This is under W because of Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Writer: Eva Vives (Screenplay)
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Common, Chace Crawford, Jay Mohr, Kate del Castillo, Beau Bridges, Clea DuVall
Plot: Nina is a stand-up comedian who sees her life turned upside down when she meets Rafe.
Tagline – Get your act together.
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Edgy, Personal Comedy
Story: All About Nina starts as we meet stand-up comedian Nina (Winstead) whose routines work winning over the audiences with her reputation being very high in New York, only off stage she is stuck in an abusive relationship with a cop that is cheating on his wife.
To start a fresh Nina heads of to LA to try her hand on a new scene. On her first night performing Nina meets Rafe (Common) one of the first men that looks to treat her differently to the rest of the guys in her, changing everything in her life in one night.
Thoughts on All About Nina
Characters – Nina is a stand-up comedian, she doesn’t have a limit to her routine making jokes out of everything in her life, she has her own problems off the stage, with choices in men and not wanting to let anybody get close to her, she takes a chance with a move to LA to get a slot on a comedy show, only this gives her a chance at a new life, both professionally and personally. Rafe is the man Nina meets in one of her shows, he turns out to be something very different to anything Nina has met before. We do meet other parts of Nina’s life, be it guys that have used her in past.
Performances – Mary Elizabeth Winstead does give us one of the best performances of her career, the character is nothing like we would have managed to see in real life, being completely no off button. Common is great to showing he will always be somebody who can step into a supporting role with ease. The rest of the cast manage to fill the supporting roles well through the film.
Story – The story here follows a female stand-up comedian who moves across country for a big break only to meet a guy that could help her turn her life around, even if she continues to use comedy for protection from the real world. This story does show us what the price of success could be, how even if somebody is on the verge of success, they might find their own way to sabotage her own future. The story is trying to put the important highlight on the fact that we do have female stand-up comedians and they will need to overcome different problems in their desire for success, though the style of comedy isn’t going to be for everyone.
Comedy/Romance – The comedy is all about the routine that Nina has, it will no holds barred style, which won’t be for everyone, with the romance showing us just how difficult being yourself when you have a shattered past could be.
Settings – The film uses the two main entertainment centres in America, first New York and then LA, they both work to show how much progress Nina is making in her career.
Scene of the Movie – The truth show.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The comedy style is too much.
Final Thoughts – This is easily Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s best performance of her career, it has a strong story only the comedy does hold it back by being too no-holds barred.
Overall: Winstead is a Powerhouse.
