Min F. Hu

The most celebrated movie of the year is also the WHITEST. A wealthy filmmaker and a privileged actress pretending to make a film about the forgotten Americans (but only the white ones) while totally missing the mark on what their real struggles are like. Now people who've never experienced houselessness will forever associate van life with Frances McDormand staring out into a desert sunset and running through rocks after finding solace in Amazon's great generosity (keep in mind that Amazon is a company that DOUBLED their earnings in the pandemic). 2020 is a year of films with a strong social & political message -- Judas & the Black Messiah, One Night in Miami, Chicago 7, Promising Young Woman, EVEN BORAT and the very subpar (aside from Andra Day's performance) Billie Holliday does not hold back in terms of their political and social criticism. For the movie industry to celebrate this movie that tries to skirt the social & political conversation at a time when these issues are forefront on our minds, I can only say is incredibly disappointing. This film is so grossly overrated. The acting was so-so, the technical merits of the film very indie-film, but MOST IMPORTANTLY: the chance to make a bigger statement about the social issues such as the working conditions of Amazon is largely lost ... for a deeper look at this issue, I would check out the 16 minute short on Youtube: "Camperforce" that shows what the working conditions in Amazon for their camperforce is really like. BUT, perhaps my biggest gripe is how this is being touted as this great piece of "Americana" ... um, where are the black people? I saw only ONE black person with dialogue in this whole film, whereas black and brown people are often the most hardest hit by houseless-ness. And yet, where is the conversation about that? 2020 is a big year for diversity both behind & infront of the camera. I'm not saying that Nomadland doesn't deserve praise, but the fact that it is the most celebrated film and most likely to win "Best Picture" & a bunch of other awards? What does this say about where the movie industry is at? Is this not Hollywood congratulating itself on its shallow pretentiousness at best? Everyone piling praises like it is the most brilliant thing ever is lazy critical analysis and a slap in the face to more diverse and socially cognizant films. I can't support this film. Hollywood please do better.