Shotgun Stories is one of the finest films I’ve seen this year.
The descriptions I´ve given for the Brothers Hayes sound like something out of a bad Jeff Foxworthy routine. Nevertheless, Nichols and his actors infuse the characters with a well-worn humanity. They are flawed characters that are sometimes likeable and sometimes aggravating, just like anybody else you´ve ever met in your everyday life. What truly brings the characters to life is the dialogue which is some of the best I´ve ever heard in years. I´m not talking about the stylized monologues of David Mamet or Quentin Tarantino. Nichols´ lines are terse and succinct. These are manly men who aren´t likely to share their feelings or engage in flowery soliloquies.
The performances are uniformly excellent with veteran character actor Michael Shannon as the film´s emotional anchor. I enjoyed his work here and in other movies like "Before the Devil Knows You´re Dead" and "World Trade Center." Shannon might only be recognized as one of the ´that guys,´ but with only luck his showing in "Shotgun Stories" will help him graduate from supporting roles to male lead.
VIDEO:
The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I was provided only a screener and not the final product. The transfer on my copy isn´t as rich as it could have been, but it´s clean and suitable.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo. The 5.1 track was not available on the screener. The Dolby Stereo track wasn´t up to par. Other than the score, the sound was muted and the dialogue was hard to make out.
EXTRAS:
The official DVD release includes an audio commentary track with Jeff Nichols, an isolated music track, the film´s theatrical trailer, and a photo gallery.
None are present on the screener so I cannot rate them properly.
FILM VALUE:
"Shotgun Stories" is a film that truly deserves a wider audience and should cement Jeff Nichols´ status as a filmmaker to pay close attention to. This is Greek tragedy transplanted into the white trash south of America. It proves the independent film industry is still going strong and can produce more than just smug and phony rip-offs of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Little Miss Sunshine."
The performances are uniformly excellent with veteran character actor Michael Shannon as the film´s emotional anchor. I enjoyed his work here and in other movies like "Before the Devil Knows You´re Dead" and "World Trade Center." Shannon might only be recognized as one of the ´that guys,´ but with only luck his showing in "Shotgun Stories" will help him graduate from supporting roles to male lead.
VIDEO:
The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I was provided only a screener and not the final product. The transfer on my copy isn´t as rich as it could have been, but it´s clean and suitable.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo. The 5.1 track was not available on the screener. The Dolby Stereo track wasn´t up to par. Other than the score, the sound was muted and the dialogue was hard to make out.
EXTRAS:
The official DVD release includes an audio commentary track with Jeff Nichols, an isolated music track, the film´s theatrical trailer, and a photo gallery.
None are present on the screener so I cannot rate them properly.
FILM VALUE:
"Shotgun Stories" is a film that truly deserves a wider audience and should cement Jeff Nichols´ status as a filmmaker to pay close attention to. This is Greek tragedy transplanted into the white trash south of America. It proves the independent film industry is still going strong and can produce more than just smug and phony rip-offs of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Little Miss Sunshine."
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[release]24155[/release]