Beloved by critics (including Adam and Josh), filmmaker Jeff Nichols made a bid for popular success in 2012 with MUD. But when MUD didn’t catch on with audiences, Nichols-watchers had to wait four long years for his return. Now he’s back with MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, a Spielberg-meets-STARMAN sci-fi family drama starring Nichols regular Michael Shannon. Adam and Josh review, plus the Filmspotting Madness Final Four and some thoughts on the much-maligned ISHTAR, the final film in their Elaine May Marathon.

This episode is brought to you by MUBI and Squarespace.

0:00-3:02 - Billboard / Sponsors
3:02-29:32 - Review: “Midnight Special”
Music: Lucero, “Young Outlaws”
30:35-32:21 - Squarespace
32:21-38:11 - Notes
38:11-1:03:08 - FS Madness: Final 4
Music: Lucero, “My Girl & Me in ‘93”
1:03:59-1:09:56 - Donations
1:09:56 -1:31:55 - May #4: “Ishtar”
1:31:55-1:35:17 - Close

MUSIC

- Lucero

LINKS

- Filmspotting Madness Voting

- Filmspotting Madness Bracket

- Josh’s review of Ishtar

- The Far Side: Hell’s video store

- Elaine May talks about “Ishtar”

- MUBI’s Herzog: Ecstatic Truths