Going into "Midnight Special" -the less you know, the better. It's part of the whole 'experience', which allows you to get lost in the film. Whether you are caught in beautiful, vast fields or in other worldly explosions, "Midnight Special" is the good kind of science fiction, tethered in raw human emotions.
In the film, a father (Michael Shannon), goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers. What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Ultimately his father risks everything to protect Alton and help fulfill a destiny that could change the world forever, in this genre–defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human.
It's interesting that there are a lot of talking points in the film, which allows you to reflect on different things, like how human nature "reacts" to something that it doesn't fully comprehend, as seen in the movie, Alton was kept in a religious community, which based their "doctrine" on his powers. Then of course, there's the governement who just wants to capture Alton, to "study" him, to record his abilities, and who knows maybe use it themselves.
I also want to take this time to point out the allusion to Superman in the film, as well as comparisons to Alton. Hit me up if you caught on, not spoiling it for you by laying it down here.
What's 'special' about "Midnight Special" is how director Jeff Nichols effectively combines science fiction (so good, critics have been calling the film, "Close Encounters of the New Kind") with basic human relationships and emotions, so that it's easy to relate with the characters and to understand what's going on in their thoughts. We see this in Michael Shannon's Roy, who would do everything and anything to protect his son, even if he himself does not fully comprehend Alton's abilities or needs.
In an interview, Director Nichols said: "I realized that having a child means giving up a part of yourself to the universe" and he takes this realization into the film and it is simply beautiful to see in unfold on screen. Kudos to Micheal Shannon's you can't stop me, I'm a father on a mission. It's refreshing to see a father going all out for their child for a change and his devotion to his son is heartbreaking.
Special mention to Adam Driver's NSA agent Paul Sivier, who is described as "an analog guy, in a digital age" Sivier's dry humor is probably the only kind you get in the film it it's so good and well delivered from Driver that I don't mind at all. Another performance worth mentioning is Joel Edgerton's Lucas, who helps Roy and Alton. Ever since seeing him in his directorial debut "The Gift" I've always loved seeing Edgerton in films.
Nichols' super team, director of photography Adam Stone bring stunning visuals that get engraved in your mind. Composer David Wingo brings appropriate impressionable music that gets stuck in your head.
8.5 out of 10, just because the steady pace and length (the film is about two hours long) might not be appreciated by general audiences but movie geeks and cinephiles will have a great time in the movie house with this visual masterpiece.
“Midnight Special” will be shown starting April 20 exclusively at Cinema 2000 group of theaters, namely Century City, Commercenter, Eastwood, Festival Mall and Shang Cineplex. The film is distributed in the Philipines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
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