Our take
In a world where mortality has been overcome, people watch in awe as the as the 118-year-old Nemo Nobody, the last mortal on Earth, nears his end. He is interviewed about his life, recounting it at three points in time: as a 9-year-old after his parents divorced, when he first fell in love at 15, and as an adult at 34. The three stories seemingly contradict each other. Utilizing non-linear cinematography, Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael presents each of these branching pathways as a version of what could have been. The result is a complex, entangled narrative. That and the movie’s ensemble cast, featuring Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, and Diane Kruger, have turned Mr. Nobody into a cult classic. The soundtrack, featuring several of the beautifully restrained music by Eric Satie, is also considered a masterpiece. While it is surely not for everybody, this is trippy, intimate, and existential sci-fi at its best.
What it won
European Film Awards
1 win
The story
Nemo Nobody leads an ordinary existence with his wife and 3 children; one day, he wakes up as a mortal centenarian in the year 2092.
Elsewhere
"A film that has a beating heart underneath its messy -- though breathtakingly designed -- exterior."
— Boyd van Hoeij
The details
Streaming arrival
Awesome movie! First time using this site as a precursor to movie-watching, and not in the slightest disappointed!
While the concept per se could be interesting (basically a Sliding Doors on steroids), the result is: a patchwork of bad soap opera romances, some sci-fi glimpses, terrible characters (barely the only thing distinguishing the female characters is the hair color) , Magnolia-esque trivia facts here and there, dubious pills of philosophy, a soundtrack which looks like a playlist going on by itself, and very very cheesy cinematography. Very disappointed with this one
Oh man… there is so much to say on this movie. A must watch for every science fiction / mystery fan. A lot of things happen at the same time and you need to stay focused on all of the plots to see what’s actually going on. One of my favorites.
Very good