Review of Shotgun Stories (2007) by Josh S — 27 Dec 2008

I'm conflicted as to whether or not its overly contemplated reverie narrative could've used one or two snaps of emotion, but it's rather impressive that the film manages to be so "naturalistic" (re. many other words could apply; I'll leap for easy hyperbole) and yet in tackling such a familiar story feel so fresh. Armond White points out that this is a brilliant distillation of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and it absolutely is, working both as a fatalistic cycle of violence stemming from the sins of our fathers AND a surprisingly touching plea for peace without even straining.

David Gordon Green executive produces and his fingerprints are all over it, but the film is a sadder beast than anything of Green's ouevre. Yet like Green, the strength lies more in what Pauline Kael used to refer to as "behavioral beauties", little moments of character reality that sneak up on you and make you feel like you are watching people, not a movie. The music is a little egregious but by in large this is a fairly major work of filmmaking from an authentic voice.