Donald Clarkereviews the latest releases
SHOTGUN STORIES ****
Directed by Jeff Nichols. Starring Michael Shannon 12 cert
Upon hearing of his estranged father's death, Shannon's inarticulate Arkansan saunters over to the funeral and spits on the old man's bier. A quarrel worthy of William Faulkner ensues. Some viewers may find Nichols's extraordinary debut a little sedentary, but he allows a curious poetry to emerge from the leisurely rhythms of poor, hot places. Excellent stuff.
SHUTTER **
Directed by Masayuki Ochiai. Starring Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor 16 cert
Had enough of Asian horror adaptations featuring black- haired ghosts in white frocks? Tough. The latest such release sends a couple to Japan where, after apparently running over a pedestrian, they begin seeing spooks in the background of their photographs. Nice atmosphere, but no surprises.
ARCTIC TALE *
Directed by Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson. Narrated by Queen Latifah G cert
This awful film purports to tell the parallel stories of a cheeky little polar bear cub and an equally spirited walrus pup. The nature footage - recorded over several years and featuring many different animals - is mediocre, the narration is moronic and the anthropomorphism is quite nauseating.
