Michael Shannon
The Bikeriders film evokes an interesting time and place in US history, in which Nichols’ ensemble cast take big swings – and get big enough hits.
Lacking horror and empathy, Abandoned is film that should be just that – abandoned.
Fim Inquiry spoke with Michael Shannon, star of Nine Perfect Strangers.
In The Quarry, a drifter (Shea Whigham) kills a traveling preacher and takes his place at a small-town church, but the police chief (Michael Shannon) suspects foul play.
The Current War builds upon a solid narrative foundation by richly transporting the viewer to a pivotal and prescient time for humankind.
As a narrative dive into the complexities of grief, State Like Sleep grazes the surface but doesn’t commit.
What They Had is an honest snapshot of a family during crisis, in all its inevitably chaotic shades – it’s exactly what you’d hope a movie about Alzheimer’s would be.
With the inclusion of a MacGuffin and the eventual predictable narrative that follows, Fahrenheit 451 misses out on a golden opportunity to connect with a modern audience.
12 Strong feels on a par with the cringeworthy, overly patriotic action films made during the significant wars of America’s past, with nothing to say about the nature of war itself.
The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro’s 10th feature, is loaded with qualities to praise, including beautifully-lit cinematography, a haunting score, and exceptional performances, but as a whole it’s not quite as impactful as it could’ve been.
Salt and Fire is an alluringly ambiguous environmental thriller by Werner Herzog, featuring purposefully stilted and brilliant performances.
It’s time we opened up auteur theory to include more than the director; actors leave unique marks on their films, and deserve our critical attention.
I first discovered Jeff Nichols back in 2013, when I happened to catch Mud in theaters. Not knowing what to expect, I still remember distinctly how I felt walking out of the theater – I absolutely loved everything about the film. I was stunned by its raw, understated beauty, with characters that lived and breathed, and a coming-of-age story that was uniquely captivating.
Frank & Lola is an original look at a romantic relationship affected by past sexual abuse, and is presented in a mezmorizing noir tone.
With only four movies to his name so far, and with features ranging in genre from coming-of-age dramas (Mud) to quasi-science fiction (Take Shelter), Jeff Nichols’ films have at least one thing in common (other than that they all star Michael Shannon): they are all intimate productions, both in style and in their focus on the tight-knit relationships around us. Often set in the American South where Nichols himself grew up, his films deal with familial struggles and upsets in usually uneventful communities.