Ry Russo-Young’s Nobody Walks is a well-crafted drama. Although the characters are believable and roles are impeccably acted, the film carries no lasting impact.
Martine, a young artist from New York, goes to stay with a family in Los Angeles so that father Peter can help with her project. As Martine and Peter work on the sound for her film installation, Martine gets to know the whole family. Her arrival shakes up normal family life…
The premise of Nobody Walks is simple; the exotic guest interrupts a family’s existence. The lack of a narrative based on a strong chain of events is not a problem. After all, there are many films that successfully focus on nuances of relationships. Nobody Walks does not seem to have much to say, however. The characters are developed sufficiently, but they are not fascinating.
Nobody Walks is by no means boring. The eighty-three minute running time allows the narrative to unfold at a suitable pace; neither hurried nor glacial. However, the film does not engage wholly as a drama of this nature should. Perhaps Nobody Walks was aiming for subtlety in what it was trying to convey. Or maybe what the film what is attempting to say is not that significant.
The Silver Lake setting works well to underscore the bourgeois preoccupations. Nobody Walks well to give the audience a good indication of the family lifestyle before Martine’s arrival. The interspersing of the art film footage is interesting at first. It feels a bit overused at the end of the film nevertheless.
John Krasinski offers a great performance as Peter. India Ennenga is believable as Kolt, providing good support as the teenage daughter. Rosemarie DeWitt is also strong as Julie, while Olivia Thirlby looks the part as Martine. Thirlby is convincing as the artist who unwittingly causes disruption.
Nobody Walks will not offend, but few will find it memorable.
Nobody Walks is being screened at Sundance London, which runs from 26-19th April 2012.
I Heart The Talkies 