Manthast Absolutely amazing

MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

atexbigs05 So few people have seen this movie and it's a shame. DuVernay has crafted a perfectly conceived vision for this movie. Almost every choice works together to support both the narrative as well as the construction of the main character. The cinematography may not be exquisite but it is extremely effective, which is the more important of the two. In an early scene in the jail, distance is created so wonderfully between the two characters even though they are so physically close to one another. Most scenes don't really appear dark, but rather lacking in light. Many scenes had me yearning to be able to see more in the frame, perhaps in the same way that the mother wishes to see more of her daughter's old self. The light has gone out in the daughter as well as the frame. The acting is well done and even the child does a good job. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the film is being a lot without being too much. Love, forgiveness, loyalty, and the prison system are all examined from an interesting and complex perspective. And DuVernay includes small moments that have a large impact. When Ruby is hugging Bryan, DuVernay shows his face for just a moment. That one shot adds such a great deal to his character as well as their relationship. Unfortunately, there are a few things i disliked. I liked the music; however, i felt that the way DuVernay used it was a little distracting at times. And while the movie was not best described as slow or sluggish, I would agree that it is meditative and perhaps not in the best way. This film certainly needs moments to breathe, but too many add up. Overall, a great movie that perfectly handles what it was set out to. It may not change your view on the entirety of life, but certainly it will have a profound effect on what you believe loyalty to be and its distinction from blind love.

eurograd It is always refreshing to see good indie movies exploring dark themes in a sensitive and almost lyric way. These are, incidentally, the two major strong points of this movie.There are many titles, some rather good ones, exploring incarceration an its effects on the person behind bars. Multiple angles and story lines are explored, almost always from the incarcerated point of view. 'Middle of Nowhere', instead, puts the focus on an accomplished young woman whose life hangs still when her young husband is incarcerated for a long term, and makes the movie about the effects of incarceration on people who are on the outside, supposedly free, but actually suffering by proxy a set of restrictions and struggles that derive from the fact that a loved one or in-law is not present. That is an interesting take on the subject.Nonetheless, the script is just too slow. There are several cogent reasons for a script to be slow, such as character development, parallel narratives - but none of them could possible justify it here. Thus, it becomes very difficult to keep paying attention on what the director had in mind as dozens of minutes are just fillers that, in turn, are juxtaposed with some pivotal scenes that are paradoxically too hurried up.

Turfseer Beautifully photographed and wonderfully atmospheric, 'Middle of Nowhere' is former publicist turned writer/director Ava Duvernay's second feature film, which won the best directing award at Sundance. It's about Ruby, a young African-American woman, who gave up going to medical school to wait for her husband Derek, who's doing an eight year bid in the penitentiary after pleading guilty to gun charges.When we first meet Ruby, she's visiting Derek at the inmate visiting center and appears smitten with him. Cut to four years later and she's still devoted as ever, taking the bus up to visit her bad boy love quite often. But the four years of incarceration have taken its toll on Derek and he hardly seems like the same person when he first went in. The warning signs are there, including a big scar across his neck, which Ruby conveniently ignores but is an obvious sign that he has not adjusted well with his fellow inmates.When Derek comes up for his first parole hearing, Ruby is convinced that his best chance is to have legal representation when he goes before the Board. The same lawyer that they used originally for Derek's defense, is now available for the parole hearing but she's no longer willing to accept Ruby's payment of fees on installment. Ruby is forced to borrow an additional $750 from her mother, who is unhappy about her aloofness and lack of communication. Also in the mix is Ruby's sister, who doesn't care to involve their mother, in the parenting of her young son.The plot thickens when Ruby meets a kindly bus driver, Brian. Most of their initial encounters are more tactile than verbal, and not so convincingly, it takes quite awhile before Ruby reveals information about her marriage and that she's separated from a man who is currently incarcerated. At this point, I'm thinking that Derek will be paroled, he'll come home and they'll be some kind of conflict between him and Brian. But Ms. DuVernay opts to go in another direction. At Derek's parole hearing, it's revealed that he's been recently disciplined for a violent confrontation with other inmates in prison and that he may be associated with various gang members. Worse for Ruby, is the revelation that a female correction officer was fired for having a sexual encounter with Derek. This is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Ruby's obsession with Derek gradually dissipates and she's drawn to Brian. And finally, after much soul searching, she decides to end her relationship with Derek, not before one last visit, when she expresses her affection for him, but makes it clear that he and she are no longer a couple (it becomes obvious that the 'bad boy', will not be leaving prison very soon at all!).The 'Middle of Nowhere' features strong performances from its principals including the talented newcomer Emayatzy Corinealdi as Ruby. The film has tons of wonderful atmosphere and an inviting, folk rock score. Nonetheless, the plot is rather simple and is quite sluggish, focusing on Ruby's gradual moves toward self-actualization. Sacrificed are any real attempts to develop the characters, beyond the distillation of Ruby's crisis of conscience. Brian, in particular, alludes to some early problems with an ex-wife, but we find out hardly anything about him; he's more a plot device to ensure that Ruby doesn't end up stuck in the past, with a husband who's going nowhere.'Middle of Nowhere' might have worked better if it was a little shorter in length. Despite the intensity of Ruby's relationship with the two men, I found myself growing rather tired of Ruby's self-destructive attraction to Derek. After awhile, it doesn't seem to matter why she's so attracted to him--I was just relieved at film's end, that she finally came to her senses, and gave him up. In this respect, 'Nowhere' is a cautionary tale for women who are attracted to 'bad boys'.Some of the more interesting moments in "Middle of Nowhere" occur when we get a peak at how the criminal justice system works (the parole hearing is one such example). These moments add to the film's overall heady verisimilitude.Overall, "Middle of Nowhere' is worth a look. Don't expect any tremendous plot revelations and be prepared for scenes here and there, that drag. Nonetheless, the dialogue and intensity of the performances are a sight to be seen. Overall, the film will impress you, despite the limitations of a weak story line.

Arit Middle Of Nowhere is perhaps as good as a low-budget indie can get, and also a textbook example of a Sundance competition film. It has a solid screenplay, aptly selected melancholy tones/music, long pauses, a couple of twists and a camera trick, etc., but nothing evasive to turn off the audience. Every aspect of being a good small narrative film is pretty much covered.Quite naturally, the most valuable asset of such a film is the chemistry of a committed cast. Omari Hardwick is reasonably stoic and almost possesses the angst of a Denzel Washington character who has been pushed around too long. Emayatzy Corinealdi, as the film's emotional core, convincingly depicts a devoted wife's slow transition in priorities. With her rich experience in both cinema and TV, there's little wonder how Lorraine Toussaint goes instinctively maternal towards two younger actresses and leads them to fairly palpable family dynamics.This is a relatively simple tale of a young wife who teeters between naivety and strength, but the skillful and effective storytelling supported by good performances offers a decently enjoyable viewing experience.