An amateur film which shows the filmmaker's inexperience
(1 of 1 Found this Helpful)
November 23, 2008
This is a film from a young film school student. It's about a group of half-brothers in Arkansas who hate each other and the violence that erupts between them. It's supposed to show the personalities of a certain type of low-class southern men who work in dead-end jobs, drink a lot and do not show much outward emotion.
This is an amateur film all the way and shows the filmmaker's inexperience. The acting wasn't bad, but the pacing and editing were horrible. This was supposed to be a serious drama but I frankly couldn't keep myself from laughing out loud at times.
Perhaps this filmmaker will get better as time goes by but I just didn't see his talent in this film.
Disappointed
(2 of 2 Found this Helpful)
October 6, 2008
I saw the trailer way before the movie came out and was psyched to watch it. I even took a train to NYC in hopes of watching it, but the theatre stopping showing it a day prior. Finally I ordered it from Amazon and watched it with my girlfriend who also was anticipating watching it. We were both hugely disappointed. The previews made the movie look so intense but I thought the movie was weak. The soundtrack was one song played over and over. Their was no great revenge scene, the acting was almost amateur. Ugh, just horrible.
a shot of rawness
September 13, 2008
a movie that may be slow going but it works well.the people seem real with their responses and emotion, i've never been to america so movies have been my main source of information as to how the people live their lives. this movie changed my view on americans dramatically. it shows how simplicity in a movie can overcome and expose the unnecessary complications created with big budgets in some movies. buy it
shotgun
August 29, 2008
this is a sleeper so go for it i hope you enjoy it as much as i did
Excellent drama, highly recommended.
(3 of 3 Found this Helpful)
July 6, 2008
This is a surprisingly good independent film.
As if hyper-transported into the rural southeast and placed smack dab into the porch of the Hayes brothers; Son, Kid, and Boy. Thusly named by an abusive alcoholic father who abandons them at an early age and finds Jesus. Juxtaposed, a hateful mother bred three hateful men. Each of which provide the audience with a unique and destitute existence in some ways cocoon by an oldest brother Son. There is a strange brew of co-dependence between them.
The crux of the film involves the after effects of a conflict between half brothers (the aforementioned Hayes brothers and a latter set of Hayes brothers established after the father manages to marry again).
Uninvited, Son, Kid, and Boy arrive in everyday attire contrasting the row of white shirts and ties adorned by another four Hayes brothers. Son, presumably the oldest Hayes brother, ask to speak. Widow Hayes grants permission amidst obvious tensions between both sets of brothers.... As if given a hatchet for scalping, Son lets out 30+ years or so of demons and then spits on his father's casket... This event provides the seed for the Hayes and Hayes feud which for all practical purposes was part of a prophecy...
Make no mistake the feeling of a documentary in England Arkansas. Here is time to examine the surroundings, and perhaps time to reflect on familiar footpaths that some viewers experienced in their own life. The landscape and setting are so "as a matter of fact" and real. Just the right amounts of music, surroundings, and quietness to capture the monotone and depressing attributes of a southern small town without distracting from the story line or personal interactions. It's very different and refreshing to see this type of work in contrast to mainstream and block-buster films. In some ways it was reminiscent of "Ulee's Gold" but much better at examining the granulose existence of multiple characters.
Admittedly, "Shotgun Stories" is a film for people that like drama. The characters are superb. Gritty, and clearly depressing at times, but not to the point of spiraling the viewer into an abyss of nausea. It is in fact, captivating even at a slow to moderate pace. Although I feel the title is entirely appropriate, it may mislead a few into thinking Sam Peckinpah is directing. Modern film is so often consistent with revenge which tends to include graphic scenes either in bulk, or in the climax. "Shotgun Stories" plays out all the intensity necessary without anatomical explosion for a hand clinching climax. In today's tense, this is an exceptional film achievement.
Highly Recommended!
