Since I've spent the last week watching the films of Jeff Nichols in preparation for reviewing Midnight Special, I figured I might as well rank them. That's apparently what I do now.*
4. Take Shelter
(Streaming on Amazon, but not for free.) I'm not quite as enamored of this film as many of my fellow critics, in part because I just don't like the ending. It feels like both a copout and a reach, which is an unfortunately combination. That being said, I absolutely love its portrayal of mental illness—a tricky thing to do right without being super-hacky—and the respect with which Nichols treats his working class protagonists. Plus, it's totally worth watching for the performances alone: Jessica Chastain is magnetic as Michael Shannon's long-suffering wife.
3. Shotgun Stories
(Streaming for free on Amazon Prime.) The gif above rather succinctly summarizes the theme of this film: hate festers and corrupts. Shotgun Stories is about two sets of half-brothers—one of which was abandoned by their drunk, abusive, alcoholic father; the other of which was raised by him after he reformed—whose hatred reaches peak boil after the man who sired them expires. This film reminded me a bit of Malick's first two films: The fields and streams of Arkansas and the warring clans offer plenty for the camera to linger on.
2. Midnight Special
(In theaters now.) I reviewed it here. I'm still not 100 percent sold on this film. But it has some spectacular moments. And a truly crushing final shot. Also: Michael Shannon, who has been in every one of Nichols' movies, should be in all movies, forever.
1. Mud
(Streaming on Amazon, though, again, not for free.) One of the key texts of the McConaughsance, Mud also happens to be Nichols' most complete film from a storytelling perspective. The story of a boy looking for something solid to hold on to in his life and the criminal who happens to be that rock, Mud is a tender, small film of the sort that they don't make all that many of anymore. It's a shame.
Now, let's see which superhero franchise we can saddle Jeff Nichols with, shall we? Why waste his talents on these $5-$10 million films? How about, um, a $150 million Hawkeye flick? I think that would work, yeah?
*If you want to experience some cinematic whiplash, spend a month watching Terrence Malick films followed by Zack Snyder films capped off by Jeff Nichols films. It's a trip, man.