I
love actors who are genuinely odd and Michael Shannon strikes me as the real
deal. I admit it’s partly down to his looks. He has this wonderful reptilian
mouth that can speak with the barest of movement and bug eyes that imply
perpetual intoxication. Features aside, there is always something unnerving
about him (creepy, if you will) and this makes him a mesmerising screen
presence.
Curtis
(Shannon) is experiencing disturbing nightmares and horrifying visions of
impending doom. These apparitions always begin with a storm. So bothered by
them he decides to take action and renovates the storm shelter in the family’s
backyard. This becomes his main focus and rapidly develops into obsession. His
behaviour grows increasingly stranger, thus impacting on his work and his
family.
It’s
a rare joy to see Shannon in a lead role. Having successfully navigated a path
between arthouse and the mainstream he has generally stayed on the plot sidelines.
Considering his almost-alien persona it is no surprise to me that he has been
cast as General Zod in the upcoming Man of Steel. Make of it what you
will, but the fearless Werner Herzog described him as terrifying. Here, as the tormented blue-collar Curtis he is not so much terrifying as terrified.
Writer
and director Jeff Nichols proves himself a talent to watch. Following this he
further aids the resurrection of Matthew McConaughey as a serious actor in Mud.
In Take Shelter he makes the simple daily family life very watchable
thus making the dark themes all the more unpleasant. The bad dreams are handled
well – they are eerie and disturbing without resorting to shock tactics. Simply
showing us skies like John Martin canvases create an overwhelming sense of
menace. Shannon’s reaction to them is quite brilliant. It’s a very internalised
performance but one so potent we’re with him all the way. Jessica Chastain - as
his wife - delivers another performance so good I’m already (as is my wont when
watching such gifted types) taking her talent for granted. Albeit abstractedly
so, I do feel the film captures the zeitgeist. With the financial crisis
ever-worsening, international terrorism a constant threat, and natural
disasters on the increase the Western World does seem to be losing its grip and
Curtis is perhaps a metaphor for all that.
