Movie : Shotgun Stories

Down in the southern States the story of a couple of families connected by the same father plays out. Resentment and anger are the main emotions with no one taking the high road to heal the situation. Opportunities for reconciliation are presented but are missed, leading to tragic results.

I love everything about this film. It’s as far away from a Hollywood film as you can get. Real, truthful, low key. Jeff Nichols and his cast led by Michael Shannon make the kind of film I’m drawn to. The performances are honest and grounded. No false moves. You feel like you are there watching the story play out.

I had seen Nichol’s other films (To Shelter and Mud) and was drawn to this, his debut work. It did not disappoint. There’s a cool scene where one of the brothers is coaching the local basketball team. It is so real and says so much about life in these small towns. Nothing special just a slice of what it’s like. Wonderful in it’s simplicity.

If you want a breath of fresh air away from the usual fare, Check out ‘Shotgun Stories’ for a well told story done with care and an eye for keeping it real. It’s a film I liked a lot. The film moved me.

“You raised us to hate those boys, and we do. Now it comes to this”