There are few actors working today that can match Michael Shannon for intensity, and Take Shelter is the best showcase for his talents to date. As a man with apocalyptic visions who becomes obsessed with building a hurricane shelter for his family, Shannon is terrific, but writer/director Jeff Nichols, Shannon's regular collaborator, builds a movie of biblical power around him. Shannon's Curtis comes from a family with a history of mental illness - are his visions part of some new-found power to see ahead, or a result of his own burgeo ning mental health problems? Take Shelter doesn't offer any solid answers, but watching this normal family man spiral into despair and paranoia makes for fascinating viewing. It's Nichols' expert grasp on simple, effective storytelling that elevates Take Shelter beyond mere familial drama - Curtis' descent, and the rippling effect it has on the people around him, is believable even when things take an extreme turn. Curtis' breakdown during a church feast, at which he flips a table in a moment of madness and begins to berate the friends who've turned their backs on him, stands as one of the most powerful movie scenes from the past few years. Shannon will continue to give great performances, and Nichols will continue to make great films, but whether they can top this effort is another matter.
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
