Take Shelter
| Directed by: | -1 |
|---|---|
| Written by: | |
| Cast: | |
| Studio: | Sony Pictures Classics |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Official Site: | www.sonyclassics.com/takeshelter |
Right away this is a good, well made and acted film. I can see why a lot of people enjoyed it but my review won't really reflect that and it's just down to some personel stuff that got on my nerves about the film. Some parts of it I just found too hard to swallow.
First of all Curtis, the main character, he's having the armagedon like visions. He reacts to the nightmares by prepping for the oncoming storm. The fact the film is rooted in reality means he comes under attack from his friends, family, co-workers and even the bank. Everyone thinks he's crazy but during the course of the film he never sits anyone down and explains why. That annoyed me. It made everything feel so forced and staged. You'd tell someone if shit like that was happening to you. Now, he does eventually but it's more to accomodate the begining of the last act than it is a realistic reaction to what's happening. It was frustrating to watch.
Despite that the film is a great idea and it's pretty scary when you take the time to think about it. The cast are great and the conclusion is chilling. Now I heard the end is open to your own interpretation but I found the end to be very definite and horrific.
A good but, for me at least, frustrating watch.
The reasoning behind his refusal to tell people what he was dreaming was rooted in his fear of actually being crazy. It's why he keeps visiting his mother so often throughout the movie.. he's looking for parallels between her descent into madness and the one that he thinks he's going through. If he started telling people what he was going through than they would immediately cite psychiatric help and evaluation.. and the rumors of him being crazy would spread like wildfire, so he keeps them in the dark.
Having said that, it's still extremely frustrating to watch someone like that so I know what you were feeling, because I felt it too.
I also agree with you about the ending.. it seemed definitive to me.
SPOILER: I heard people saying that it could've been a dream but there wasn't any indication of that to me, and I doubt the creators would do something like that...
No, I got 'it', that is as to why he didn't tell anyone but it just did my head in mate. Like I said I didn't think it rang true. I'm not saying he should have just told his wife (although I would have) but he at least could have broached the subject. All the stuff like pissing the bed, sending the dog outside etc it just felt really forced. I can't help but think if it was me or I lived with him etc I'd just turn around at the first sign and be like " WTF is wrong with you. Seriously, tell me now."
Such a good and well acted movie!