Loving (2016)

Loving is a beautiful movie I missed at Cannes. It is an understated love story directed deliberately with such control. The movie is not about the case that made them famous. That is almost an afterthought in the final act of the film. It is not a legal drama. It is a movie about love and life, simply following their daily life. The audience is never allowed to forget that our heroes thrust into the spotlight are just people. They just want to go on with their lives normally. Love is love. Joel Edgerton plays his role with sensitivity. And Ruth Negga is simply radiant, acting with careful restraint. The movie doesn't build up to some grand big monologue. No, it's thoughtful, it simmers and it stays with you. It is people like this that foster change in our society, who are brave enough to quietly fight the system. The relevance of the film in today's society is not lost on Jeff Nichols. 

Midnight Special (2016)

This movie has a Steven Spielberg feel to it. It is his brand of science fiction. It is a little bit Close Encounters and a little bit Super 8--all very prominently feature the night. It is about a young boy with mysterious powers who needs to get to the right place at the right time for something. It is all shrouded in mystery. There are three parties who have competing stakes. One party is the FBI, joined by Adam Driver from the NSA. Adam Driver is a little subdued, he kind of under acts. It is the same bland delivery of lines as in Paterson and Star Wars. Sure, I guess it fits the role but it's always the same with him. Another party is a religious cult that reads prophecies from the boy's powers. And the third party is made up of Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, and Joel Edgerton. All three of them are excellent. I particularly liked Shannon's intense performance as a concerned father. The movie is engaging and mysterious, not to mention visually striking.