Beasts of No Nation |OT| Netflix Original Movie - Now Streaming
- Thread starter GK86
- Start date
- Status
Gnome Scat
Member
That was a very hard hitting movie. Overall it was good, but I felt like it had some pacing issues. I'd recommend it to anyone who can handle it, though.
Joel Was Right
Member
This needs more marketing. Didn't know about it till I booted up Netflix.
SJRB
Gold Member
Having just watched it, I have to mirror earlier comments that the pacing is all over the place. It's an okay movie, and the leading kid actor was incredible. The movie just didn't really grab me. It looked great and the soundtrack was probably the biggest plus for me, I was totally expecting to see Cliff Martinez in the credits.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
that's what I felt was good though...he needed to be this larger than life kind of guy for people to follow him.
I think from a pure production standpoint too it's a huge relief for Fukunaga -- who's already dealing with tons of variables -- to have a strong professional actor at the center of it all to rely on.
The pacing personally didn't bother me, but the article someone posted earlier probably explains why it's constructed the way it is:
Something the book did that the adaptation didn't was the injection of flasbacks from Agu's childhood after he becomes a child soldier. The interjection of his current situation and the concept of boyhood really gave credence to the fact that his childhood was being stolen from him piece by piece, and is certainly something that would have helped the narrative structure of the film.
Something the book did that the adaptation didn't was the injection of flasbacks from Agu's childhood after he becomes a child soldier. The interjection of his current situation and the concept of boyhood really gave credence to the fact that his childhood was being stolen from him piece by piece, and is certainly something that would have helped the narrative structure of the film.
A great film which stays very true to the conflicts we saw in Africa in the 80's to the present day. It's up there with Hotel Rwanda but I must say this film is more grounded which I applaud it for, it doesn't try and wrap up loose ends or explain it's outcomes but focuses the hardship of Agu and how he views life knowing that he will never be considered to be the same person again. I saw a documentary about the Rwanda Genocide a few years ago, while most perpetrators where jailed and later released, most were considered outsiders even by their families and exiled by their communities for their crimes.I actually liked the pacing of the film , the weird shifts in time made sense for a film portraying a ongoing conflict. Overall it's a good film. acting was superb both the child actors did an amazing job with the union-ship of two kids who at start came from different backgrounds but showed this amazing bond that really excelled the film. It was almost heart-wrenching when Agu had to witness him pass-away. Another fantastic performance as well by Idris Elba who portrayed quite a surreal character and somehow making him quite compelling in what he was doing.
Did I also mention the cinematography is fucking amazing?
lazybones18
Banned
saw it in a theater since I don't have Netflix. For now, it's my Movie of the Year. Great, depressing film
Fucking gorgeous film, it probably tops Sicario as the best shot film of the year which is a mighty, mighty fine compliment given that the conditions it was shot in were apocalyptic. The last half of the film however left me a little cold which was likely the point but it still felt like a lot of the material in the last half of the film was edited to imply character moments that were just never shot. The first half of the film felt a lot less free form like this which was something that provided a bit more context that the last few scenes were missing.
Then again, most of what I noted above was also what I felt immediately after watching True Detective which I've also come to appreciate. So maybe I just need a rewatch to confirm my opinions.
But damn did Abraham Attah and Idris Elba hit it out of the park. And yeah, I just have to mention one more time how gorgeous this film looks, I was not expecting so much artistic and technical mastery from a director who was already juggling a horrific production.
Then again, most of what I noted above was also what I felt immediately after watching True Detective which I've also come to appreciate. So maybe I just need a rewatch to confirm my opinions.
But damn did Abraham Attah and Idris Elba hit it out of the park. And yeah, I just have to mention one more time how gorgeous this film looks, I was not expecting so much artistic and technical mastery from a director who was already juggling a horrific production.
SketchTheArtist
Member
Absolutely. I thought of Apocalypse Now for the descent into hell and Full Metal Jacket for the contrast from Innocence to Killing Machine. It was those two movies but for child soldiers.
