All about Nina

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is superb here as a brash stand-up comedian who moves to LA when her personal life in New York spirals out of control. Using raw, unfiltered language from the very beginning, the film doesn't hold back in illustrating the situation Nina finds herself in. It's a refreshingly honest, but hard-going look at someone struggling with their personal demons. Nina may not be particularly warm or likeable, but she does invite sympathy, particularly when the origins of her anger come to light in the film's third act. Common provides excellent support as a man Nina meets in LA, sparking a romance that goes against the film's gritty tone, but which charms thanks to the chemistry of the two actors. All about Nina tackles hard issues about gender and trauma, refusing to sugar-coat any of it. It's not an easy watch at times, but the story and its star make a powerful impression.