ALL ABOUT NINA: Stunning Directing Debut With Inspired Lead Performance
In April I attended the Tribeca film Festival in New York City. There were a lot of great films, with plenty that I didn’t get a chance to see. One in particular that seemed to haunt me, because I had a feeling it was going to be stunning: All About Nina.
I was right.
A Change Of Scenery
Nina, (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a stand-up comedian in NYC. She’s fierce in front of a crowd with an assortment of humor that ranges from misanthropic musings to gory descriptions of her periods. All her work is upfront and blunt, and as a fierce female artist Nina is a character we don’t see enough.
There’s a layer of strength and empowerment, that as we learn as the film continues, is a barrier. On the outside Nina seems ripe with confidence, but it is clear from the beginning that there’s more there than meets the eye. When her eventual break down comes it’s expected, but none the less impactful. The trauma and abuse she’s suffered has hardened her, but it hasn’t defeated her.
She’s also a lush and can’t seem to hack dating. She has an on and off again boyfriend Joe (Chace Crawford), an abusive married police officer, that she can’t seem to shake. As time goes on, following the high of the crowd, she begins to careen downwards. After her performances, she vomits, and often picks up strangers. Despite how miserable he makes her, Nina continually finds Crawford in her bed. When she’s pushed too far she realizes she needs a clean break.
Her agent sets up her for an audition for Comedy Prime in Los Angeles, and a house to stay in. Her roommate is another client of her agents, Lake (Kate del Castillo) an eccentric writer.
It doesn’t take long after arriving for her to meet someone. Enter, Rafe (Common), a divorced contractor who seems to stay head to head with Nina in her verbal sparring, providing a challenge she hadn’t experienced before. The two begin a relationship, and despite Nina’s attempts at self-sabotage, the two have a meaningful bond.
All About Nina is a startlingly funny, but also an emotional roller coaster that takes an earnest look at abuse.
A Strong Debut And A Tour De Force
As Nina, Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives her best performance to date. She’s electric in every scene that she’s in and she commands the stage. Her stand-up scenes are not only hilarious but believable. Winstead walks up and grabs the mic with the comfort of a professional comedian, which makes watching her effortlessly easy.
She becomes Nina, with her gait, mannerisms, even her voice inflections. Whether it be doing celebrity impressions, writing sets in the comfort of her apartment, or having a panic attack after spending the night with Rafe, Winstead owns Nina.
At first, I thought the character of Lake was brought on too strong (when Nina arrives she is thrust into a circle that’s a charity for a cat sanctuary) but the character luckily shed the cliché bindings that could have held her down. Eventually I found Lake to be a delight, and a good balance to Nina’s cynicism. Kate del Castillo brings the character to the surface, breathing air and light, and she turns out to be a great friend for Nina, who seems to be short on caring individuals in her life.
The eventual tell all on stage, another element of the story that I thought was a bit obvious, superseded the predictable nature and became a devastating unload that Winstead nailed. It is a pivotal moment for Nina as well as the viewer, as we learn the extent of what she’s got bottled up, keeping her from fully embracing areas of her life.
Common was surprisingly perfect for the role. As Rafe he’s proving his ability to be the ideal male lead, and a soulful one at that. The considerate and warm Rafe, with his magnetic smile, is hard to resist. Together Common and Mary share a bursting chemistry that make their newfound romance honest. There’s also a potent supporting cast with Camryn Manheim as Nina’s mother.
Eva Vives’ feature directorial debut is superb. It is rare to hit it so far out of the park on your first try, but Nina does it. Vives wrote and directed the movie and her stamp is all over it. She’s clearly got a knack for humor and for conflicted complex protagonists.
The casting of Winstead makes them an excellent team. It is not an easy thing to pen a lead who balances the light and dark so efficiently, but Eva Vives does, showing she’s a director to look out for. She alone wrote the screenplay and it is an intelligent script. One spectacular scene is when Nina auditions for Comedy Prime alongside other talented females, with gut-busting hilarity.
There are three main reasons you should seek out Nina: The phenomenal Winstead, a refreshing female character that manages to be truly hilarious, and a script that keeps a wonderful balance of humor and pain.
Conclusion: All About Nina
All About Nina is a beautiful film, one of my favorites of the year, that is marked by an exquisite portrayal by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It’s uncommon for a film to have scenes of vulgar comedy and yet be heart-wrenchingly emotional. Nina is bold, and she’s deserving of your attention.
What did you think? Did it make you laugh/cry? Let us know in the comments below!
All About Nina will be released in theaters September 28th in the US.
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