I watched this movie after watching Jeff Nichols' next movie TAKE SHELTER. One thing that I think Nichols does well - like Paul Thomas Anderson - is creating the atmosphere for a story that has only one possible outcome - a bad one. That sense of dread in a movie means you HAVE to stay and see what happens. In SHOTGUN STORIES, Nichols - along with his cast, including Michael Shannon, manage to capture a futility of American existence - almost Godot-esque. The three men, at the centre of the piece are called Boy, Son & Kid. These boys were not handed out a winning hand at the start.
At the centre of the story is a family dispute - more specifically, a step-family dispute - that comes to the fore at a funeral. In that scene alone you get a great sense of how the actions of one man can still hurt many people down the years.
I enjoyed this film - but I don't think everyone will. Atmospherically, excellent, and the story within is a good one for anyone with skeletons in their own family closet - however - it feels a little long in places - and I'm not sure how satisfied people will be with the ending once it arrives - I wasn't - but I enjoyed it.
At the centre of the story is a family dispute - more specifically, a step-family dispute - that comes to the fore at a funeral. In that scene alone you get a great sense of how the actions of one man can still hurt many people down the years.
I enjoyed this film - but I don't think everyone will. Atmospherically, excellent, and the story within is a good one for anyone with skeletons in their own family closet - however - it feels a little long in places - and I'm not sure how satisfied people will be with the ending once it arrives - I wasn't - but I enjoyed it.