All About Nina

I had no clue what this movie was about before I watched. Of which I'm very glad. It was refreshing to see such a real, honest, moving story...it had been a while. Great performances. I still think about this movie long after I first saw it.

Nina Geld (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a troubled standup comic in New York City. She's in an abusive sexual relationship with married obsessive cop Joe (Chace Crawford). She finally decides to escape to Hollywood to audition for a comedy show. She lives with weird west coast type Lake (Kate del Castillo). She gets picked up by nice guy Rafe (Common).

I really like the New York part of the movie. It's dark and troubled. Nina is damaged and Winstead is better than expected. I like her standup. While it's not truly funny, it does highlight her anger issues. Then she heads out to the west coast. Lake is a Hollyweird stereotype. I can live with her. The more problematic character is Rafe. Common is playing too straight and nice. In a way, he's too bland and the initial meeting is a little creepy. The movie tries to do something with Ganja but that actress is doing a comedy bit. Rafe also has some false notes injected into him. The punch feels like a fake incident intended on generating drama. If it wants to do real drama, Joe would get his police brothers to put Rafe in jail. I am a little uncertain about this movie like Larry Michaels. It's a compelling character study. Winstead surprised me with her performance.

Ever since Sky High I knew there was something special about Mary Elizabeth Winstead. And correct me if I'm wrong, but this seems like the first movie she has been the true and only "star" and focus. Even in 10 Cloverfield Lane, she shares a lot of screen time with John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. However, with All About Nina she gets a full 90 minutes to flex every hit of her acting talent and it is quite something to watch. She does everything from very good impressions, to hilarious sets on stage, to then an incredibly heartfelt and deeply emotional set on a stage in the 3rd act. I kept asking myself whether I was supposed to laugh or feel bad for Nina as she would rip through a set and move onto the bar and drink away her sorrows. But in reality, you're supposed to feel both. The film takes you through the entire emotional spectrum as Nina learns to love herself so that she can eventually find an openness to someone else loving her again, an arc that Winstead very well could have been nominated for.

9.0/10

An honest and moving film. Winstead is the heart of this performance. Do not miss it.

...for one reason; Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

She is superb and destined for great things.