'Take Shelter', a new movie by director Jeff Nichols, might be another in a long line of 'Look out, the end of the world is coming!' tales, but it might also be something else...it might be good! This film premiered in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, and Sony Pictures Classics snapped up the rights to distribute the film. It also got rave reviews when it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May of this year, and it received the Fipresci award from the International Federation of Film Critics. In September 2011, Take Shelter was shown at the 37th Deauville American Film Festival, where it beat 13 other contenders to win the festival's grand prize.
So what makes this 'the apocalypse is coming' film different from others along the same line? Some would say that having Michael Shannon in the lead role makes all the difference. The actor is getting rave reviews for his portrayal of Curtis LaForche, a man who starts having dark apocalyptic dreams, and the movie centers on the dark road these dreams take him down. He keeps the dreams from his wife (don't they always?), and starts to build a storm shelter in his back yard. As usual with these types of scenarios, his behaviour starts to put a strain on his relationships.
Michael Shannon has been a critics favorite in other roles as well, appearing in 'Bug' with Ashley Judd, and earning an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in 'Revolutionary Road', which also starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio. He will also be playing General Zod in the Superman film series reboot, 'Man of Steel'.
'Take Shelter' also stars Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life, Jolene) as Samantha LaForche, Curtis' wife, and Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands, Cold Mountain).
We don't know what is happening to Curtis. Is he really getting visions of things to come? Is it all in his head? I certainly hope that this film does not take the easy way out and make this all the product of an over-active imagination.
We'll have to wait and see...
Kevin B.
So what makes this 'the apocalypse is coming' film different from others along the same line? Some would say that having Michael Shannon in the lead role makes all the difference. The actor is getting rave reviews for his portrayal of Curtis LaForche, a man who starts having dark apocalyptic dreams, and the movie centers on the dark road these dreams take him down. He keeps the dreams from his wife (don't they always?), and starts to build a storm shelter in his back yard. As usual with these types of scenarios, his behaviour starts to put a strain on his relationships.
Michael Shannon has been a critics favorite in other roles as well, appearing in 'Bug' with Ashley Judd, and earning an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in 'Revolutionary Road', which also starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio. He will also be playing General Zod in the Superman film series reboot, 'Man of Steel'.
'Take Shelter' also stars Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life, Jolene) as Samantha LaForche, Curtis' wife, and Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands, Cold Mountain).
We don't know what is happening to Curtis. Is he really getting visions of things to come? Is it all in his head? I certainly hope that this film does not take the easy way out and make this all the product of an over-active imagination.
We'll have to wait and see...
Kevin B.
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