All of "Us"

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2019)

With "Get Out" Jordan Peele cemented himself as an interesting new director to watch out for and its a movie I've loved the more I've watched it. There was no reason for me not to be excited for "Us" and while it was very different from what I was expecting it was still an immensely rewarding experience that I cannot wait to see again.
Peele's writing and directing were both top notch in this film. In Get Out it was more about his script but here he proves himself to be just as good behind the camera. There's a constant sense of tension and unease in his directing. He does many things visually that set up things that viewers can enjoy after repeat viewings.
With basically every actor portraying 2 characters in this film is almost entirely reliant on its actors to carry the film. Luckily Peele brought out the best in all of them with Lupita Nyong'o owning the film in every scene she's in no matter which characters she's playing. Winston Duke and the actors portraying the children are also all excellent in the film even if they're not given as much as Nyong'o to do.
It's also a very intelligent movie that sets up a great sense of mystery. The audience is kept in the dark for so much of the film and it slows the viewers to make their own theories and predictions as the film goes on. It's a great sense of fun in trying to predict what will happen but I wouldn't blame anyone for simply waiting for answers. Even if there is a bit of an exposition dump towards the end that I found tacked on there still plenty left up to interpretation.
My only other real issue with the film was a two sequence at the beginning of the end Act. Both two scenes that work well on their own but are placed next to each other and with them both being fairly similar it feels repetitive and halts the pacing somewhat.
Us is a movie that anyone can watch and still take something away from it. It's a highly original movie that rewards the viewer on their first viewing and many more after that. The powerhouse performance from Lupita Nyong'o carry's so much of the film but Peele's writing and directing is the true star of the film. It's one the best films of the year and is likely to stay that way.
9.3/10 (Phenomenal)