Plot
Shotgun Stories tracks a feud that erupts between two sets of half brothers following the death of their father...
Release Year: 2007
Rating: 7.2/10 (2,483 voted)
Critic's Score: 76/100
Director:
Jeff Nichols
Stars: Michael Shannon, Douglas Ligon, Barlow Jacobs
Storyline Shotgun Stories tracks a feud that erupts between two sets of half brothers following the death of their father. Set against the cotton fields and back roads of Southeast Arkansas, these brothers discover the lengths to which each will go to protect their family.
Cast: Michael Shannon
-
Son Hayes
Douglas Ligon
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Boy Hayes
Barlow Jacobs
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Kid Hayes
Natalie Canerday
-
Nicole
Glenda Pannell
-
Annie Hayes
Lynnsee Provence
-
Stephen Hayes
Michael Abbott Jr.
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Cleaman Hayes
Coley Canpany
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Cheryl
Lance Christopher
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Fish Farm Worker
Will Hahn
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Farm Hand
Gary Hawkins
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J.J.
Cole Hendrixson
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Carter
Mark W. Johnson
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Amos
Tom Kagy
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Red
Vivian Morrison Norman
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Melissa
Opening Weekend: $4,553
(USA)
(16 December 2007)
(1 Screen)
Gross: $45,661
(USA)
(13 July 2008)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The majority of the principal photography took place in 2004.
User Review
Powerful film-making about the futility of hostility
Rating: 9/10
This is a chilling film made with minimal resources that grabs you by
the jugular and doesn't let go - a family tragedy that reeks of
Shakespeare. A father has died leaving two sets of sons behind (by
different mothers). The older sons were abandoned when young and when
they turn up at the funeral held by the younger sons, old hostilities
surface. Much of the narrative unfolds without explicit explanation,
and often with minimal dialogue. We get into the minds of the various
protagonists largely by their actions.
Set in the cotton-growing region of Arkansas, it gives a view of
Americans struggling in semi-rural life. The film cast is mostly with
unknown actors and this is a strength that adds a level of realism to a
film. While there is a sense of dreaded inevitability throughout, there
is also plenty of room for the unexpected, but not in a contrived
Hollywood manner. The film is both very well written and impeccably
directed. Remarkably, this is a directorial debut by Jeff Nichols who
also wrote and produced the film. He is definitely a talent to watch.
As a slight negative, I don't know if it was the film or the venue, but
the visuals and sound didn't seem quite up to scratch. This bothered me
slightly at the start, but once the story got into gear (pretty early
in the piece), it was barely noticeable. I found the music enjoyable,
adding ambiance without being in your face.
I saw Shotgun Stories at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
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