Beasts of No Nation

While the digital media streaming giant, Netflix, has had their own original films before, Beasts of No Nation, represents their, and subsequently, the industry's, largest example at attempting to shift the way that audiences consume new films. 

Personally, I don't think that all that much will change, even if Beasts is successful, at least not right away. Opinions aside, a film written/directed by Cary Fukunaga (one of the main reasons that Season 1 of True Detective was so good), starring Idris Elba, and garnering awards buzz is one of the most significant glances toward a new model of film releases so I thought it only appropriate to review. 

So, without further hesitation, my first official new movie review of a Netflix original film, enjoyed on the comfort of my own couch. [Insert a "my the times are a changin'" quote here].

Let me start off with a bold, yet true statement:

Beasts of No Nation was one of the hardest films I've ever had to watch. Not because it was bad and I was cringing my way through it. No...far from it. Because of the subject matter and because of how, for the first time in a while, it unraveled my desensitization to violence. It's a film that might as well have the tagline "Based on a True Story" even though it's a work of fiction and it gives a realistic, brutal (but most likely still censored) portrayal of children soldiers in the most violent parts of Africa. I find it a hard film to recommend because, if I had a hard time with it, I imagine it will be something that is just too much for others. Seeing as how we've all heard about what's going on over there, it's not necessarily an eye-opening film as much as it is a count-your-blessings one.

A leader and his soldier. [Read: a monster and his willing slave]

An incredibly hard scene to watch.

As mentioned earlier, Beasts of No Nation stars the consistently-fantastic Idris Elba as the unnamed Commandant who's in charge of a rather large battalion of children soldiers in an unnamed, but violently divided country in Africa. Elba gives one of his best performances ever and expertly balances the line between a silver-tongued recruiter, inspiring commander, and insane monster. I would say the film belongs to him, but it doesn't because Abraham Attah gives one of the best -- if not the outright best -- child performance I've ever seen as Agu. Agu is the film's focal point and his story is a tragic one. I don't want to give too much away but through a series of disastrous circumstances, Agu becomes a child soldier for the Commandant and transforms from a funny, caring little boy into a hardened, senseless solider. It kind of reminded me of Bryan Cranston's transformation of Walter White in a lot of ways. But where that was an entertaining transformation, this one is not. Beasts of No Nation is not an entertaining film, and it's not supposed to be. You won't be saying "Oh sweet!" at any of the action scenes, but rather cringing at the fact that it's children doing all the killing. It's one of the few times in my movie-going memory that I've felt devastated by the violence; I didn't want to watch it. To the film's credit, it knows this, and it never glorifies any of the violence in the slightest, but rather makes it out to be the monster that it is. 

Technically speaking, Beasts of No Nation is one of the year's best, which should be no surprise coming from Fukunaga. The cinematography is right up there with Sicario as some of 2015's best. Where that film captured the Mexican countryside with ease, this one displays the jungles and deserts of Africa as some of the only beauty in a film of much ugliness. Some scenes in particular are very visually striking and their images sear into your memory. Pacing and editing are both stellar as well, but I think the film, sitting at 137 minutes, could have used a solid 20 minutes of trimming. A few areas of the plot don't seem to add much to the film, but yet they have extended scenes, and for a film with little overarching plot other than this boy's transformation, it can be hard to see why certain scenes matter. Before wrapping up, I should also mention that, while it's used minimally, the original score is one of the year's best. I just wish we could have heard it more. 

Based on a fictional character, but grounded entirely in real life.

Beasts of No Nation is a unique film for many reasons other than the way it was released and presented to audiences. It's a brutal, intense, and extremely hard-to-watch film about the violence and use of children soldiers within Africa. Truly, I question how some of these scenes were even filmed. Not from a technical standpoint but more so a moral standpoint of asking kids to act out these atrocities. Questions like that aside, it's still an incredibly well made, well acted, and well portrayed film about one of the world's saddest issues. Just go in knowing that you will not enjoy it as you would other movies. 

CONS:

• Could have used about a 20 minute trim. Certain scenes that don't add much overall go on for too long
• Other than Agu's transformation, there isn't really a plot. At times this causes the film to feel like it's wandering
• The original score is fantastic. I would have liked to hear it more
• Hard to watch

PROS:

• Hard to watch
• Idris Elba gives one of his best performances ever as a leader that wears many faces. Very captivating
• Strong children performances throughout, but Abraham Attah as Agu is absolutely stellar. Despite the hard subject material, he really shines and his transformation, while heartbreaking, is incredible
• Amazing cinematography
• Great original score
• Great writing and direction from Fukunaga
• Doesn't glorify any of the violence but doesn't hold back either
• You might just hug your children a little tighter after seeing this one

Rath's Review Score: 9/10