Midnight Special (2016)
A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.
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Too much of everything
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.
My wife and I watched this at home on DVD from our public library. There are some supernatural elements and in certain scenes the whole viewing room shook. Of course you need a good subwoofer to feel that.The movie's theme plays on the many publicized cults that indoctrinate members and, on certain occasions, the cult leader "adopts" special children effectively taking them away from their natural parents who also are in the cult. His role is eventually minor but Sam Shepard is very effective as Calvin Meyer, the cult leader someplace in Texas.The movie starts with Michael Shannon as Roy, the special boy's dad, and his friend Joel Edgerton as Lucas, traveling at night with the boy, heading for the state line, towards N. Louisiana. Also involved is the boy's mother, Kirsten Dunst as Sarah. The special boy is Jaeden Lieberher, who more recently was so good as Henry in "Book of Henry" , as Alton. As we come to learn maybe he doesn't belong in this world.The movie is well-made, much of it involves the authorities trying to track down Alton while the parents begin to realize how special he is. Overall a modern fable, good movie for those who appreciate that type of story telling.
Midnight SpecialThis is a mere peculiar discussed topic rather than an astonishing tale like a good old E.T. and maybe this is the reason it stands alone on its extraordinary point of view.
May contain some plot/theme spoilers.Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) Alf would be too obvious, likes to listen to the radio...in his head. He repeats what he hears thus "speaking in tongues" which appeals to "The Ranch" a Texas cult built upon Alton's spewing including classified information which draws due diligent attention. Roy (Michael Shannon), a member of the group, absconds with his own child (adopted by the pastor) with the aide of a friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton) a policeman who is not a religious person. Mom (Kirsten Dunst) left the compound 2 years ago.Seems Alton has places to go, like Frank Lloyd Wright heaven, which appears near Pascagoula Mississippi?Now how this seemingly alien baby had human parents and had to live in the dark as an infant wasn't discussed in the film. This is a film which attempts to combine religion, spirituality and UFO sightings into one "real" explanation, although I liked "Altergeist" string theory better.The story was interesting even if the characters tilted to the stiff side and the dialogue mostly reeked as in the case of most serious sci-fi films where the script writer was too engrossed in the me-so-clever plot as to take a minute to create memorable characters.Guide: Could be viewed as going against the grain of religion. Minor PG swearing. No sex or nudity.
Plot; A father goes on the run with his 8 year old son whose mysterious powers have made him a savior to some, a person of interest to others.Often playing like a modern riff on John Carpenter's Starman, Midnight Special quickly pulled me in and had me eagerly following its bread crumb trail waiting for the next clue. But like writer/director Jeff Nichols earlier film Take Shelter, it eventually fizzled out and ultimately delivered an ending that was annoyingly vague and less than the sum of its parts. Still worth checking out, if only for the performances of its exceptional cast (Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Sam Shepard and newcomer Jaeden Lieberher).