I really enjoyed this movie, mostly for the cinematography. Agu's accent was so thick that I was afraid I was going to miss something profound in his monologues, but I managed to stick with him.
Idris was hit or miss for me, usually he'd have the dialect, but in a few cases he had full-on English(Australian) going before slipping back into regional.
Beautiful movie, very bleak, maybe needed a bit more of a climax instead of slowly petering out.
Idris was hit or miss for me, usually he'd have the dialect, but in a few cases he had full-on English(Australian) going before slipping back into regional.
Beautiful movie, very bleak, maybe needed a bit more of a climax instead of slowly petering out.
I thought the the movie was a little lengthy but I really enjoyed the performances and presentation (very nice costume design). Fantastic soundtrack, one I will look up and listen to outside the film for sure.
Good movie all in all.
EDIT: THIS soundtrack.
Good movie all in all.
EDIT: THIS soundtrack.
Liberty4all
Banned
Great movie. Breathtaking scenery.
Great movie. I didn't have issues with the pacing, but I'm used to a different type of progression in war movies. In many ways this felt similar to Apocalypse Now and The Thin Red Line, and I actually think that the less focused later acts enhance the overall narrative.
Wonderful work by all involved, especially Fukunaga, Abraham Attah (Agu) and Dan Romer (soundtrack). Idris Elba and the other actors did great work too, as did everyone in charge of production design.
I'll do some reading about the production of the film later. Interesting to know that the shoots were troubled, although not surprising.
Wonderful work by all involved, especially Fukunaga, Abraham Attah (Agu) and Dan Romer (soundtrack). Idris Elba and the other actors did great work too, as did everyone in charge of production design.
I'll do some reading about the production of the film later. Interesting to know that the shoots were troubled, although not surprising.
Watched it last night. Definitely has its flaws, but it was really damn good. The acting and cinematography were phenomenal.
Holy shit. That does explain a few things.
Lol, soo much hyperbole
Just saw it and its pretty bleak but I felt it didn't deliver enough.
The last 1/4 of the movie just fell apart in a terrible way for me. For those who have seen War Witch how does it compare? I feel like this is getting more attention because of the director, Idris Elba, and being backed by Netflix.
The last 1/4 of the movie just fell apart in a terrible way for me. For those who have seen War Witch how does it compare? I feel like this is getting more attention because of the director, Idris Elba, and being backed by Netflix.
Lan Dong Mik
And why would I want them?
I really liked this. The kid who played Agu was incredible, as was his silent friend/fellow soldier Striker. Loved the score and the cinematography. Top notch stuff. I did feel that that there wasn't much
closure with the commandant. it did seem a bit anti climatic the way we left off with him. Also, was he molesting/raping some of those child soldiers including Agu? I'm hoping maybe I just interpreted that scene wrong, because if he was I would think Agu would have pulled the trigger when he had the chance at the end.
diggmcbadass
Member
Just watched this. I thought the performances were fantastic, but there were definitely parts of the story that felt rushed. Especially in the latter half of the movie. I can't help feeling this could have been better as a mini series, or just with completely different pacing.
PhoenixDark
Banned
I agree, the actor who played Agu was great but the kid who played Strika was haunting. Amazing.
Really enjoyed the film. Depressing as fuck. Those last couple scenes punch you right in the gut.
Really enjoyed the film. Depressing as fuck. Those last couple scenes punch you right in the gut.
He was definitely
molesting them, seems like that happens in the book too. I knew that would be the case as soon as he called Strika to his tent, right after Agu joined the rebel force.
When he tells Agu to kneel, the scene afterwards has Agu coming out of the house walking with difficulty and feeling down, then Strika, knowing what happened, helps him and lets him rest on his shoulder.
When he tells Agu to kneel, the scene afterwards has Agu coming out of the house walking with difficulty and feeling down, then Strika, knowing what happened, helps him and lets him rest on his shoulder.
It worked fine as a film. It just needed another 20-30 minutes or so. Based on interviews, it seems the film was over budget and concessions had to be made.
Zantetsuken
Member
Just finished the movie. I couldn't look away. Great performances. It reminds me that war is hell.
