Nothing But Thieves and director Chris Grieder go for Radiohead heights as actor RJ Mitte (yes, Walt Jr.) tries to lucidly dream his way out of a shitty existence and back into the arms of his missing mother.
A couple retraces their dates to get a reminder of the literal magic that exists because of their love. Lots of sight-gags and inventiveness here, with much of the video casting the two as truly larger than life.
Don't be soothed by the one-take intro: That's just to set you up for the destructive crescendo of this emotional video from director Hayley Young.
Vance Joy: "I had a recurring image in my head of a guy walking in the neighbourhood where his ex-girlfriend lives. He is haunting the places they used to go together. He has time on his hands and feels kind of useless. He thinks that when they are back together he'll be at peace again... I am an admirer of Hayley's work and I liked her idea of doing a long take and having me sing directly to camera. I just sang it really loud and with as much conviction as I could muster, in the hope that the point would get across. She'd yell out from behind the camera if she was into what I was doing, which gave me confidence. It was the first time I've really given that kind of performance to a video clip."
The b&w grade and timeless style might have you expecting a classic Hollywood descent into despair — and we come close to serious heartbreak and destruction — but things turn around and bloom into lovely color as John Newman's love affair hits cruise control.
