Quick Links
- Two Former Friends on a War Path in ‘The Night Comes for Us’
- Will ‘Nobody 2‘ Be Like This?
As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of action films, I can confidently say that the upcoming release of Nobody 2 is something I am eagerly anticipating. While the original movie was undeniably entertaining, it was Timo Tjahjanto’s Indonesian masterpiece, The Night Comes for Us, that truly showed me what a gritty, action-packed, and emotionally charged film can be.
Approximately three years back, the action-thriller “Nobody” served as a significant milestone in Bob Odenkirk’s career trajectory. Prior to this film, Odenkirk was predominantly recognized for his humorous or comedic roles, such as portraying Saul Goodman on “Breaking Bad”, which earned him numerous award nominations, or writing for “Saturday Night Live”. Russian director Ilya Naishuller aimed to project Odenkirk as a genuine tough guy and succeeded in doing so. Despite the challenges posed by pandemic restrictions, anticipation from the original cast, along with widespread excitement, led to the confirmation of a sequel titled “Nobody 2”, which has been filmed and is scheduled for release on August 15, 2025.
The main change in the second version is that it’s being directed by Timo Tjahjanto instead of Naishuller. Although Tjahjanto might be an unknown name to American viewers, a glance at his work reveals that he’s no stranger to genres like noir, horror, and especially intense, violent action. One of his films demonstrates that he’s already mastered this genre.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I had the pleasure of discovering “The Night Comes for Us” back in 2018, which was initially a graphic novel created by The Glitch Network from Indonesia in 2014. This adrenaline-pumping extravaganza was exclusively released on Netflix on October 19, 2018.
Two Former Friends on a War Path in ‘The Night Comes for Us’
At first glance, “The Night Comes for Us” appears to be a common tale of brotherhood corrupted. The protagonist, Ito, played by Joe Taslim, harbored grand aspirations within the Triad, aiming to join the Six Seas, an elite enforcement unit. However, his ambitions were challenged when he was tasked with taking the life of a young girl. Arian, portrayed by Iko Uwais, proudly carries the gang membership as a symbol of honor, assisting Ito when possible but ultimately risking his own life for the sake of this powerful organization.
In a different approach, director Tjahjanto constructs the prelude to this grand confrontation by drawing inspiration not just from John Woo’s 1989 movie, The Killer, but also from the 2011 film, The Raid.
The filmmaker behind “The Night Comes for Us” strategically employs several impactful cinematic techniques, such as a prolonged hallway fight sequence, initiating a pivotal many-versus-many battle from an over-the-shoulder perspective, and muting the sound during death scenes to intensify the viewer’s immersion. Throughout these sequences, he skillfully weaves together relentless battles while attempting to ensure the safety of the young girl.
Regardless of whether they occur within an apartment complex, a subterranean parking lot, or a storage facility, the intense battle sequences serve to underscore Ito’s yearning for a fresh start in life, despite its futility. Despite the film running for two hours and one minute, Tjahjanto ensures that each death is given sufficient screen time to demonstrate its deep impact on our protagonist, even those he does not witness directly. This is definitely something that Odenkirk’s Nobody lacked.
Will ‘Nobody 2’ Be Like This?
Despite impressive portrayals by American rapper RZA and Christopher Lloyd as members of Bob’s family, the 2021 film “The Night Comes For Us” lacked a central character’s demise, even though such an event wasn’t essential for the movie’s narrative. However, the absence of a clear-cut motivation for the main character might have lessened some harsh criticisms. Moreover, this film unabashedly demonstrates Tjahjanto’s capacity for on-screen violence, pushing the boundaries of brutality often seen in action films. For example, an automatic table saw nearly decapitating a man or a female assassin with visibly hanging intestines may not be unprecedented, but Tjahjanto is expected to surpass the iconic bus scene from “Nobody” that many admire by extending and enhancing it, catering to American audiences’ tastes.
Despite a recent promotional image for Nobody 2 circulating online showing Bob Odenkirk’s character covered in blood, indicating he had just escaped from danger, it’s important to note that the actor experienced a heart attack while filming Better Call Saul in 2021. The movie’s pace may be slightly slower, but we’ll have to wait and see if its intensity can rival Timo Tjahjanto’s 2018 production for Nobody 2. In the interim, you can stream The Night Comes For Us, a neo-noir gangster film, on Netflix. If you’re interested, Nobody is currently available to stream on Peacock.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-24 02:34