[MINI-REVIEW] Midnight Special

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:03 am

Jeff Nichols has quietly cemented himself as a much-watch director. None of his movies are huge events, but they are all so good in their quietude that they sneak up on you, and into your brain, and fester in there like slimy little worms.

His latest, "Midnight Special" is a more grounded echo of Starman, with the same sense of making the ordinary seem more and more unsettling the longer you spend with it.

A story of a father (and his buddy) trying to protect his "special" child (no spoilers) and get him to a secret location turns it into a road trip movie where you're not sure where the road is going, or what, for that matter, is going there. The tension is palpable from the start.

I suspect the "reveal" moment (again, no spoilers) will be divisive, but I found it quite wondrous, and a perfect note on which to end the trip that had come before.

I think "Take Shelter" is still Nichols' best movie, but a four-star science fiction movie doesn't come along very often, so I'll go ahead and treasure this one.

Four (****) stars.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 5:17 pm

So..It's Escape To Witch Mountain?

Is that what it is? Cause I've seen that movie once.

THE
EDDIE ALBERT
IN A CAN
AARDVARK

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 5:22 pm

I just read the plot synopsis on IMDB and I wasn't too far off the mark.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 9:29 pm

A four-star sci-fi movie recommended by pinback is a movie I need to see. It's a movie we all need to see.

I also know nothing about this director. I am completely out of the loop of cool things.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:46 am

He has made four movies, three of which I have seen. They are all good.

Midnight Special (previously mentioned)
Shotgun Stories (didn't see this one)
Take Shelter (start here, it's so good)
Mud (mud)

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:24 am

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:A four-star sci-fi movie recommended by pinback is a movie I need to see. It's a movie we all need to see.

Also, I like this idea.

Can we all watch Midnight Special?

I'd like to know your opinions. The more I think about it, the greater it gets in my mind, so if it sucks, you gotta get me off my goddamn high horse!

Tdarcos · Post by **Tdarcos** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:53 pm

pinback wrote:Can we all watch Midnight Special?

In Soviet Russia, Midnight Special watches you!

"Let the Midnight Special, shine its ever lovin' light on you."
- Creedence Clearwater Revival