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Shotgun Stories (2007) DVD Review
Shotgun Stories (2007) DVD Credits:
Shotgun Stories (2007) Directed by:
Jeff Nichols
Shotgun Stories (2007) Written by:
Not available at this time
Shotgun Stories (2007) Cast:
Michael Shannon, Michael Abbott, Travis Smith, Lynnsee Provence, David Rhodes, Douglas Ligon, Barlow Jacobs
Shotgun Stories (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Shotgun Stories (2007) DVD Release Date:
30th June 2008
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Shotgun Stories (2007) Synopsis:

Shotgun Stories (2007) DVD Review:

Independent filmmaker and soon-to-be Hollywood’s hot commodity after directing Pineapple Express, David Gordon Green is a name that is usually connected to rural American stories, simple and somehow still intensely engaging and fascinating. There is an undeniable link in D.G. Green’s choice to produce Shotgun Stories, a film in a similar vein and pacing. In fact, Shotgun Stories is the ultimate rural American story, about a blood feud. Brothers fighting brothers brings the undeniable connection to our country’s history, and basing his film on such a strong subject Jeff Nichols is able to complete his directorial debut with a simple and extremely effective piece of independent filmmaking. With less shots in the film, more attention is given to those in the film, and they are all confident and impressive choices for a first-time director, but most impressive is the cast. Michael Shannon is a long under-rated actor and he carries the film in many scenes, but what is more amazing is the way Nichols seems to bring the best out of actors who I usually tend to dislike. Somehow none of the performances feel like performances, which adds a realism to the story that drags us into the beautiful and dangerous images.

The significant details that make this otherwise film straightforward film something marvelous from each scene to the next are not always subtle, but they are always simple. The names of the brothers that are feuding are a perfect example. While the brothers from the legitimate Hayes family are named Cleaman (Michael Abbott, Jr.), Mark (Travis Smith), Stephen (Lynnsee Provence), and John (David Rhodes), the brothers from the illegitimate Hayes family are simple named Son (Shannon), Boy (Douglas Ligon), and Kid (Barlow Jacobs). Even from birth it is obvious that the illegitimate brothers were given less care and attention, and they naturally are filled with feelings of resentment towards their half-brothers who have received so many more opportunities while they were left with a spiteful mother and absent father.

Thirty-some years of repression leaves Son feeling unsatisfied after hearing their father has died, and after crashing the funeral they were not invited to he makes a rash speech about what a horrible father he was to them, regardless of how well he treated his second family. This speech upsets Mark and Stephen Hayes the most, and a gripping cycle of revenge becomes inevitable. Having never had parents that actually cared, the illegitimate Hayes brothers have learned to count on each other, and their sense of protection over each other is strong enough to create tense and unsettling situations. Son is a man who already bears scars from a shotgun across his back. Although stories circulate that he received these from a robbery gone wrong or from cheating on another man’s wife, the only important truth is that he got the scars protecting his brothers. As expert as the direction is, Nichols also manages a script that never overdoes it on dialogue. Part of what makes the actors so believable is their lack of emoting. They don’t talk about the past, their feelings, or much else that isn’t of immediate significance. We hear more gossip and bullshit than actual facts, leaving us to decide what to believe from the time we spend with them.

Even as I write this review I am amazed at how directly I speak of the characters in the film. Few films have the power to make me forget that I am watching actors, and David Gordon Green’s sophomore film, All the Real Girls floored me in a similar way. Half-Nelson and nearly every performance Gosling gives seems to do the same. These are the type of films that can be cherished, because the filmmakers brought something to life in a way that returns my hope that film can always retain a certain element of magic, even without making 3-D pictures or using blockbuster special effects. Shotgun Stories is more than just another film, it is a gift, a piece of art, and truly unforgettable.

Some films may not be well suited for a music-only track, but this is the best candidate I have seen in some time. The music is simple and perfectly suited for the tone of the film, and the cinematography along with the simple music by the band Lucero is perfect. Although many of the scenes with music are scenes without dialogue anyways, I am still grateful for this unique special feature. There is also an even more significant commentary track with writer/director and production photos.

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Shotgun Stories (2007) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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