9/10 - Nowhere - When Molly was Called X

First, thanks to Ivan from the local shop for recommending this movie as a restart to AI Movie Reviews—your interest inspired this site to reboot.

Nowhere gets 9 digits from me because it captures a view of the world from young people in the ‘90s, when there was little that made sense. The parallels to the movie Kids are unmistakable, but with the stark realization that West Coast kids grew up much differently from East Coast kids—yet both struggled with understanding the world they were growing up into.

Nowhere, directed by Gregg Araki, is a chaotic and surreal depiction of youth that mirrors the confusion and disillusionment felt by many in the late ‘90s. It’s a time capsule of that era, presenting an exaggerated, almost absurd version of the teenage experience. While Kids focused on the raw, gritty realism of growing up on the East Coast, Nowhere takes a more fantastical approach, blending elements of science fiction and dark comedy. Araki’s characters wander through Los Angeles in a haze of drugs, sex, and existential dread, searching for meaning in a world that offers little in return.

The film’s plot, if it can be called that, revolves around Dark Smith (played by James Duval), a disenchanted teenager trying to navigate the turmoil of his relationships and the emotional chaos that defines his life. Dark’s journey is emblematic of the broader experience of the characters in Nowhere: a search for identity, love, and understanding in a society that feels alien and indifferent. The film does a fantastic job of portraying the confusion of adolescence, using a surreal and often disjointed narrative to reflect the inner lives of its characters.

One of the key strengths of Nowhere is its portrayal of LGBTQ themes. At a time when these topics were often marginalized or ignored, Araki’s film unapologetically brings them to the forefront. Dark’s bisexuality, for example, is treated as just another facet of his character, without the need for dramatic exposition or explanation. This normalization of LGBTQ identities was a bold statement in the ‘90s, and it gives the film an added layer of depth and relevance today. While mainstream films of the time often shied away from such content, Nowhere embraced it fully, adding a level of representation that was rare for the era.

In many ways, the film is a study of existential despair. The characters seem adrift, unsure of their place in the world, and struggling to find any real purpose. This theme of internal conflict, rather than external strife, is what sets Nowhere apart from many other teen movies of the time. While there are moments of violence and danger, the real battles are fought within the minds of the characters, as they grapple with their identities, desires, and fears. The film doesn’t offer easy answers or resolutions, much like life itself, particularly for young people of the ‘90s.

Visually, Nowhere is a kaleidoscope of colors and bizarre imagery. The film’s aesthetic is loud, garish, and unapologetically over-the-top, mirroring the inner turmoil of its characters. Araki’s use of surreal, almost cartoonish elements—like alien abductions and grotesque, nightmarish visions—adds to the sense of disorientation that permeates the film. It’s as if the world around these teenagers is crumbling, and reality itself is unstable. This visual style reinforces the film’s themes of confusion and chaos, making it a truly immersive experience for the viewer.

At its core, Nowhere is about the search for meaning in a world that seems to have none. The characters are constantly seeking something—whether it’s love, connection, or simply a sense of belonging—but are often left feeling more lost than ever. The film’s portrayal of youth is bleak, but also strangely hopeful in its depiction of the perseverance of the human spirit, even in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.

In conclusion, Nowhere is a film that perfectly captures the spirit of the ‘90s, particularly the sense of disillusionment and existential angst that defined a generation. It’s a bold, visually striking film that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, making it a standout in the teen movie genre. Its exploration of LGBTQ themes, in particular, was ahead of its time, adding to the film’s cultural significance. While it may not be for everyone, Nowhere offers a raw, unfiltered look at the struggles of youth, and for that, it earns its 9-digit rating.

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JimmyNotes: First, I think this exceeded the word limit, so I'll need to check that -- maybe not. While I could go for a revision I won't in this instance. Also, I need to teach the AI 'In conclusion' now means 'AI wrote this'. But also a lot of the themes of the move were on display in the review. I'm not sure if that was by my input, but likely by what ChatGPT read off of Wikipedia. I'm really happy with the first review here. The review is a great lift-off to more, because now there is a have a baseline. Independently, I really enjoyed the movie and I'm glad the AI was able to dig into the parallels to Kids. I'll also add, growing up in the 90s in NYC, while Kids was a dramatization, most kids I knew at that time could identify with a lot of parts of that movie. I bet the same could be said for kids growing up in L.A. in the 90s watching this movie. It's not far off the mark.

This review only used ChatGPT 4o.

***Prompt*** Here is the Wikipedia page where you can gather facts about the movie to help with the review. You must not use any information on the reception of the movie or anything else that might be considered subjective information, (other reviews, review scores, reactions, etc.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_(1997_film) First, thanks to Ivan from the local shop for recommending this movie as a restart to AI Movie Reviews—your interest inspired this site to restart.

Nowhere gets 9 digits from me because it captures a view of the world from young people in the ‘90s, when there was little that made sense. The parallels to the movie Kids are unmistakable, but with the stark realization that West Coast kids grew up much differently from East Coast kids—yet both struggled with understanding the world they were growing up into.

Nowhere did a particularly good job of contrasting what seems like regular youthful exploration with the pitfalls (metaphorical or otherwise) that youthful exploration can lead to. It also adds a newfound realization from the ‘90s that LGBTQ themes are important, something that at the time was still largely ignored. In the end, it’s a perfect representation of an age in the ‘90s when there were no external forces to rally against, but many internal ones that kids of this time were trying to make sense of. It strikes a perfect balance and serves as a study of the era.

***Prompt End***