unpacking ‘nope’

I am a HUGE Jordan Peele fan. Like anything he puts out can do no wrong in my book. To me, Jordan Peele is one of the most creative human beings that has ever lived on our planet. If I could go on a day-trip inside his brain I totally would.

I had really high expectations for Nope and I was not disappointed.

Jordan Peele movies aren’t for everyone.

If you left the movie theater confused and disappointed, then this movie probably wasn’t for you. Peele joints are for people who “get it.” Like, you take what he’s showing us at face value and then you see all the underlying messages, meanings, symbols and ironies. His films are packed like a suitcase you have to sit on to shut. If you don’t come ready, you’ll run out of space to take in everything he’s giving us. 

If you’re still perplexed about Nope’s meaning , you probably didn’t have a very big suitcase.

I haven’t even looked at any of the fan theories or ‘explanation’ videos yet so my interpretation is completely my own–untainted by the internet.

I think the movie is representative of how humans, and more specifically Americans, keep trying to control and tame everything we lay our eyes on (literally). 

Everyone who died in the movie tried to control and tame the UFO. ‘Jupe’ literally could not resist profiting off of the UFO which led to his death and the death of 40 other people who bought tickets to his weak-ass show. The TMZ guy thought that footage of the UFO would be his big break and looked straight at the UFO. He died. A painful death too. Peele uses cameras as a vehicle of power and control of the UFO. If you can get a picture of it, you will have all the money and power in the world. They call it the “Oprah shot.” 

Peele highlights that theme of good ‘ole American greed, power, and control through the dynamic between trainer and horse. The ‘usual’ way to go about domesticating a horse is for the trainer (usually a white western man) to be all masculine and dominate the horse until it realizes its subordination. Peele juxtaposes this theme with black characters (the Haywoods)–who by society’s terms, do not have the same power that white western man does–but train and domesticate horses the right way. Peele’s characters respect the horse and its needs which in turn allows the horse to trust their trainer. 

So what is Peele’s message?

We will all die if we keep trying to control everything we see?

We can reap the benefits of what the world has to offer when we respect it rather than subject it?

There is no such thing as “wild” and “natural” anymore?

We should pay more attention to clouds?

I think those are all statements that Nope supports.

One last thing,

It amazes me that Peele can create movies with virtually no white characters, and still dominate the box office. Think of Get Out. It was the most profitable movie of 2017. From a budget of $4.5 million, the movie grossed over $255 million worldwide. 

How can a director manage to obtain a strong and loyal white audience, even though the white folk in his films are usually antagonists? 

There was not one single white hero in Get Out. In fact, every white main character was vilified and died by the end of the movie (go ahead and think about it, yep. It’s true). And their racism was depicted in the most obvious and intense ways. 

What does this say about Peele’s skills as a director–and more broadly, as a creator?

Well, I think Peele has mastered the art of creation. His work transcends race, gender, age, and sexual orientation. 

Maybe we should listen to him.

Just a thought though.