They're building something here. That's what I kept repeatedly telling myself as I watched Midnight Special. Jeff Nichols had me on the edge of my seat at times waiting to see the next piece of the puzzle drop. Curiouser and curiouser, I became Alice strolling through this wonderland of a film. All the while, my gut was telling me that I wasn't going to like where this wonderland took me.
And just like arguments with the wife, sometimes I hate being right.
I've seen decent movies saved by their ending, but never the other way around. Call it a case of "What have you done for me lately?" The same bad taste left in the mouths of audiences that witness a bad ending to their favorite tv series is identical to the one left in mine when I walked out of Midnight Special. I'm not a fan of ambiguity or open loops, especially when it comes to the grand finale. Without giving anything away, I'll leave it at that. The ending is really my only gripe of the movie. That and what in the world was the significance of that one calendar date?
Pacing is darn near perfect throughout the course of the film. There's a build up of intensity that starts at a slow burn then stacks tremendously as things speed towards the climax. You're never allowed to see too much too soon, rather exactly what Jeff Nichols wants you to see. This might sound agitating but it's more intriguing than anything. Just enough. That's the best way to put it. There's just enough mystery to keep you rooted to your chair. Just enough special effects to make the movie sci-fi without saturating the same.
The cast was a mixture of recognizable faces (Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver) and some names that I, myself, didn't know quite as well (Paul Sparks, Jaeden Lieberher). It's easy to find weak roles in a movie like this, but top to bottom the cast was superb. Michael Shannon was my personal favorite playing the role of Roy, Alton's father. I loved him as General Zod in Man of Steel, but that role pales in comparison to that of a father going to the ends of the earth to save his son. Towards the end of the movie, he has a line where he says, "I'll always worry about, Alton. That's the deal." You don't have to be a father to feel the power and significane in that line at that point in time.
The story, while not completely original, gets credit for its unique elements. A father is trying to save his son, who has special powers, from both the government and a quaker-type community. While the boy's abilities are what keep him at risk, no one seems to realize the impact of how special he really is. Each side seeks to use him for their own gain, but there is a time or two where you question who is really the bad guy. Save for a bad ending, this was a thought-provoking film that's good for a watch at home. I give it a 71.
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