A Lot of Nothing Ending Explained, Review, and Recap
by A Maria
Updated Apr 10, 2023
A Lot Of Nothing
Mo McRae's debut film, A Lot of Nothing, has a captivating concept and delves insightfully into the various plot threads it brings up. However, the film loses its momentum in the final act as it scrambles to introduce new information, despite the layered storytelling that McRae provides. The tension in the film builds effectively as characters are placed in situations that drive their actions and emotions throughout. The screenplay, co-written by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan, is intriguing but ultimately falls short of maintaining its momentum.
A Lot of Nothing ending explained
The scene takes an unexpected turn when James shoots Brian, who they now know shot a white kid (not black, as Vanessa claimed). It's unclear why James shoots him, but it could be because Brian's account contradicts Vanessa's "truth" that he shot a black kid, which James may have been persuaded to believe. What's even more unsettling for James is that Brian apologizes to him for the shooting, causing James to question his own morality. The film cuts away from Brian's dead body to reveal a newborn baby, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. The film ends with James and Vanessa looking at a photo of the baby on their phone, sent by Jamal from the hospital. This final scene is powerful and unsettling because the events of the film are ultimately triggered by the death of a white kid, and it ends with the birth of a black child. While the film has a fascinating premise and delves deeply into various plot threads, it ultimately loses momentum in the final act as it tries to introduce too much new information.
A Lot of Nothing review
A Lot of Nothing struggles with its tone, unsure whether it wants to be a social thriller or a dramedy about two couples with differing views. The attempt to merge both genres leaves the audience disoriented, switching between tense and suspenseful moments to sentimental and heartwarming scenes. The two plotlines of the couples' misunderstandings and the neighborly crime never quite intersect, despite the involvement of Jamal and Candy. However, the acting is one aspect of the film that is not lacking. Noel and Coleman deliver strong and versatile performances, while Hartley shines in his enigmatic role, despite being underused. It's a shame that the leads didn't have more time together on screen, as they are the most compelling characters in the story. Although the movie starts off well, it loses momentum and direction as it progresses. McRae's attempt to combine too many elements in his debut feature ends up confusing and detracts from the movie's effectiveness. A simpler and more consistent approach would have better served the film's complex subject matter.
Main Characters of A Lot of Nothing
The strength of the film lies in its ability to reveal the tensions and conflicts between James and Vanessa through their conversations. This is established from the very first scene, where Vanessa blames Brian for the death of a black kid without any real evidence, and manipulates James to follow her lead. Despite recognizing the unhealthy nature of their relationship, James still follows Vanessa's lead and tries to find a way to meet her demands without making things worse.
There is a scene where James tries to prove his manhood by interacting with an AI, but we only realize the significance of this later on when he confesses that he cannot father a child. This may be the reason why he slept with his sister-in-law Candy, but this doesn't justify his actions. Vanessa, on the other hand, questions everything, which sometimes makes her cynical, but other times she's spot-on, like when she knew Candy slept with James.
Overall, the title of the film reflects the fact that both Vanessa and James are struggling with their own insecurities and complexes, resulting in nothing but their own pseudo-satisfaction. The film's layered storytelling is effective in building tension and exploring complex themes, but the momentum is lost in the final act when new information is introduced, and the screenplay falls short of maintaining its momentum.
A Lot of Nothing Overview
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Movie
A Lot of Nothing
Genres
Comedy
Drama
Thriller
Release date
March
February 3, 2023 - United States
Language
English
Duration
1 hour 44 minutes
Director
Mo McRae
Writers
Sarah Kelly Kaplan
Mo McRae
A Lot of Nothing ending explained - FAQs
Mo McRae's debut film is called "A Lot of Nothing."
The film has a captivating concept that delves insightfully into various plot threads.
The film loses its momentum in the final act as it scrambles to introduce new information, despite the layered storytelling that McRae provides.
The tension in the film builds effectively as characters are placed in situations that drive their actions and emotions throughout.
The screenplay of the film was co-written by Sarah Kelly Kaplan and Mo McRae.