it look like a grand adventure which seems like the perfect thing for all of us who have been stuck in our homes for a year now. But we gave up after 45 minutes. It was too depressing and slow. We have too much of that in our everyday lives.
I thought this was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Still being mid-pandemic and not knowing what the future holds, the last thing I needed was a depressing, slow movie that made me think of loss and death. The acting was fine. The movie was horrible. It literally made me so depressed I cried. I’m sorry I ever watched it.
It’s a quiet, introspective movie, for quiet, introspective people. It’s not an action flick, nor is it advertised as one. Still waters run deep. It’s not meant to “suck you in”. It’s a study in humanity. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A study in humanity? A true study wouldn’t leave out so many obvious aspects. Because it seems like they glossed over or outright ignored much of what makes up a real solitary homeless/ nomadic life; untreated mental illness, constant sense of danger, a feeling of disconnect, and oppressive sadness and hopelessness.
Well ok, the feeling of sadness and hopelessness permeates the entire film with no let-up for anyone, especially Fern. But then again, Fern keeps choosing to revert to the nomadic life even when others offer her a path out of it- from her own family as well as her friend, David. Why?
Fern seems to be able to accept her personal losses, but she still refuses to do what could possibly improve her circumstances and give her companionship and comfort. She seems perpetually morose.
I loved Zhao’s “The Rider”. I thought “Songs My Brother Taught” was a flawed but very worthy movie. “Nomadland” on the other hand not only NOT a great movie, it’s a bad movie. Thematically, it’s muddled. There is no story, just episodic events. If it was actually a character study, that would be okay, but you had a person who was withdrawn and loathe to connect in the beginning of the film and that’s what you had at the end. The experiences didn’t change her. Moreover, it’s not great acting by Frances. It’s not bad acting, but it’s one note, just like the writing. And “real people” are not superior to actors on film with rare exceptions (like in The Rider). Usually, they’re self-conscious and flat. The only good moment was when David Strathairn and his son play piano. That was beautiful and poetic. And yes, the cinematography is fine but nothing like what he did in Zhao’s first two films. A vast disappointment. My wife didn’t even want to finish watching it… we only did at my insistence.
I completely agree with the writer. So depressing. I am 61 and found it incredibly depressing and annoying that Fern had so many people who loved her and wanted to help her but she rejected them. This is a movie about the effect of unresolved grief and trauma later in life not about an admirable libertarian lifestyle.
I don’t mind depressing. What I mind is high-minded rich people making phony movies about the nobility of the poor. Here’s the moment when I turned it off–when Fern starts reciting a Shakespeare sonnet. The whole thing rang so treacly and false and pretentious.
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Oh, I so agree! While it does show an accurate side of life in the United States and I appreciate the candor and the grit of these people portrayed, it was depressing and hard to watch. In a year that we all want to be lifted or intrigued by what we watch, this does neither although if you are looking at it from a sociological perspective, it is worth the watch. Want to be entertained? Skip it
If you want to watch this depressing and boring movie, just remember you can quit watching it at anytime. When I became bored and depressed, I turned it off and I am sorry I wasted a second on it.
Thought it one of the most boring films ever. Quite engrossed for about an hour but then the story never seemed to progress and I nodded off several times throughout it. Acting was excellent, especially by Frances McDiormand, but switched off about half an hour before the end. Overhyped I feel.
This movie is mean– a serious punch in the gut to people who literally HAVE to live like this. McDormand is awesome as always, but us audience members all know they get to go back to their cushy lives: medical care, ample food, warmth, and literally back to their cushy lives.
Way to exploit the homeless, and yet give actors and their people Oscars.
None of these artists live in reality.
Yeah, I also “have to admit I didn’t love it”, but instead of sounding like an apologist (for not loving it) in my contempt for Nomadland, I feel like someone should be apologizing TO ME for wasting (however long hat film was) of my time.
Mincing words here will not be required.
The movie SUCKED.
I so completely second that. I couldn’t hold my attention and just can’t imagine how it is being raved about by so many, we critics have to seem like apologists. Oscar winner, really! If anything. it’s win shows what the Oscars might have come to…
yeah i agree it is a bit boring..and very sanitised. i turned it off half way through. It’s a soap documentary..a fake documentary. this is homelessness that’s quite cosy and warm. and Its SO overly sentimental, i didn’t watch the end but i can guess somebody died…
Actually, NOTHING happened at the end.. 🙂 just like in the rest of the movie…
Why would anyone apologize for hating this crap movie? It sucks balls.
I was really unhappy after I watched this. I thought there went three hours of my life I will never get back. Didn’t realize it was much shorter than that. I wanted to turn it off but kept telling myself to keep watching, something has to happen soon. It can’t go on forever like this. But it did and it ended without an ending. Still so angry. I loved the leading actress, she is so good. But I dont blame her or even resent her. In fact all the players did well. But it wasn’t good filmmaking to me. Movies like Smoke Signals, Shadowlands, The Hustler, The Milagro Beanfield War and a thousand others are incredible, quiet movies. Anyone who loved Nomadlands is a saint in my mind. And that’s cool if you did. But I want more from a film than Nomadland gave me.
extremely boring and unrealistic. this woman worked for over 30 yrs as did her deceased spouse and ends up living in an unheated camper .the recession of 2008 was not the great depression and this movie is a far cry from the movie The grapes of wrath. 15 minutes into this move I thought this is better than a sleepiong pill. absolutely dull.
Thought it one of the most boring films ever. Quite engrossed for about an hour but then the story never seemed to progress and I nodded off several times throughout it. Acting was excellent, especially by Frances McDiormand, but switched off about half an hour before the end. Overhyped I feel.
This film was another example of Hollywood misery porn, which checked off all the right boxes to have an Oscar nod imparted. I absolutely hated it. I have to agree with others who have made the observation that The Florida Project made most of the same points about the lives of the nomadic underclass in America, but with much more heart and with an actual story arc, unlike this film which just seemed voyeuristic.