I am officially a fan of Jeff Nichols. His films, Mud and Take Shelter were both strong character-driven films that captivated me. Nichols writes his own screenplays, which you don't see much of anymore. It appears that he only has one other film to his credit, his first film, Shotgun Stories. As a new fan, I decided I would rent this 2007 film to get an idea about Nichols roots. It appears that Nichols was still getting his feet under him with Shotgun Stories, but the film was decent enough for a rainy day rental.
Son Hayes (Michael Shannon) lives in a small house in Southeastern Arkansas. His brother Kid (Barlow Jacobs) lives in a tent in his backyard. Their other brother, Boy (Douglas Ligon) lives in a conversion van parked near the lake. Son has a gambling problem that results in his wife (Glenda Penell) taking their son and moving in with her mother. With the house empty, Son's brothers move in. The brothers are somewhat subdued in their daily activities. Almost going through the motions. Son works at a local fishery, Kid is thinking about marriage and Boy dabbles in basketball, couching a couple of local boys on a nearby outdoor court. While their lives are rather drab, we slowly peel back the layers of their bland exterior revealing characters that are complex and intriguing.
The complexity of the characters begin to emerge following a tense exchange at their father's funeral. We learn that their father walked out on them when they were much younger. He subsequently started a new family and became an upstanding member of the community. But the deep scars of childhood boil over as Son spits on his father's coffin in the middle of the burial service. This single act brings about a feud between the half-brothers that rapidly escalates to violence. The eldest half-brother, Cleaman (Michael Abbott Jr.) tries to mediate a truce, but Mark (Travis Smith) isn't easily swayed from extracting revenge. Vengeance becomes a vicious circle destined to consume the entire family. It is the type of hatred and violence that may easily be passed to the next generation if cooler heads don't prevail.
I like the way Nichols weaves his stories. They meander sometimes, with a purposeful but plodding pace at times. This can be a tedious process, especially when the dialogue is muted. His later films manage to balance the pacing with action and intensity. Shotgun Stories lacks that balance, trudging along even as the tension builds. The strength of the characters helps salvage this film that has a reasonable plot made more interesting by the unbridled violence. I would have enjoyed more meat to the actual story, but the characters and dialogue were strong enough to elicit a recommendation.
A film like Shotgun Stories mandates strong acting. Intricate characters often succeed through nuance. Michael Shannon is exceptional in this type of quirky role, and has managed to appear in all three of Nichols' films. His performance here was exceptional, adding intrigue to a character that is deeply flawed but genuinely likable. Douglas Ligon was equally likable. His character had unusual qualities that added surprising depth where it was least expected. Much of that came from his excellent acting skills. Jacobs was solid, as were the rest of the cast in more limited roles. The casting made a difference.
Shotgun Stories contains some intense violence, although it lacks some of the gore of most violent films. The violence was enough to evoke a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. Other issues that may have contributed to the rating included gambling addiction, strong language and drinking. I didn't find this film to be at all objectionable. I would watch it in mixed company and would not feel uncomfortable with younger viewers watching. The violence is contextual and is not graphic. If anything, younger viewers will be bored to tears.
I enjoyed Shotgun Stories in spite of the snail-like pacing. This film succeeds on the depth of the characters and the performances. The setting in Arkansas provides an interesting backdrop for a film that basically explores family dysfunction. The film strikes an odd balance of tension offset by sleepy pacing. I would have liked a bit more action, or at least some motion. The deliberate pacing, in this case, was tedious at times. Enough so, that it made the difference between a good film and a great one. If it's raining, and the movie is streaming free, go for it...6.5/10.
