It's good to spend some time hearing about a fairly new release that was never on your radar. Nimona appeared on Netflix here in the UK a week or two ago, and it was never going to be a viewing choice that I prioritised, especially when I am yet to watch the alleged excellence of The Sea Beast (which I believe is also still tucked away somewhere on there). But people started to praise Nimona, and a few people I trust started to praise it highly. I figured that I should make time for it. Yep, those praising this film were right to do so, and I hope I can help some other people decide to give it there time.
Set in a futuristic world, but one that still holds on to the idea of knights being in place to protect the citizens, Nimona is all about one "common man" (Ballister Boldheart, voiced by Riz Ahmed) who has been given the chance to become a knight. This is a break from tradition, but the queen believes this is the way forward, and a good opportunity to show the people that anyone can reach such an exalted position. Things don't go according to plan, however, and Ballister ends up losing an arm and his reputation in a shocking turn of events that turn him into public enemy number one. Struggling to figure out a way to clear his name, and maybe find the real culprit, Ballister ends up befriended by a young girl named Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz). Nimona has the power to transform into a variety of shapes and sizes, and she's much more willing than Ballister to hurt people seeking to hurt them.
I watched Nimona yesterday and agreed with a friend about how great it was. I just didn't think it was quite as great as they considered it, because the superb Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse was mentioned in the conversation. Pondering the entire film while writing this review though, it is increasingly hard to find fault with it. The animation is generally beautiful, although I could be picky and mention some of the more plain background environments, the energy and feeling of anarchy ensures that you're never too far away from a moment of great fun, and the life lessons are nicely woven around the action in a way that keeps them impactful without ever dragging everything to a standstill while things get serious and morose.
Things are helped enormously by the voice cast, with both Ahmed and Moretz excellent in the lead roles. Both have voices that perfectly suit their characters, and they interact brilliantly with one another. Eugene Lee Yang is also very good, playing a knight named Ambrosius Goldenloin who is also the partner of Ballister, a relationship shown and talked about in a more pleasingly overt way than the BS lip-service we have had in many other family movies from the past decade. Frances Conroy is cool and quietly menacing as The Director, the woman in charge who maintains a search for what she claims is the major threat against the people, and Beck Bennett is amusing as Sir Thoddeus Sureblade, a bit of a dolt who never liked Ballister from the very beginning, and is therefore most keen to be able to capture and punish him.
Based on the graphic novel by Nate Stevenson, writers Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, working with a few others to shape the story, have delivered something that directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane have polished into what can only be described as quite a lovely gem. Full credit to all of the artists and grafters behind the scenes who worked together to deliver this, a delight all the more unexpected after the directors previously gave us the enjoyable, but underwhelming, Spies In Disguise (a film so forgettable that I actually forgot to rate and review it when I saw it a couple of years ago . . . *runs off to put it on the rewatch list). That was also co-written by Taylor, although I couldn't tell you how many other people worked on both that film and this one.
People might ignore this review, especially if they are adults who have for some reason decided to never watch animated features aimed at younger viewers, but that's their loss. I took note of the glowing praise that some people gave this, and I'm glad I did. If someone takes note of this glowing praise, and ends up watching and enjoying the film, then I can feel satisfied that I've done my good deed for the day.
9/10
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