Netflix pick for 7/22/13 – ‘Shotgun Stories’

From 2007, “Shotgun Stories” exists as proof of several things, namely that American cinematic film making is alive and well, and that original and interesting stories can still be told without a budget over $200 million and the special effects and baggage that come with such productions, and of course what we all already know by now, that Michael Shannon is one of the most compelling actors working today.

“Shotgun Stories” is a low budget little gem about a some half-brothers and their blood feud due to their disparate feelings over their newly deceased mutual father. Things get said, insults get hurled, violence becomes an option, and the rest is a mess of a bad ole time for everyone involved. Violence can beget a pretty vicious cycle, after all, but can one see the cycle coming and do anything to stop it? Should it be stopped? Or should we all yield shotguns in case someone starts disagreeing with us?

This is the first film from Arkansas-born writer/director Jeff Nichols, who has since followed this up with the most excellent “Take Shelter” and the very well reviewed “Mud,” and as far as I can tell, this fella is three for three in the good movie category and we should all be excited for what this guy does next. So get in on the ground floor before Hollywood sucks him in and shoves so much money into his pockets that he HAS to direct the reboot of “Howard the Duck,” naa’mean?

So check out “Shotgun Stories” here and enjoy the sweltering, revenge filled humid air of midwestern malice ridden Americana.