Midnight Special

There are some directors who only manage to tell a strong story once in their film making career. Usually, it is hard for some directors to deliver more than once, unless they have a passion of telling stories we love, with really good acting. But there are directors who have proved themselves, more than once. Directors who know exactly what they are doing, and i would like to take this moment to mention one of them. Christopher Nolan is one of those directors, who always manage to surprise me, if you look at his catalogue. Apart from his fantastic Batman films, you have his classics Memento, Insomnia ( a really good remake of the norwegian film ), Inception and not long ago Interstellar. I have a feeling he will give us some really good films in the future, because he always proves that he knows how to tell stories, and make interesting films. There are of course plenty of directors we could talk about, but let us focus on one director, who definitely surprised me more than once. Director Jeff Nichols surprised a lot of people with his 2007 directorial debut film Shotgun Stories. It is a powerful independent film, with solid acting, where especially actor Michael Shannon proved himself. This film did not get to screen worldwide, and maybe this is why not many people have seen it. I suggest you do, if you find it on dvd online. 4 years later, Jeff returned with his second film Take Shelter, and managed to make this his best film so far. Michael Shannon is also seen in the lead role, and i have to say that he blew my mind this time. Take Shelter is a very strong psychological drama, where you have to figure out what is wrong, or if the main character is actually is telling the truth. A film you should own on dvd, or blu ray. 2 years later Jeff delivered another really good film again, this time with Matthew McConaughey in the lead role, in Mud. Another powerful film, this time telling a different story, also portraits the small town life in America. All of these 3 films are all worth to have in your dvd collection, or in blu ray, because they all manage to tell very interesting stories. Jeff Nicols is a director who works hard, to bring ús films, that have a lot to say, both emotionally and psychological. The interesting detail is that he have worked with actor Michael Shannon in 2 of his films. And now, this is the third time in the new film Midnight Special. I was very curious to see their third film together, knowing that they have proved themselves before, and i had to make sure i got a chance to see this film. Is this another really good film by this outstanding director, or did he step in the wrong direction with this completely different film ?

Roy Tomlin ( Michael Shannon ) is on the run, from a religious cult in Texas, with his 8 year old son Altor Tomlin ( Jaeden Lieberher ). Altor is a very special boy, who possesses otherworldy powers. FBI is called in, in the search of Altor, and the hunt is on. Roy´s childhood friend Lucas ( Joel Edgerton ), a state trooper, decides to help Roy and Altor on the run. The religious cult congregation, who is runned by leader Calvin Meyer ( Sam Shephard ), have FBI running in to their location. Everyone is being questioned, where FBI is trying to get an image of Roy and his plans. While Roy and Lucas keep the boy protected, they pick up Alton´s mother Sarah Tomlin ( Kristen Dunst ) on the way. Together, they try and stay safe, but is this the right way for Alton, or should he be following a different path ?

After all the positive talk about Midnight Special, and all the positive feedback that this film have been given, i can honestly say i am not let down. Even if Midnight Special is a very different film from the previous films of Jeff Nicols, he still prove himself to be one of the strongest independent film directors of our time. To see that he and Michael Shannon still work together, and manage to make such powerful films, is absolutely wonderful. Even if Midnight Special looks completely different from Jeff Nicols previous films, you can still recognize his style, and his way to tell a story. There are influences here from early Spielberg films, and i can understand why some people think of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. I would say though that Midnight Special, is very different though in the sci fi genre. There are no Michael Bay explosions, laser guns here, this film is much more deeper, and tries to give us a whole different aspect of human life. There is also a story of a young boy, who does seem to be very special, but is he human at all, or is he from another place ? As we follow the main characters across the country, running away from justice, and protecting this young child, we get to ask ourselves questions. And this is one of the details i really enjoy about Midnight Special, you have to think instead of just knowing what will happen. Another interesting view of this film, is the scenes where we see how people who lives in a religious cult, with their leader played brilliantly by legendary actor Sam Shephard. You feel that Jeff Nicols capture the typical pattern of a cult congregation, where the leader knows everything you need to know. The interviews with the members of the cult, clearly shows their lifestyle. Don´t think about what is logical, just follow your leader. Michael Shannon does what he always do, give us acting on a top level. He knows exactly how to make his characters, in his own unique way. But we have more really good acting here, especially from Kristen Dunst. In the past, i was not a big fan of her work, but she have proved herself to become a great actor, if she choose the right character. The young boy played by Jaeden Lieberher, does a really great performance as the unique child, who is very mysterious. I think it is best not to go to deep on the details of this uique boy, that the film is basically focused on. As i went in to see the film, i had no idea what to expect, and i think that is the way to experience Midnight Special, know as little as possible. If you have seen Take Shelter, you might remember that you had to think for yourself if the character is insane, or if he is telling the truth. Midnight Special also want you to think for yourself, but in a different perspective. I am so pleased to say this, you did it again Jeff Nicols. Someone needs to tell the world that you deserve more respect, and more people should see your films, especially in the theatre now to Midnight Special. I can´t think of many films so far this year that is so powerful as this film.

I have no problem saying this, Midninght Special is one of the best films of 2016 so far. Run and see it in a cinema near you!

Rating: DDDD