A Lot of Nothing ending explained: Did Vanessa and James get away with it?
When a married couple, James and Vanessa, discover that their neighbour, police officer Brian, fatally shot a "teenager", they demand action. They kidnap him, and things go south real quick. How does A Lot of Nothing end? Does the duo get away with murder?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- A lot of Nothing highlights the topics of racism and police brutality in the United States.
- The satirical thriller premiered at South by Southwest in 2022.
- It stars Justin Hartley as Brian, Y'lan Noel as James and Cleopatra Coleman as Vanessa.
- The trio's on-screen encounter reveals cracks in the couple's marriage, including infidelity and impotence (spoiler alert).
A Lot of Nothing is written by Pitch's star, Mo McRae
A Lot of Nothing is actor Mo McRae's directorial debut. A top critic on Rotten Tomatoes praised his skills, saying:
McRae leaves the audience with a clear sense that nothing is as simple as it seems or we would like it to be.
Another wrote:
The movie marks a strong, stylish and suspenseful debut from first-time feature director McRae.
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Exploring A Lot of Nothing synopsis
Vanessa and James are thrown into a crisis after seeing a news report covering the death of an unarmed kid at the hands of Brian Stanley. The former recalls past instances where the police officer has passively made racist comments towards her.
The couple engages in a heated argument where Vanessa demands to seek justice for the teenager unconventionally, while James urges caution. Her idea of confronting Brian fizzles out as they have a passionate night together. However, what happens the next day changes their lives forever.
What happened to Vanessa and James in A Lot of Nothing?
When James and Vanessa report to work the morning after Brian's headline, they face passive racism from their colleagues. In the evening, the latter goes to the grocery store to get supplies for dinner with James' brother, ex-convict Jamal, and his expectant fiancée Candy.
But when Vanessa gets home and begins unloading the groceries from the car, she notices Brian smoking outside his house and confronts him.
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As expected, their encounter did not end well, and she feels disrespected by him. Vanessa goes to her house and narrates the incident to James, who decides to go over to Brian's for a man-to-man talk.
Things escalate when his wife holds a gun to the police officer's head and forces him into their garage, where reluctant James tapes him to a chair. Will Brian take accountability for his actions? How will that turn out?
Jamal and Candy walk into a hostage situation
Candy and Jamal arrive just as the couple is interrogating Brian. Although James tries to get rid of his brother, his efforts prove futile. Tension mounts when Jamal realises the hostage is a "white killer cop".
He advocates for harsh justice, Candy pushes for empathy, Vanessa wants Brian to show remorse, while James struggles between morality and fear. Jamal prevents the police officer from making a run for it, and a non-fatal shot rings out. The stress causes Candy to go into unexpected labour.
Does Brian die in A Lot of Nothing?
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Jamal distrusts the police due to personal experiences; he insists the only way to avenge the teenager's death is to kill Brian. James has a one-on-one with the latter, who confesses to not having seen the kid's face when he pulled the trigger.
Brian experiences a minor seizure due to his epilepsy, and James and Jamal rush to his house to get his meds when they discover he is drowning in debt.
James, who is an rich lawyer, makes a financial deal with Brian for his silence before the group finds out that the teenager who was shot was not Black but white. In a moment of unbearable moral collapse, James shoots and kills the hostage.
A look at A Lot of Nothing ending
Ultimately, the flaws in Vanessa and James' marriage become clearer. The latter terms their relationship as toxic, citing the former's manipulative tendencies. James admits he is impotent while Vanessa confronts Candy over her affair with her husband.
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However, James claims he cheated on her to feel more like a man. The movie closes with the wealthy couple staring at their newborn nephew's photo amid the mess created by their desperate choices.
FAQs
Zak Kristofek and Inny Clemons are the producers of A Lot of Nothing. Below are some frequently asked questions about the film.
Where was A Lot of Nothing filmed?
The 104-minute movie filmed in Los Angeles, United States. Its central location was a mansion in Brentwood.
Where can you watch A Lot of Nothing?
You can stream A Lot of Nothing on Hulu, Hoopla, ALLBLK and AMC+ platforms. It is also available for purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video. Watch the trailer on YouTube.
In conclusion
A Lot of Nothing is a 2022 thriller drama film directed by Mo McRae. Vanessa compels her husband, James, to kidnap their White cop neighbour Brian, who allegedly shot a Black teenager. In a shocking turn of events, James kills Brian soon after discovering his victim was White.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
