Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Stars	User	Rating
7	ratedargh	60 _30th
Just never grabbed me. It's competently made, looks great, has solid performances and is an important subject. It just stumbles with its pacing. A disappointment for sure, but will definitely hit many people quite powerfully.
4	Kojiless	90 _92nd
I sometimes imagine a world where Disney's child actors were not privileged twats from from affluent neighborhoods in the whitewashed Midwest, but orphans from war-torn African nations who have witnessed their parents executed, learned to kill a man with a machete, and been sodomized by a rebel general...all before turning 10. The entire nation would be enraptured by Hanna Uganda, though, knowing what good ol' Walt does to kids, the stars would eventually end up on stage twerking with Madonna.
4	omgfridge	7 _65th
Watch it for Idris Elba and Abraham Attahs' compelling performances. There are some very dark moments mixed in with some very well utilized shots. Lasting impact is lacking however as I'm more aware of these horrors, just not really sure what the filmmakers wanted to say about it all.
4	CMonster	83 _76th
Whatever, we've all been to summer camp.
3	sellis	86 _78th
It's like Come and See if it were co-directed by Alfonso Cuaron and David Gordon Green. Spectacular visuals. Real, gruesome gun battles in the forest. Idris Elba is pure power in this. Like some fatherly version of Jim Jones and Che Guevara. Heartwrenching and harrowing, but also, at times, melodramatic. The score is sub par in parts and it negatively affects the pacing, among other things. Also, gives "Kids with Guns" by Gorillaz a whole new context.
2	Katya	76 _71st
hard to watch
2	Snazz	70 _71st
A true "feel bad" movie... If that's a thing. But very well made.
2	SirStuckey	80 _78th
Two great performances lead a movie that's worth being seen just for them. That's not to discount the performances of many of the smaller roles which can be just as great. Also the cinematography is fantastic. As I mention all these great things it's weird to say that some part of it didn't fully grip me so I loved the parts more than the whole, but damn those parts were good.
2	Noblet	76 _60th
Excellent production values, great acting, good story. It's all so mechanical though. It hits all the War is Hell points so steadily that it feels like a relaxing guided tour of misery.
2	PUNQ	60 _89th
Beautiful and powerful blend of nature and rebel warriors. This is definitely a quality piece with a story that touches. There is something which keeps me from connecting with it all the way. Felt we never really got to know the main kid regardless of how much time we spent with him. He was only a puppet in the situation. While it might be a more realistic portrait to a tragic faith, from a movie aspects it eliminates the heartfelt scenes and the manipulated reason to care.
2	isaberra	79 _57th
Great performances from Idris Elba and especially child actor Abraham Attah. Attah's acting was compelling and superb, as his character goes through major life changes in the midst of war. The scenery, albeit bloody and traumatic at times, and the colors were tragically beautiful. (Would not watch again though)
1	schnofel	38 _23rd
Meddles in well-known atrocities without contributing any perspective. That's not exactly immoral, but it is pointless, and that Fukunaga can't get a grip on his visual style reinforces my suspicion that the whole project is not an act of empathy first.
1	TheDiceman	80 _95th
Excellent, great performance from Idris.
1	timmo	95 _88th
A simplistic, flawless portrait of war. The story is uncomplicated. (It would be tough to screw up, really.) Fukunaga uses this to his advantage, though, and put together a profound, incredible work. Probably on purpose, I'm reminded a lot of CHILDREN OF MEN because of the outstanding performances, and effectively-told, by-the-books, straightforward, human story. It could've possibly been better, but it's extraordinary for what it is, either way.
1	cowfrappe	76 _78th
An expertly made, though hard to watch, glimpse into another world. Attah's debut is assured and Elba is magnetic.
1	WWallce4prez	82 _79th
A beautifully shot film about an extremely ugly subject. Elba and Attah are everything you've heard and more with their riveting performances highlighted by a few heart wrenching scenes. The violence is abrasive, but not exploitive. Well paced and well directed.
1	nauru	61 _60th
Good film. Idris elba is good, as are the child actors. The ending was disappointing though.
1	gsb	60 _23rd
Idris Elba gives a wonderful performances and the filmmaking is breathtaking, BUT its a pretty stereotypical Hollywood movie about Africa. Once you see the tropes, it's hard to unsee them.
1	jmarkthespot	90 _93rd
Flat out amazing except the awful voice-over. Elba is comparable to Brando in Apocalypse Now (in terms of just being a force whenever he is on screen) and that kid who played Agu gave one of the best performances from a kid, perhaps, ever. Fukunaga is quickly turning into one of his generation's best directors. This one is going to win some awards, and it'll deserve every trophy handed to it.
1	damil	75 _81st
This was really good. It's an upsetting film, but it's not overly emotionally manipulative, which I appreciated. Fukunaga did a fantastic job. I really liked how the cinematography achieved a balance between naturalistic and beautiful. Idris Elba gives a brilliant performance, and the young actor who plays the protagonist is very impressive. I recommend this with no hesitation.
1	Dumptruk4Lif	85 _61st
What starts out as one of the most bleak war movies I've seen since the slew of European ones from the '80's becomes a drag by the second half, highlighted by a few sudden horrific moments at a less frequent rate. Whatever was happening in some of the movie was lost on me because of how uneventful things became. The first hour or so is tightly edited and paced, and I suppose the intention of the second half is to make you realize that the protagonist's goals can not possibly be achieved.
1	comepelicula	75 _81st
A very well done movie that portraits the horror of certain realities in an almost normal way, that's scary. The acting is so good that you don't really notice, the main characters are children and can really express their characters evolution and a range of emotions, quite an accomplishment for them and the director.
1	susie-mauve	78 _45th
Powerful and authentic. The kid kills it with his performance. The storyline is pretty flat/linear, but only because the focus is on the situational drama, rather than the development of events. Feels like the story drags in its second half, in a really tormenting manner, which makes it seem intentional.
1	juntakinte99	95 _90th
There've been a slew of recent sci-fi/fantasy films featuring kids in dystopian menaces. But this film nails what those pictures miss: the psychological & emotional fallout from dealing with violent experiences. Technically it's amazing, via a Malick-like look, M83 inspired music, a great lead, and a fantastic villain in Idris Elba. As volatile conflicts engulf our world--often with child soldiers on the front lines--this story becomes more prescient and a wonderful discussion starter.
1	patman	60 _42nd
A strong and dark picture about an important subject, it looks fantastic and has a talented cast but lacks power to really hit it home with me.
1	philamental	62 _41st
Such a beautiful film about ugly subject matter. While the acting is frequently impressive, the story is fairly routine, predictable and uninspired. Overall it lacks the punch necessary to be considered one of the greats, but it's a perfectly watchable 'original film' from Netflix
1	backwardsuit	72 _56th
Numerous truly powerful elements and great performances but somewhat lacks focus in both story and style. Not super confident in what it's trying to depict and how. It has a deep morality in the narrative that's very admirable and understandable but also (I hate to say this) a bit tacked on. Doesn't quite seem to know if it want's to be Full Metal Jacket or The Thin Red Line. Still a very engaging and effective film and very well shot. Also Idris Elba.
1	plvenice	10 _96th
This movie was just... shocking at every turn. Phenomenal performance by Idris Elba. A film I won't soon forget.

Average Percentile 62.73% from 1040 Ratings