Midnight Special

Starring: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Camp, Sam Shepard
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery
2016

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A father (Michael Shannon) and son (Jaeden Lieberher) go on the run from government agents who want to study the boy and his special abilities.

Review:

Tim: I sat down to watch Midnight Special, having heard some good things about it. I was totally unprepared for the best movie I've seen in the last four years. I'll never understand why this movie doesn't have more fans nor why it received no Academy Award nominations. This movie is truly incredible and emerged as one of my all time favorite movies.

Jeff Nichols fascinates me. I was underwhelmed by Take Shelter, but I loved Mud. Between those two films, I saw great maturation as a director. That graph takes another leap here, this one into the upper echelon of movies. Nichols gives us a science fiction movie that really isn't about all that. It's really a story about being a father, about being a parent. It's about what that feels like, how it changes us as men and as women. This is a beautiful, powerful, unforgettable movie.

As I started the film, I was totally in the dark as to what was happening. Nichols doesn't let us in on the secret- it takes a substantial amount of the film to really understand what's happening, and we still probably don't get the full story. I was totally fine with this- the mystery was half the fun. I kept thinking to myself, "What the heck is going on?" and waited with bated breath to find out more answers to my questions. Nichols tells this mysterious, engaging, fascinating story and the unanswered questions pull us into the film. This movie grabbed hold of me from the outset and didn't let go until the nearly two hour film was finished. In today's modern technological world, it is a great distraction to have cell phones. I have to continually fight the urge to look at that little screen, even during movies I like. I had no desire, no inkling to even grab for my device here. I was so engrossed in the movie that I couldn't look away. That is the mark of a truly great film. This is one of the most compelling movies I've seen in a long, long time.

The cast surprised me. You don't have A-listers, but they all delivered so well. I've always struggled with Michael Shannon- even as I recognize his talent as an actor, it's hard for me to genuinely like him. That was easier here- he delivers an outstanding performance. It's all subtle, but I was mesmerized by him in this film. His acting towards the end made me cry (I'm not ashamed to admit it) and he crushed me emotionally without saying a word. He's remarkable in this movie, but if you're not paying attention, it would be easy to overlook how good he is. I was pleased to see Joel Edgerton here. I've become a bigger and bigger Edgerton fan with every movie I see. The guy always delivers, no matter what he's doing. He has a smaller role here, but he significantly contributes to the film. I believe he's one of the more underrated, below-the-radar, great actors working today. His presence here was welcome. I liked seeing Kirsten Dunst here. She's probably the biggest name, but she hasn't been near the top of her career for a long time. She adds a very strong performance here. While she isn't as talented as Shannon or Edgerton, she stepped up her game here. Jaeden Lieberher was impressive for being so young. He was wonderfully cast. I also enjoyed seeing Adam Driver, who is quietly becoming an actor to watch. As a whole, Nichols assembled the right cast for this film and they all work effectively.

What I adore about this movie is that you can watch it many different ways. You could watch it as a straight science fiction movie, and it's a very good one. But, the real emotional power comes when you realize this is just a movie about being a parent. The kid in question here has undeniable special powers, but isn't that how every parent feels? That your kid is special? That he or she is meant for something more? That if you can just protect them, they can change the world? That realization is where you start to see the genius of Jeff Nichols. We're all Shannon and Dunst here. Every parent feels like they do. The journey they go on- the sacrifices they make- it's nothing short of brilliant. The ending of the film is quiet, subtle, but undeniably powerful. As the film reaches the end, my emotions caught up with me and overwhelmed me. I've never been ashamed to admit when I cry at a movie, and this movie made me cry. I cried because it's so beautiful and so meaningful to anyone who is a parent. I love Nichols for making me feel the emotions I did at this movie.

When you add it all up- the powerful emotions, the crazy, unexpected sci-fi moments, the meditation on fatherhood (and motherhood), the impressive performances by the cast- Midnight Special is something truly remarkable. It's one of my all time favorite movies, an unforgettable film that I believe will gain more followers with time. Nichols showed his ability before, but here he crafts one of the most excellent, exceptional movies I've ever seen. I loved this movie and this is exactly why I watch movies.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 9



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Mud, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Take Shelter