There’s never too much Michael Shannon in the world. No matter what project the actor signs up for, whether it’s as a stoner drug dealer in “The Night Before” or a crooked government official attempting to kill an unknown creature in “The Shape of Water,” the Academy Award-nominated actor is a welcome addition to just about every project he’s been in. And some of his best have been with filmmaker Jeff Nichols.
In a new “short film,” the duo team up again, as Shannon does more in 7 minutes than most can do in 20 films. We say “short film” because honestly, Nichols’ latest project, “Long Way Back Home,” is pretty much a music video for the band Lucero, which features the filmmaker’s brother. However, unlike most music videos, there are scenes in the short that drop all music and focus on the incredible acting chops of Shannon and co-stars Scoot McNairy, Garrett Hedlund, and Paul Sparks.
“It felt inevitable that one day I’d team up with my brother and the rest of Lucero,” commented Jeff Nichols, “and once I heard the haunting sounds of ‘Long Way Back Home,’ I knew this song was the perfect opportunity to do it. It’s been an amazing ride bringing this project together with so many people who I love and admire. Shooting this brought me back to the days of filming my first movie, ‘Shotgun Stories.’ We’re all thrilled to be sharing it with the world.”
The premise of the short is simple. A man comes back to his hometown of Memphis to meet up with his brothers. However, his intentions are unclear, as flashbacks show that the last time he met with his brothers, things didn’t go as planned.
“Long Way Back Home” marks yet another collaboration between Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon. The pair has previously teamed up for films like “Midnight Special,” “Shotgun Stories,” “Take Shelter,” and “Loving.” If they keep this quality up to this level, let’s hope they never stop working together.
Yes, we’ve talked about the short quite a bit without really talking about the music. The track from Lucero definitely fits the story being told, and if you’re a fan of that style, you’ll probably love it. So, do yourself a favor and give “Long Way Back Home” a watch.
