Take Shelter could have been the best movie of 2011.
By the time it arrived at Ottawa’s little Mayfair Theatre in late December I was actually anticipating it more than I had any other film that year, beating out The Muppets and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. As cliché as it
sounds, writer/director Jeff Nichols’ understated little thriller had
everything: nuanced performances, pitch perfect cinematography, a minimalist
but undeniably effective score and a constant atmosphere of dread. But while Nichols’ sophomore
feature is 99 per cent of a fantastic movie, the remaining one percent is in
danger of dragging the whole cinematic boat beneath the waves (note: none of my
friends have approved this analogy). To say I’m disappointed is an
understatement.
