Posterized: Jeff Nichols
Friday, November 4, 2016 at 5:11PM With the romantic civil rights drama Loving opening in limited release today let's survey the short career (thus far) of writer/director Jeff Nichols. He turns 38 in a month but he's already made 5 pictures. With each subsequent effort pictures he seems to edge a wee bit closer to mainstream awareness and already has critics in his corner. The Oscar attention that will likely hit Loving, which focuses on Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga) and their battles with Virginia's anti-miscegenation laws, will be a major step in that direction. None of his films to date have received an Oscar nomination of any kind though they've been in the "best of year" conversations.
How many of his films have you seen?
Shotgun Stories (2007) - Spirit Award John Cassavettes Nominee
Take Shelter (2011) -5 Spirit Award nominations with 1 win, Gotham Nominations for Feature & Ensemble
Mud (2013) - Spirit Award Best Direction Nomination, Robert Altman Award Win
Midnight Special (2016)
Loving (2016) - Gotham Nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress
Fun Trivia Note: Michael Shannon has appeared in every single one of the director's films. In Loving though he only has a bit role as a magazine photographer who takes famous photos of the couple at home which raises their profile nationally.
Reader Comments (20)
Not a single one. Should make an effort to see the Chastain vehicle.
MS is gr8 and TS contains Shannon's best performance.
Never saw the first, the last hasn't arrived here yet, but saw the three in between. All are worthwhile. MUD is my favorite, with TAKE SHELTER a close second.
Midnight Special was good, but it was really just "Starman" without the romantic love story. Haven't seen the rest.
I've seen the first four and I'll see Loving when it arrives here. Mud is my favorite by far. I really liked it.
Nat first pic of Gary Oldman as Churchill published in a UK paper co stars are Kristin Scott Thomas as his wife and John Hurt.#OSCARS2017/18
Here is the pic
http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/11/first-look-at-gary-oldman-as-winston-churchill-in-darkest-hour/gary-oldman-winston-churchill/
Great filmmaker, Take Shelter really stays with you long after you watch it.
Seen three. Of those, Take Shelter I like best. Midnight Special was intriguing but stalled before the finale. I saw Loving last night and it's quiet, moving and lovely.
I've seen Take Shelter, Mud, and Midnight Special. Take Shelter is my favorite but all three are really good films. I can't wait to see Loving and will catch up with Shotgun Stories someday.
Do you really think Joel Edgerton will get a nomination for this performance? He is fine, but Oscars? I can see Negga in, but it's such an understated performance that, in terms of Oscars, she's barely there. The movie is good, but people are really overestimating its Oscar chances.
Personally, I'd love an Editing nomination. The movie's pace is masterful - you really get the sense of a stoic and quiet fight, and the time passing, the inner America atmosphere.
I've seen the middle three. I think that Nichols is getting to be a great filmmaker, but something about his understated style keeps me from loving them so far. One sort of correction, though: I think that chastain's nomination was as much for this as for the help, so maybe we can give Nichols a half nomination?
All but Loving so far...
I've seen all but Loving. Love Take Shelter and Mud. He's a really unique filmmaker, even when I don't love his stuff (like Midnight Special).
Shotgun Stories is the only one I didn't see.
I'm not really a fan, Mud is the best one, I have issues with all the others.
I'm a big fan of Nichols, favorite being Take Shelter with Mud a close second. Midnight Special didn't withstand my high expectations and seemed to peter out on its way to the finale. That said, the trailers for Loving look incredible. Can't wait.
Only Saw Mud -- wasn't too impressed by it. It just didn't work for me at all, from McConnaughey's accent, to the casting of the boy, and Reese Witherspoon. But I'll rewatch it. Sometimes layers of meanings get seen the second time around. Looking forward to Loving.
Midnight Special was absolute garbage and a total waste of Kirsten Dunst's talents. It's such an overwrought and pretentious movie it really feels like an elaborate troll that anyone would even like that movie.
Take Shelter was also really boring but at least Jessica Chastain had something to do. You give me Kirsten Dunst in full Chloe-Sevigny-in-Big-Love garb and you do NOTHING with it? Get the fuck out. Never make another movie again.
I have seen and recommend all of them. Midnight Special is actually my favorite movie of the year so far. I can see how someone wouldn't like it. But something about it just connected with me.
I've only seen two. I loved Take Shelter and thought Chastain and especially Shannon were just great. I so, so wished Shannon broke into the weird Best Actor race that year. I know everyone was all about Dejardin, Clooney and Pitt that year but the other two nominees, as good as they were, felt so random. And then Fassbender and Shannon were left out.
Thought Mud was fine but nothing more. Can't wait to see Loving and I'll probably catch up with Midnight Special at some point but it doesn't feel very urgent.