Review of Mr. Nanny (1993) by Jarryd R — 04 Nov 2007

The word "masterpiece" is thrown about far too often for this reviewers liking, but in the case of this groundbreaking cinematic tour de force by acclaimed director Michael Gottlieb, there is perhaps no apter descripton.

Mr. Nanny is a cinematic, artistic and cultural landmark of epic proportions; to view it is to engage in a life-affirming cultural feast. An all-star supporting cast including Robert Gorman, Madeline Zima and, of course, the great Austin Pendleton, serve to brilliantly compliment Hulk Hogans earth-shatteringly powerful performance.

Hogan's fascinating approach to the role was, in many ways, a prototype for James Gandolfini's performance in the Sopranos almost a decade later; Hogan is simultaneously helpless, aloof, menacing, childlike and heartwarming in his performance as an ex-wrestler turned nanny, who faces a vast existantial and spiritual quandary as he struggles to adapt to his new surroundings.

This is arguably Hogans most accomplished role to date; superior on many levels even to his poignant and remarkably convincing performance in Santa With Muscles. As for Gottlieb, his command of the mise en scene is startling; of particular note was the often-referenced scene in which the villain -who has a large metal plate in place of a scalp- is drawn into a giant electromagnet and launched into the statosphere to his presumed demise- a scene remarkable both for its gritty, visceral realism and for its immense metaphorical value.

Perhaps the most important movie of the last 20 years, I can say without hesitation that Mr. Nanny is every bit as powerful, relavent and engaging now as it was when first released.