‘A Lot of Nothing’ Review: A Daringly Satirical Race Drama That Delivers a Whole Lot – Eventually Too Much – of Everything
variety.comJessica Kiang Boldly going where few first-time (or however–many-time) directors dare, actor-turned-filmmaker Mo McRae (“Sons of Anarchy,” “The First Purge”) fashions a high-wire juggling act of a debut, in which half the breathless, uneasy entertainment value comes from wondering when it will all come tumbling down.
That it eventually does, therefore — in a final act that overworks some unnecessarily soapy twists — feels slightly inevitable.
But it can’t undo the sly, stylish first impression McRae makes: Ironically, considering it revolves around a kidnapping, this is a film that takes no prisoners.The provocative, intersectional dynamics of race, class and sex are announced elegantly, as DP John Rosario’s sinuous camera delivers a cleverly choreographed 17–minute one-shot opening.
Introducing not only the main characters, but their pointedly affluent environment and the see-sawing internal power-play of their relationship, this terrific scene plays like “Malcolm and Marie” given a sense of humor and a social conscience, as James (Y’lan Noel) and Vanessa (Cleopatra Coleman) half-watch the evening news on their enormous widescreen TV.
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