Hamptons Journal: Michael Shannon Stars in 99 Homes / Chess in the Schools

Last week, at a special screening at Guild Hall, Michael Shannon spoke about his work on 99 Homes, a feature directed by Ramin Bahrani about the housing crash, specifically dramatizing the horror to families as their homes are reclaimed by those from whom they were offered home loans in the housing boom. Michael Shannon plays the heavy, his square jaw set as he gives fathers, like Dennis Nash, played by Andrew Garfield, a few minutes to gather wives, kids, belongings, and get out. The results are heart wrenching, with everything they own thrown out onto the street. If the families don’t have a place to go, they might end up in the lowdown motel where Nash, his son and mother (a fierce Laura Dern) end up. The drama plays like a taut thriller arousing your worst nightmares, as these events are based on the true plight of many Americans caught in the 2008 housing crash.