A Lot of Nothing is a thriller born out of today’s headlines. James (Y’lan Noel, The First Purge) and his wife Vanessa (Cleopatra Coleman, Infinity Pool) are watching a news report of a policeman killing a teenager. It turns out the officer is their next door neighbor. When Vanessa confronts Brian (Justin Hartley, 2022’s Quantum Leap) it leads to a series of escalating events.
The powerful no-cut opening is the film’s highlight. Coleman and Noel are riveting as emotions pour from them. It is hectic, sad, and frustrating. The couple keeps up this high energy the entire time. It is an impressive performance that can be exhausting for the audience.
When speaking about how he prepared for the part, Noel said, “There is a lot of introspection involved. This was uniquely handy for James because there was so much fear and insecurity based on how he danced around the truth.”
In between the tight suspense, A Lot of Nothing is able to bring surprising moments of humor. What makes these scenes work so well is the way they do not stand out. The humor just flows as a natural part of what is going on. In particular, James’s brother Jamal (Shamier Anderson, John Wick: Chapter 4) has some great reactions.
“The beauty of the levity is that gives people a moment to [catch their breath],” Anderson stated. “There is levity in the chaos.”
“It was not difficult to inject comedy,” director Mo McRae added. “When we reflect back on serious issues, we have a tendency to laugh.”
The movie is constantly walking a tightrope between race, class, and gender. Along with dealing with their neighbor, Vanessa and James are working through their marriage. When Jamal shows up with his pregnant fiancé Candy (Lex Scott Davis, 2018’s Superfly), it adds another layer to the A Lot of Nothing. It sounds like a lot to take in because it is, but director McRae deftly weaves all the story elements together.
Until the third act. Everything begins to boil over and the solid foundation McRae had spent the rest of time building can barely support everything that happen. The number of twists and major happenings can be overwhelming to the audience. That being said, it does an excellent job of conveying the chaos all the characters have been experiencing over the night.
The sound design is well-done. The majority of A Lot of Nothing is scored and ranges from frenzied jazz to hip-hop. There are many times when the music becomes another character and it always adds to the emotion. Space is also used well. The majority of the movie takes place in one home, and though it is a good size, McRae still manages to get across the sense everyone is trapped in confined quarters. There is a rigidness in everyone’s thoughts and actions.
Cinema can hold a mirror up to society and allow us to reflect while also promoting discussion. A Lot of Nothing succeeds in doing just that as everyone who watches it will come out with a lot to think about. It is poignant, thought-provoking, and entertaining.
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