Nancy (2018)

Nancy: Directed by Christina Choe. With Andrea Riseborough, Steve Buscemi, Ann Dowd, John Leguizamo. Nancy becomes increasingly convinced she was kidnapped as a child. When she meets a couple whose daughter went missing thirty years ago, reasonable doubts give way to willful belief.

“u0026#39;Nancyu0026#39; is a quiet, contemplative movie. Sound scarcely rises above a normal conversational range; it would be easy to emphasize strong emotional beats in a story like this, but the tone is generally even and reserved to the point of almost feeling flat. Performances are notably subdued from all involved, including star Andrea Riseborough most of all, but also Steve Buscemi, from whom we usually expect roles of much more lively personality. Well after the plot actively stirs it never truly seems like itu0026#39;s begun at all, and not until the movie approaches its very end is there a sense of something profound at hand.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI enjoy and appreciate films of all flavors, including the most low-key and unbusy. u0026#39;Nancyu0026#39; is well made from a technical standpoint, with especially swell consideration for the way scenes are arranged. Thereu0026#39;s a deft nuance to everyoneu0026#39;s performances that aptly illustrates their skill, perhaps all the greater a challenge given the restrained air about the picture. Despite all this, I admittedly have a hard time engaging with the movie. It never feels incomplete, or lacking in any specific element per se. Thereu0026#39;s just not really anything to hold onto, anything that meaningfully sparks our imagination. u0026#39;Nancyu0026#39; isnu0026#39;t bad, but I watch it and just donu0026#39;t feel the impact I assume was intended.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eArt is subjective. Clearly this has an admiring audience, and Iu0026#39;m glad for that. Iu0026#39;m just not it. u0026#39;Nancyu0026#39; is a reasonably worthwhile view if you come across it, but temper your expectations, and donu0026#39;t go out of your way.”