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All About Nina
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Very dark, brutal drama about how a wounded woman copes.
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All About Nina
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What's the Story?
In ALL ABOUT NINA, stand-up comic Nina Geld (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has a promising career on stage, and her sexually frank act frequently attracts male admirers. But her self-destructive, hard-drinking attitude never allows her to hang on to a relationship. Looking to get away from her doomed affair with a violent, married cop, Nina goes to Los Angeles and stays with the free-spirited Lake (Kate del Castillo) while auditioning for a TV show called Comedy Prime. Meanwhile, she meets Rafe (Common), an uncommonly trustworthy and emotional man who wants more than just a physical relationship. While dealing with all this new stress in her life, Nina takes the stage and suddenly finds herself confessing a dark, long-held secret that could change everything.
Is It Any Good?
Eva Vives' extremely dark, brutal drama is made lighter by Winstead's aching, acidly funny performance -- as well as by the difficult hope that honesty and sympathy can eventually win the day. All About Nina may deal with the business of comedy, and a good deal of it is funny. But the actual weight of it lies in real-world pain and the idea that all of Nina's neuroses (her caustic comedy, her penchant for meaningless sex, and her hard drinking) come from one source.
Writer/director Vives, who co-wrote Raising Victor Vargas and makes her feature directing debut here, can't keep all of this flowing smoothly. It's a bumpy ride, transitioned from the comedy stage to real-life by Nina's compulsive vomiting after every set. The collection of supporting characters, from Common and del Castillo to Clea DuVall, Jay Mohr, Camryn Manheim, and a blink-and-you'll-miss-her Melonie Diaz, never really break past two dimensions, though Beau Bridges as the Lorne Michaels-like "Larry Michaels" has one of the movie's most powerful moments. Nevertheless, the movie's scorching devotion to truth and Winstead's amazing conviction make this one a winner.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how All About Nina depicts sex. How does Nina view sex? How does Rafe? What values does the movie impart around sex overall? How do they compare with your own?
How does the movie deal with violence, sexual assault, and rape? Are there consequences?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What happens after Nina reveals her history of being sexually assaulted? Does she find sympathy? Are there downsides? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 28, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: December 18, 2018
- Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Common , Kate del Castillo
- Director: Eva Vives
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Female actors, Latino actors
- Studio: The Orchard
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong sexual content and language throughout, some nudity and brief drug use
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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