Michael Shannon Back with Jeff Nichols for Sci-Fi ‘Midnight Special’

[Fallen Angel]

Variety Film Review: ‘Midnight Special’ http://bit.ly/1SKDeK6

THR-'Midnight Special': Berlin Review http://thr.cm/qridHk

 

[Farren]

I'm intrigued.

 

[Airwings]

Fallen angel still doesn't know what I meant

 

[Fallen Angel]

I did know.

Yet you didn't get my joke.

 

[StarLord]

New Trailer

[YT]Kr1tclhaGy0[/YT]

 

[Tim_Riggins]

Incredible trailer, this is going to be beautiful.

 

[Fallen Angel]

 

[Fallen Angel]

Mondo poster.

 

[terry78]

Won a free screening for this here in Chicago tonight along with a Q&A with Nichols, will fill you in tomorrow.

 

[DeGenerate10]

When is this coming out?

 

[Fallen Angel]

I presume you're in the U.S so its 18th March.

 

[terry78]

Very well done flick, everyone excelled from Shannon to Driver to Dunst. I knew beforehand from people that it evoked 80s Spielberg and it seriously does feel like something he would've directed in his heyday, moreso than Abrams' Super 8. Didn't get to ask Nichols any questions since I got stuck in the back row for actually getting there only an hour early but it was a great experience.

 

[Farren]

Very well done flick, everyone excelled from Shannon to Driver to Dunst. I knew beforehand from people that it evoked 80s Spielberg and it seriously does feel like something he would've directed in his heyday, moreso than Abrams' Super 8. Didn't get to ask Nichols any questions since I got stuck in the back row for actually getting there only an hour early but it was a great experience.

That's great! I love old school Spielberg and I wish more filmmakers ... I won't say *imitated* because filmmakers should always find their own voice ... but *learned* from those old films.

It's also up to 86% on RottenTomatoes. Maybe I'll go this week.

 

[titansupes]

I can't find any screenings of this near me...

 

[Fallen Angel]

I can't find any screenings of this near me...

Limited release this week TS. Should expand in the coming weeks.

 

[titansupes]

Limited release this week TS. Should expand in the coming weeks.

Ah, of course. I'll keep checking back then.

 

[Miss Lois Lane]

Rotten Tomatoes editorial on Michael Shannon in anticipation of US release. I hope this is going to be a great year for him!

http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/definitive-michael-shannon-movies/#

 

[wampa1]

I saw this last night and it was pretty great. Definitely invokes that 70s/80s sci-fi like Starman or something. If I had to nitpick it's that it's a bit of a sausage fest and Dunst feels like her character was thrown in there as a result and is a bit under developed.

 

[redhawk23]

Finally got to see this today. I was fairly pleased with this.

The director has spoken about being a bit frustrated with the Spielberg comparisons. I can see where they come from but this movie definitely goes for a different tone. If it borrows anything from Spielberg its an aspect of his work that is often ignored. Everyone always points to the sense-of-wonder shots but The Beard has also long been good at building tension and a sense of a noose tightening, of a net coming down. I think this movie does a pretty good job of that, at least in its first half.

I was very impressed by Shannon's performance here as a father desperate to do right by his son, even when it isn't quite clear what that might mean and even when it means letting go.

I was also impressed by Adam Driver. That man is so perfectly dorky to an extent that even when ominous, you're never quite sure what to think of him. That effect is employed well here.

The plot is fairly well worn in things like Close Encounters or Firestarter but there enough specifics thrown in here to make it feel fresh.

More discussion will have to wait until more have seen it.

Until then:

Spoiler

The concept of a race of other higher beings living in a world just out of sight and surrounding our own was interesting. I have to say their "futuristic" architecture mostly just brought to mind the work of Frank Gehry. It also brought to mind Tomorrowland and Disney World. Given that the film shows that this futuristic city's entrance exists in the middle of Florida Swamp Land I'm honestly left wondering if it actually was inspired or commenting on Disney World.

 

[redhawk23]

Nichols may be annoyed by the Spielberg comparisons but I don't think they're unwarrented, just somewhat focused on the wrong aspects.

This new film borrows heavily from the second half of Close Encounters and the scenes of sick ET. The government closing in, the race to get to an area restricted by shady government entities.

This follows Nichols earlier film, Take Shelter which much like the first half of Close Encounters shows a man struggling with a fixation that he cannot understand and that is tearing his family apart.

 

[Kane52630]

Oh yeah I saw this last weekend, I loved it. It's every Scifi nerd dream, great acting, action, and suspense.

 

[StarLord]

Going to see this on Monday. Really looking forward to it.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I saw it last nice and found it to be a nice film. And I disliked Take Shelter so liking it was not a forgone conclusion.

7.5/10

 

[LoganGambit87]

i just seen this film and it may be one of my favorites of the year 8.5/10 its a beautiful mix of ET and Starman with great performances across the board i was so engrossed in the movie it was very tense,suspenseful,good action and just thought provoking sci fi.

if you love sci fi you will eat this up