Introduction
The Good Nurse is a 2022 crime movie by the American director, Tobias Lindholm, that is based on the real story of Charles Cullen, a nurse, who was involved in the killing of many patients. Jessica Chastain portrays Amy Loughren, a nurse, who becomes friendly with Cullen, portrayed by Eddie Redmayne, just to the point that she is to question if the friendly nurse is a mass murderer. The movie encompasses core aspects of drama and trust especially within the healthcare sector and thus should appeal to watchful fans of crime documentaries.
Release Date
The Good Nurse had its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022, and was formally released on Netflix on October 26, 2022. The film was appreciated not only as a great story but with the focus on the cast, which is Headington and Mirren – both are Oscar winners.
Crew:
| Role | Person(s) |
|---|---|
| Director | Tobias Lindholm |
| Screenplay | Krysty Wilson-Cairns |
| Writer | Krysty Wilson-Cairns |
| Producer | Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky, Michael A. Jackman |
| Editor | Adam Nielsen |
| Music Director | Biosphere |
Cast:
| Actor/Actress | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Eddie Redmayne | Charles Cullen |
| Jessica Chastain | Amy Loughren |
| Alix West Lefler | Alex Loughren |
| Kim Dickens | Linda Garran |
| Noah Emmerich | Tim Braun |
| Nnamdi Asomugha | Danny Baldwin |
| Maria Dizzia | Lori Lucas |
| Judith Delgado | Ana Martinez |
| Brooke Stacy Mills | Nurse Hardwick |
| Malik Yoba | Sam Johnson |
| Gabe Fazio | Tom Anderson |
| Moe Irvin | Mark Rossi |
| Ajay Naidu | Dr. Robert Hind |
| Marcia Jean Kurtz | Jackie |
| Gina Jun | Doctor |
| Chris Henry Coffey | Dr. Steven Reed |
| Bruce MacVittie | Malcolm Burrell |
| Myra Lucretia Taylor | Vivian Neal |
| Christine Healy | Assistant |
Story
Amy Loughren – a form ICU nurse JA graduate, raising teenagers alone, works hard only to barely cope with bills. Amy has an actual heart disease which necessitates her heart transplant; however, she has to work to be eligible for health insurance. His charisma and ability to work on an intensive shift and help her bear her burden and challenges of being a nurse is what makes Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) a seemingly good colleague who joins her unit.
Nevertheless, Amy gets to learn about a series of unexplained death in the hospital and fear begins to draw her towards Charles. The plot is revealed consequently as Amy tries to combine her fear and suspicion that her newfound friend could be a serial killer well into the night. To solve the mysteries of the deaths Amy works with detectives but must also get used to the themes of trust, fear and some moral questions concerning the frameworks of the healthcare system.
The story is duo-timestop-based moving back and forth from the days of investigation to flashbacks and socializing the horror of Cullen and the social injustice that enabled him to murder so many innocent people.
Review
Critics have had a more middle-of-the-road reaction to The Good Nurse; while everyone praised Chastain and Redmayne’s performances, some people continue to have a problem with the pacing of the movie as well as the development of the characters. The simulation of real-life problems that exist in a healthcare facility.
Plus Points
- Strong Performances: Jessica Chastain did a great job as the main character Amy, and managed to show the viewer all the weaknesses and strengths of the hero. Eddie Redmayne delivers a performance of Charles Cullen as a truly malignant character, who has some human qualities as well.
- Engaging Narrative: One interesting area of development is here where trust and betrayal are considered from within the context of a film about a healthcare environment. This aspect works rather well when Amy discovers the reality about Cullen hence enthralled from beginning to end.
- Realistic Portrayal of Healthcare Issues: The subject of the movie also tries to reveal several issues that are at the heart of the healthcare system with emphasis on facets of responsibility and supervision. There is a serious conflict of interest that is being exploited by Life Extension and the implications are of grave concern to patients and pharmacists who practice in this type of facility.
- Cinematography and Direction: The cinematography is done by Jody Lee Lipes and, that way, the harsh truth of how a hospital is helps increase the movie’s emotional Cinematography: Jody Lee Lipes. The director of the movie is Tobias Lindholm whose work keeps the movie’s flow rhythmic, containing the drama with suspense tones.
Minus Points
- Pacing Issues: Many commentators pointed out that the film can be slow at times, and specifically, the first part of the picture with relevant characters’ scenes and angles might look too lengthy. This could lead to times when the audience may give a low level of attention.
- Limited Character Development: Although the protagonist, antagonist and many other characters are fleshed out, many supporting characters can use more backstory to make their position in the plot more interesting. This may leave the viewers famished for more in some characters.
- Predictable Elements: It is necessary to mention that the film is based on a true story and still some events seem too stereotypical if to consider the viewer as a fan of the crime dramas. The absence of unpredictable events may have reduced the filmmaking capability to some extent.
Technical Aspects
The Good Nurse has a runtime of 123 minutes and is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The movement and positioning of the camera create a very clinical and often quite cold environment which only adds to the film’s suspense. The editing is good and the film keeps a good flow with even a few problems of pace.
The songs have been created by A.R. Rahman, and these songs fit into the movie as they make the emitting as well as suspenseful mood perfect. Since the movie is of the suspenseful genre, people appreciate chilling tunes that complement the movie’s themes.
Performance
Jessica Chastain does it a great justice as Amy Loughren, she truly dances between the character’s feelings and the responsibilities she bears. That is the reason, Jane is an easily identifiable main character; she can express both weakness and decisiveness.
Eddie Redmayne does an astounding job portraying the character of Charles Cullen – something that we have come to expect from the actor when portraying complicated personalities. He is intense as the mysterious nurse and effectively engages the audience in the suggested psychological horror of the whole movie.
The newscast of Nnamdi Asomugha, himself, and Noah Emmerich as detectives on the case give good performances to support the delightful appeal of the film. However, the characters could have probably been worked on much better to give a much better ensemble of characters.
MoviePopTime Review:
This movie needs to be discussed way more, but, unfortunately, nobody is doing it because Netflix doesn’t push it enough. Being a fan of such story-telling pictures with nice acting and cool pieces, I noticed the two main actors, who seemed to be rather engaging in the show.
The fact that there is no actual music in the movie only amplifies this; you’re always waiting for something to happen. And I worked with the questions in mind, ‘Will she ever find out the truth?’ Can she handle it? What will Cullen do once he realizes she knows? It allowed me to feel conflicted because I did not wish them to no longer be connected but you’re concerned with what happens when the twist occurs.
Conclusion
Altogether, the show’s title, The Good Nurse, reflects rightly the bucketful of suspense, moral concerns and reality all interwoven meticulously in a crime drama series. Despite it may occasionally suffer from the problem of impressing the audience with its speed and unpredictability, the film has a great cast and an interesting story.
Writer and Director Tobias Lindholm has delivered a movie that appeals to the masses showing the fight between trust and treason in a critical situation. Tightly knit around true events and incredibly moving, The Good Nurse is worth a view for fans of the horror/thriller genre.
On balance, The Good Nurse consolidates a distinct contribution to the true crime genre setting the stage for the kind of storytelling the new generation of readers and viewers expects: někdy deeply personal yet concerned with societally relevant questions essential for healthcare employees and patients alike. Affirmation on those platforms and appreciation from the target audience is a confirmation of the film as memorable, which makes the viewer uncomfortable and makes her think about the issues of morality and (or) responsibility in the medical profession.
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