When Agu had to kill for the first time. Damn. Also having to carry Strika as he was dying was tough.
bernardobri
Steve, the dog with no powers that we let hang out with us all for some reason
Great film, and depressing as fuck. The ensemble cast was great.
This part was great, the editing and the color scheme were in sync. I wish it lasted longer.
This part was great, the editing and the color scheme were in sync. I wish it lasted longer.
if you have spotify its there
Cary Fukunaga was on the Empire podcast plugging this last week.
https://soundcloud.com/empiremagazine/184-cary-fukunaga-23-october
https://soundcloud.com/empiremagazine/184-cary-fukunaga-23-october
crazyrabbits
Banned
The bridge scene was incredible.
You wanna take that bridge? YES SIR!
We're gonna take that fucking bridge! YES SIR!
You wanna retreat? NO RETREAT!!!
The cinematography is god-tier.
You wanna take that bridge? YES SIR!
We're gonna take that fucking bridge! YES SIR!
You wanna retreat? NO RETREAT!!!
The cinematography is god-tier.
Seeing this scene for the first time was mindblowingly cathartic. Everything came together perfectly. A similar experience for me was the docking scene in Interstellar.
crazyrabbits
Banned
I love every moment in that scene. Knowing that the Commandant is an absolute piece of garbage who's leading his men with his cult of personality, that whole speech, the song-and-dance to get the kids hyped (and how his chant is in time with the music), him sizing Agu up like he's making sure the kid could die for him if needed, that whole march, the two kids chanting while firing the machinegun, the kid doing the battlecry while firing the RPG, Agu walking along looking completely dead-eyed, the whole battalion dancing in euphoria afterwards...
What a scene. Probably my favorite from any film this year.
What a scene. Probably my favorite from any film this year.
He's the reason it got made, he had family connections in Ghana and the Ghanaian government waived taxes on importing cameras etc. solely because he was in it.
UnemployedVillain
Member
Think what you want about the film, but Fukunaga proved that he was like 99% of the look and feel of True Detective S1. This film was INCREDIBLY STUNNING
I just watched this movie. It was really great and the cinematography was beautiful. I loved that long shot where the NDF raided a town and Agu stormed into the apartment and they found (spoiler:
).
I found one part interesting. [spoilers:]
---
I just remembered, I have some questions about the movie. What is up with the naked people? Why aren't those painted guys wearing clothing? And do they actually speak that way in West Africa? I mean, do they speak English like that? Why do they use the f word so much?
edit: Maybe it was just Tripod who was naked. I can't remember.
a woman who one of the guys rapes
I found one part interesting. [spoilers:]
The Commandent was talking to Agu about leadership. He said that there were two types of people, leaders and followers. And that everyone was born as one of the two. The Commandent said that he was a leader but followed the Supreme Commander and did what he said, even when he disagreed with him. He also said that Agu was a leader. Turns out that the Commandent ain't shit without the Supreme Commander. When he defected from the NDF, everything immediately fell apart. However, Agu, for the first time since his family died, stopped being a follower, defied the Commandent and made his own decision to not kill the Commandent (against that guy's prodding). Even though Agu became a demon, he did grow as a person, imo.
Hahaha! Wow, that turned out really well for everyone.
---
I just remembered, I have some questions about the movie. What is up with the naked people? Why aren't those painted guys wearing clothing? And do they actually speak that way in West Africa? I mean, do they speak English like that? Why do they use the f word so much?
edit: Maybe it was just Tripod who was naked. I can't remember.
Zepp Twofist
Member
Can't answer the other stuff, but because there are so many different local languages, English is used as a go-between for a lot of the different languages. Since originally people did not speak it very well and due to local influences, it developed into it's own thing. The wikipedia article on it is pretty detailed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Pidgin
Banana Stand
Neo Member
I'm no expert, but in documentaries I've watched, whole groups of child soldiers fight naked. The wigs and paint are blessed by shamans and those are their armor. These kids do not have access to real military equipment and it would probably be too heavy anyway.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked