Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Writer: Cary Joji Fukunaga (Screenplay) Uzodinma Iweala (Novel)
Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Francis Weddey,
Plot: A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Heartbreakingly Hard to Watch
Story: Beasts of No Nation starts Agu (Attah) showing just how the children of the African nation not having time for education due to a civil war in the country, the children just have to find thing to do with them to trying to sell an imagination television.
The innocent world of Agu and his family gets shattered when the war moves closer to them, his father stays behind to fit for hi village, his mother and baby brother get to safety while Agu and his Big Brother (Weddey) stay together as they become the refugees they once helped. When the army catches up to Agu and the rest of the refugees he is left alone searching for anything to help him survive.
Agu nightmare is about to turn worse when he comes face to face with Commandant (Elba) and his child soldier army, where he gets forced into joining his army. In this army Agu must doing things no child should ever as we learn just how easy it is to make a child soldier.
Beasts of No Nation is one of the hardest films to watch this year, the subject involved is hard to accept but a reality in these civil war ridden countries. Watching how Agu went from innocent child to soldier with no heart is difficult to witness but we do get to see how child soldiers are easier to manipulate into complete the tasks required of them. We do get to see how both sides run things during the war time problems. This will be hard to watch but it is telling an important story.
Actor Review
Idris Elba: Commandant is the leader of the rebel child army who recruits Agu to join his army that will believe anything he wants them to believe. He comes off like a father and wise man but he has a very dark side which no one wants to get on. Idris gives us a brilliant performance in this role which strikes fear in every word he says.
Abraham Attah: Agu is our everyday young boy who ends up getting caught in the middle of the civil war where he sees his brother killed, his father fight and his mother escape. He ends up being recruited into the child army where he must follow instruction or die. Abraham comes from nowhere to give one of the best child actor performance of all time.
Francis Weddey: Big Brother that we never learn his name, but he is Agu’ big brother who helps him through the first movement before giving his life early on to save him from the army. Francis gives us a good performance where he is a perfect big brother in the tragic story.
Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye: Strika is the child that traps Agu and faced becomes his only friend in the army, he is deeply involved in what happens and is broken more than any other of the child soldiers. Emmanuel gives us a good performance in the supporting role as the important part of Agu’s life.
Support Cast: Beasts of No Nation has a brilliant supporting cast that did actually include former child soldiers.
Director Review: Cary Joji Fukunaga – Cary gives us one of the best films this year showing he is a director to watch out for, for years to come.
Drama: Beasts of No Nation shows the transformation in Agu as the story unfolds as we see the rise of the child soldier along with the struggles he must face getting there.
War: Beasts of No Nation shows the reality of the civil war in these countries where the children become the enemies.
Settings: Beasts of No Nation uses the settings to create a true wartime setting to show us how realistic the moments are to the characters.
Suggestion: Beasts of No Nation is a film that should be watched by all at least once. (Must Watch)
Best Part: Acting performances are incredible.
Worst Part: Hard to watch
Oh My God Moment: Agu’s first kill.
Believability: It is based on the reality that happened.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: This could easily get nominations.
Budget: $6 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 17 Minutes
Tagline: Child. Captive. Killer.
Trivia: Idris Elba played soccer with the young actors and gifted them iPods
Overall: Brilliant hard hitting story.
Rating
