MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jaeden Martell, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst and Adam Driver
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Written by: Jeff Nichols
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1hr 52min
WINNER – Sarasota Film Festival –
NOMINEE – Saturn Award – Best Science Fiction Film
NOMINEE – Phoenix Critics Circle –
“According to director Jeff Nichols, Adam Driver’s first day on set was the same day he got the news he would be in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” – IMDB
“We’ve gotten to a point where it costs so much money to make a movie that directors and filmmakers feel they have to make sure that everybody gets it. And that’s an unfortunate development, I think, in a lot of narratives floating around in the film industry. I think it’s good for an audience to be challenged. I think, too, there’s such a thing as a diet of the mind, and the more we make films that challenge people, the more they get out of it, you know? The more they like it.” – Writer/Director Jeff Nichols – DEN OF GEEKS
Let me start by admitting that writer/director Jeff Nichols is one of my favorite filmmakers working today. Two of his films, TAKE SHELTER and THE BIKERIDERS, actually took the number one spots on my year-end top ten lists during the years they were released. Yet, when I look back on the box-office numbers for his filmography, I find myself surprised by how few people have actually made the trip out to the theaters to see his work. Arguably, at least three of his five feature films could be considered Underexposed Cinematic Treasures and include LOVING, TAKE SHELTER and the film that I’ve chosen to write about in this recommendation.
The fact that 2016’s critically acclaimed MIDNIGHT SPECIAL didn’t become a bigger hit and only brought in $3,712,282 domestically (according to boxofficemojo.com) seems a little hard to believe. It’s a thought-provoking sci-fi adventure inspired by classics such as John Carpenter’s STARMAN and Steven Spielberg’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and tells an emotionally charged story with an intelligence that refuses to talk down to its audience. The ingredients for success all seem to be in place, including a cast featuring four big-name actors, Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Shepard, as well as an, at the time, up-and-coming Adam Driver. It also boasts a script filled with some real emotional depth, dramatic intensity, intriguing mystery, interesting special-effect driven moments and thought-provoking themes about faith, conviction and the need to protect one’s child. Yet, to this day, it has still only found a modest audience.
The story itself wastes no time getting started. We’re immediately introduced to two men, Roy and Lucas, as they hide out in a small hotel room with a young boy named Alton. A news report informs us that these men have kidnapped the boy and are on the run. But not everything is what it seems. It turns out that Alton is an extraordinary child who possesses special powers and Roy is actually his father. The two men have rescued him from a religious cult that believes he is their savior and who are willing to do anything to get him back. They’re not the only ones tracking the young boy, though. The government feels threatened by his powers and is eager to get him under their control. To keep the boy safe and for reasons I won’t reveal here, the three, along with Alton’s mother, Sarah, whom they meet up with along the way, head to a secret location, willing to do whatever it takes to protect him and ensure he arrives at his final destination safely. — Sounds like a surefire hit to me… or am I crazy?-
One of the things that makes all of Nichols’ films so effective is that he knows how to build the perfect tone within the world he’s creating. Whereas so many stories of this kind like to stay in a more comic book or fantastical environment, Nichols is best when his stories feel truly grounded in reality. This is a story that deals with a small boy who harnesses special powers of the kind that don’t exist in the real world, but the tone set in MIDNIGHT SPECIAL treats everything as a what-if… What if it did happen in real life? Nichols effectively surrounds the characters with such a real-world environment that the viewer will believe it could happen right here, in our reality. From the worn-looking production design to the organic visual style achieved with the choice to shoot on film and the relatable emotions of the characters, everything embodies a genuine feel of realism, making the world more interesting to watch. Even the ending stays away from the fantastical closing moments given to us in films like CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND or E.T. and leaves us with a more subtle conclusion, making it work in a very unique way.
As a filmmaker, Nichols also shows some real confidence in the audience as he lets the film unfold at a slower pace, revealing small bits of information with a minimum of expositional dialogue. His script treats the viewer as intelligent, trusting us to put the pieces together without being spoon-fed everything, in fear that we won’t understand what’s going on. In doing so, this allows the viewer the opportunity to become a more active participant in the storytelling process, while engaging with the film on a deeper, more thoughtful level.
Nichols has also taken on the daunting task of creating a complex script that weaves multiple ideas together into a single storyline. It tackles themes of spirituality, cultism, government control and a parent’s need to protect their child while understanding that sometimes they must do what is right for them, even if it’s not in their own best interest. The film also mixes genres such as family drama, sci-fi, superhero, suspense thriller, road trip and chase films. Though at first this might seem as if a little too much is going on, under Nichols’ careful direction, everything seems to have the perfect amount of balance. Nothing overshadows anything else, as it all works like a well-designed puzzle, whose pieces all fit together seamlessly to create an amazing whole.
As with his other films, Nichols places the characters and their emotional journeys front and center. The sci-fi plot only exists to move each character’s inner stories forward. Shannon, Edgerton and Dunst each give some of the best performances of their careers. It’s not in the way they speak their dialogue, though. The real emotion comes through in the quieter moments. It’s more in the way they handle their body language and emotions within their facial expressions. The key to the viewer coming to care about Alton doesn’t come from how well a young Jaeden Martell performs or embodies the role. Sure, Martell is effective as Alton, especially in the film’s second half, after he goes through a growing change and his character is given more to do emotionally. But, to be honest, Alton feels more like the catalyst that actually drives Roy, Lucas and Sarah’s stories forward and we grow to care about him through them. They each have their own individual reason for having a devotion towards Alton and Nichols gives the three leads the room they need to really work with their inner emotions. It’s through these three characters and our understanding of their feelings regarding Alton that the viewer will also begin to care about him, eventually rooting for him to get to the end of his journey, while also feeling the strong emotions that come from the adult’s final decision regarding Alton’s fate.
Driver is also good in the supporting role of Paul Sevier, a government official who must figure out who Alton is and whether or not he is a danger to the world. Driver shows some real depth in his performance, giving one of the smaller roles a lot more depth than would be expected and bringing the government subplot to a higher level than just being presented as an antagonistic obstacle. This is a performance that truly foreshadows how good an actor he will eventually become in the coming years.
For anyone unfamiliar with the films of Jeff Nichols, I implore that they check out the movies that he has put out into the cinematic world. Though I should admit, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL isn’t his best work, that would be, in my opinion, TAKE SHELTER, it serves as the perfect jumping off point to start with. Its commercial mentality makes it the most accessible to today’s mainstream audience and will leave the viewers with the curiosity needed to make them want to see the rest of his filmmaking library.
Watch MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
You May Also Like
Your blog is a constant source of inspiration for me. Your passion for your subject matter is palpable, and it’s clear that you pour your heart and soul into every post. Keep up the incredible work!
Your writing is not only informative but also incredibly inspiring. You have a knack for sparking curiosity and encouraging critical thinking. Thank you for being such a positive influence!
Its like you read my mind You appear to know a lot about this like you wrote the book in it or something I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit but instead of that this is fantastic blog An excellent read I will certainly be back
I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I do not know who you are but certainly youre going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers
Your blog is a treasure trove of valuable insights and thought-provoking commentary. Your dedication to your craft is evident in every word you write. Keep up the fantastic work!