This film tells a story of those who have been forgotten. Frances McDormand portrays Fern who travels around the west coast area of the country, working four different jobs in the year, seasonal jobs as her town has completely shut down. She's lost her husband and has no issue with being a nomad, living in her van, without attachments. There are plenty of disadvantages to this lifestyle. When her van breaks down, she was to grovel to her sister for money just so she has a place to live. And she's in the middle of nowhere, and doesn't have a spare tire? That was a foolish mistake on her part. And she has to constantly go to the laundry mat to wash her clothes (but doesn't have the same kind of luck that I did) but the worst part, no running water or flushing toilets. Still, the sights she sees and everything she experiences is not something to be found if you never leave your hometown.
Filmed in a near documentary style, with most of the characters playing themselves, McDormand is utterly brilliant, realistic as a woman who's known loss but doesn't want the pity of others, turning down several opportunities to live in a house again. She's also forever mourning her late husband, but now her van (Vanguard) is the most important item to her. And the van is nearly a character itself, with tons of nooks and crannies to make it livable.
With a real feel, this film, despite the purposefully meandering plot, is a must watch and it may just win McDormand her third Best Actress Oscar and she truly inhibits this role, certainly one of the most underrated actresses of her generation. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Pay attention to David Strathairn give a great supporting performance as Dave, who enjoys the nomad lifestyle until he becomes a grandfather and decides to settle down.
-Chloe Zhao is a true force to be reckoned with. She wrote, directed and edited this film. She's the actual triple threat.
-I cannot take a dump in a bucket, I just can't.
-I'm surprised this film wasn't released on Prime given that Fern speaks highly of her time working for Amazon.
-This film did show brand names including Progressive (the insurance company) and Campbell's, among others.
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