This movie has a lot of what I look for in a movie. Strong cast. Strong script. Strong cinematography. It's subtle and beautiful and manages to excel without needing to go over-the-top.
The movie has a beautiful, unclear ending - not necessarily ambiguous, but certainly unresolved. I appreciate that that writer/director Nichols didn't bother to spell it all out. We're left with something to talk about. The ending alone makes the movie worth watching, but the rest of it is so well executed that it doesn't feel like a "twist" or a "gimmick." It's just left there to be considered.
Most of what I've read about "Take Shelter" online focuses on Michael Shannon's performance. And he, indeed, shines. He is haunting and powerful and real at a level rarely achieved in acting. He steals the show, no doubt about it.
But I also believe Jessica Chastain deserves significant credit as well. Her stability serves as a counterpoint to Shannon's instability. Like Shannon, she manages to be "real" without resorting to "gritty." You feel for her.
I'd love to have a discussion on what the movie means, if anything. And I love the fact that the movie allows so much to be discussed. I think that too often writers and directors are afraid to leave anything ambiguous or open ended. Jeff Nichols does not have that problem, and I think him for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment