Take Shelter

Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain
Release Date: September 30, 2011
Length: 2 hours 1 minute

    Independent filmmaker Jeff Nichols delivers his second project, Take Shelter, a film that thrives brilliantly and almost solely on the astonishing talent of it’s lead actor, Michael Shannon. Screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, Take Shelter tells the story of a young couple, Curtis (Shannon) and Samantha (Jessica Chastain), living in a small town of Ohio with their young deaf daughter Hanna (Tova Stewart). They have a happy family and loving marriage but when Curtis begins to have apocalyptic dreams, he worriedly questions if he is inheriting his mother (Kathy Baker)’s schizophrenia. Keeping his worries and visions from his wife, Curtis thoughtlessly begins expanding their storm shelter in the backyard in preparation for a storm he knows is coming. As Samantha becomes worriedly hysterical and Curtis’ visions show no sign of stopping, the strength of the family and Curtis’ sanity are put to the ultimate test for the storm to come. 

    This is one of the rare independent beauties that finds its way to film festivals and then to limited releases in theatres because it has a strength that most films in theatres do not carry. The film shines through the story’s maybe purposefully dull setting and normal circumstances with the incredible character depth written by Nichols and performed by the breathtaking cast. 

    Nichols creates a very slow almost monotonous style of filmmaking from the start that becomes the base to the chaotic plot and the tumultuous protagonist Curtis. His long beautiful shots capture the sandy taupe terrain of the small town as well as the talent of his cast. His slow camerawork perfectly shows the day-to-day regularity of the family while also serving the required pace for the panic and worry of the family toward the end. 

    Nicholls’ pristine script is what remains untouchable in the film though. His realistic and relatable writing of the characters make us connect to the completely original and intelligent story almost instantly. Instead of making Curtis turn into a psychopathic maniac hiding everything from his wife, he becomes troubled by his hallucinations, going to doctors, aware of his mother’s mentally disturbed nature. This makes the worry, the slip into mania, and the consequences he inflicts upon his family that much more real and powerful to the anxious audience. 

    Of course, without doubt, that worry and that connection to Curtis would cease to exist without the single handedly best performance in a film in 2011 by the underrated and brilliant actor Michael Shannon. If you are familiar with Shannon’s previous work, with his breakout Oscar nominated performance in Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road, playing a mentally challenged son, playing the crazy producer in The Runaways, or most recently in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire as the fanatical quiet FBI agent Van Alden, you know he’s one of the best actors in Hollywood today. His low-key, but profound performance as the distraught Curtis pulls the entire film to its utter greatness that makes it one of the best films of the year. 

    However, this prodigy of an actor is accompanied by equally talented supporting actors, including Jessica Chastain, who is simply making a sweep of 2011 with roles in The Help, The Tree of Life, The Debt, etc…and gives a heart wrenching performance as the loving but distraught wife of Curtis, worried about his impositions on the family as a whole. Shea Wigman, Shannon’s co-star on Boardwalk Empire is also fantastic as Curtis’ co-worker and best friend who suffers the burdens of Curtis’ psychological spiral while Tova Stewart is also wonderful as the affected daughter of Curtis and Samantha. 

    Like most cinematic masterpieces, this film has a genius blend of a strong poignant story, beautiful camerawork, and an unbelievably skillful cast, that comes together for a moving two hours of subtle captivation. The only thing that might alter your experience of the film is an unforeseen ending that may annoy or satisfy the viewer. However, Take Shelter is a gem of storytelling and acting that will go unfortunately unnoticed by most people, including the Academy, but must be seen by anyone who cares for the brilliance film provides only a few times a year. Take Shelter is an extraordinary work of independent filmmaking that you simply must catch.