Nothing disappoints me more when watching a movie than knowing it could have been much better. 'The Good Nurse' is based on a truly gripping and incomprehensible real-life crime story. And while the elements of a great film are there-suspenseful story, top-notch cast, good director-all that talent is wasted largely due to a catastrophically flawed script, but also dark lighting, weak score, and plodding pacing. For a thriller, it completely lacks a pulse.
Let's start with the script. If you want a crash course on how to make a true crime thriller seem wildly implausible and utterly boring, watch 'The Good Nurse'. It's paint-by-numbers simplistic and completely linear-'then this happens, then this happens'. No flashbacks or daydreams. No hero's journey. No moments of self-reflection.
The characters are rather two-dimensional and their conversations are purely focussed on moving the plot, not revealing their inner workings. Deep, trusting relationships seem to be built from superficial interactions. The most interesting character trait-Amy's medical condition-is referenced over and over, yet never comes into play to amp up the tension during the denouement.
The most frustrating aspect of the script for me was the simple human interactions that were phony, overly simplistic or hackneyed. I kept saying, 'That would never happen.' For instance, the cops are scolded by their boss for crossing the line-that old chestnut-but they're literally just investigating a series of murders, i.e. Doing their job. The film is riddled with these false moments that leave you wondering whether the screenwriter ever watched a procedural crime drama, much less researched the material.
It's worth mentioning the dark photography. There's no doubt that Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne are very talented actors, but their talent is wasted when you can't see there expressions. Oftentimes, the actors are backlit, so we only see their silhouette, which is pointless for gauging what they're thinking or feeling. The brightest shot in the film is shot from beneath a car. No kidding.
Add the bland score to a straightforward crime thriller story, where you know everything that's going to happen and there are no surprises, and you've got a film that's DOA. Totally missed opportunity. I have to give it five stars for the acting, which was very good.
Let's start with the script. If you want a crash course on how to make a true crime thriller seem wildly implausible and utterly boring, watch 'The Good Nurse'. It's paint-by-numbers simplistic and completely linear-'then this happens, then this happens'. No flashbacks or daydreams. No hero's journey. No moments of self-reflection.
The characters are rather two-dimensional and their conversations are purely focussed on moving the plot, not revealing their inner workings. Deep, trusting relationships seem to be built from superficial interactions. The most interesting character trait-Amy's medical condition-is referenced over and over, yet never comes into play to amp up the tension during the denouement.
The most frustrating aspect of the script for me was the simple human interactions that were phony, overly simplistic or hackneyed. I kept saying, 'That would never happen.' For instance, the cops are scolded by their boss for crossing the line-that old chestnut-but they're literally just investigating a series of murders, i.e. Doing their job. The film is riddled with these false moments that leave you wondering whether the screenwriter ever watched a procedural crime drama, much less researched the material.
It's worth mentioning the dark photography. There's no doubt that Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne are very talented actors, but their talent is wasted when you can't see there expressions. Oftentimes, the actors are backlit, so we only see their silhouette, which is pointless for gauging what they're thinking or feeling. The brightest shot in the film is shot from beneath a car. No kidding.
Add the bland score to a straightforward crime thriller story, where you know everything that's going to happen and there are no surprises, and you've got a film that's DOA. Totally missed opportunity. I have to give it five stars for the acting, which was very good.