Sunday, October 23, 2011

Please Say Something Short Film Review


This film came across as a sad, noisy jumble of emotions, animation, and old video games. I'm not a big fan of all the "retro nostalgia" that's so popular right now, to be perfectly honest.

Please Say Something seems to be the story of a cat and mouse who live together as a couple and have a terrible relationship. They can't seem to get on the same page and fight over everything. The film is presented in a non-linear fashion and often jumps around, seeming to present either what is happening, what could have happened, or what a character wants to happen. There are seemingly random test pattern screens that pop up as the film jumps from one scene to the next.

I didn't care for this film. There was just too much abstract imagery juxtaposed with random editing and weird-just-for-the-sake-of-it embellishments. I do feel there was some central emotions at play and some strong themes throughout, but I feel the viewer is distracted from that by the overwrought execution of the film.

Monday, October 17, 2011

D-I-M, Deus in Machina Short Film Review


This film, while very impressive and sporting top notch (for the most part) production values, seemed really uneven to me. There are sequences that come off as fluid and professional, and others that were pretty rough around the edges (and the middle, too).

This is a film of a dystopian future where our lives are controlled by a sort of social credit points system. The protagonist isn't given much, if any, of a backstory. He is a young man who is generally up to no good throughout the bulk of the film. No reason is ever given for his behavior and it makes him a difficult character with which to empathize. This main character is on a mission to break into the office that controls the social credits system and, presumably, restore his social standing by manipulating the computers...or something. What follows is an overly-stylized foray into a rather inventive sci-fi world. It is a fun story, but it seems to get bogged down too much by the extensive SFX sequences.

The plot is fairly interesting and this could have made for an exceptional film if the story had been told in a more restrained and understated manner. Too much time is spent following badly rendered CGI robots around for us to ever get a sense of reality or a human connection. It may have been the intent of the filmmakers to create a sense of unreality to hint at the disconnection and loneliness that has become the modern ennui of the Digital Age. However, I feel it is more likely that they just wanted to show off all of their shiny SFX and motion tracking and compositing capabilities.

It also seems to me that if they had taken the time that was spent cramming every conceivable CGI trick imaginable into one film and focused it on creating a handful of really spectacular effects sequences, then the film would have been better as a whole. Then, we wouldn't be treated to a digitally rendered city street scene that looks like spec animations from an early Xbox game.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Nuit Blanche Short Film Review

Nuit Blanche from Spy Films on Vimeo.

Wow! The phrase "visually stunning" usually makes me think of a movie packed with special effects and totally lacking in substance. When it comes time to print the packaging, such films usually get "visually stunning!" as a blurb since there's typically not much else to say about the movie.

The short film Nuit Blanche is visually stunning, and I mean that in the best way possible. From the opening shot of the smoky city to the the ultra-crisp high definition slow motion shots of the two main characters, everything is gripping and engaging on both a visual and emotional level.

Two people see each other and a surreal moment of suspended life begins as they drop everything and go after one another. In super-slow motion, the lady bursts straight through a glass window in a dazzling show of visual effects. The effects are rather heavy, but they are tasteful and really do a lot to carry and convey the emotions of the two characters. Everything drifts through the air, floating gracefully, poignantly punctuating the feeling of that moment when two people fall for one another.

While light on actual story, it seems to me that the emotion of the piece was the primary focus anyway. A moment in time, slowed down and suspended, infinitely stretching as most people wish it would. The film is visually incredible and it's obvious that a lot of attention went into crafting the powerful, striking visuals that are used to convey this simple, touching scene.


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Old Fangs Short Film Review

Old Fangs from adrien merigeau on Vimeo.


This short animated film seems to be the story of the son of the Big Bag Wolf attempting to reconnect with his estranged father. The main character, here a young wolf, takes a couple of friends along on a trip to a house deep in the forest where his father lives. His friends express their concerns and ask him if he even knows where he's going as they venture deeper into the dark woods. The entire film is done in a rather dark and moody sort of way that underscores the bad relationship the character has with his father.

They arrive at the house and the young wolf has a very frightening and strained visit with the Big Bad Wolf. The father figure is represented as being huge and terrifying with grotesque features and a grumbling, hulking presence. He smokes constantly and the chair and floor beneath him creak under his weight. The young wolf leaves after a while and that's really about all that happens.

The film was heavy on tone and light on story and details. It felt like a mood piece, like an exercise in conveying as much atmosphere and emotion with a minimum of dialogue and exposition. If this was their goal, then the filmmakers have succeeded. This is a very dark and emotional story told in an interesting way.