The Hunt - Miranda Schrade Simplicity. It's a good thing. In all reality, it is a positive concept to pare a thing down to the bare-bones and work with only the skeleton. Short films often work in that mode, and in The Hunt, we find a competent little picture of a young woman on a sort of scavenger hunt. It's nicely done, if a bit simple, and the story is clear, but it's also a bit messy, as if the story being told is something more than the story we're seeing. Still, it makes good use of less than three minutes. |
Nothing Without God - Keenan J. Robinson This story is an absolute mess. I could barely follow it, I was lost, I was confused, I got angry. And I also didn't care. This is an excellent example of what 1990s' film movements like Dogme95 have brought to the mainstream of cinema. The way it was shot, and the way the actors played within the frame and their characters, really made this feel like something special. There's a lot here that speaks of the future of underground, or at least regional, cinema. Films like this HAVE an audience out there, and while I'm not always in that audience, I can appreciate that this film will inspire some, and infuriate others. Me? I certainly thought that this was a film that gave me hope in a new voice for cinema. You can learn more at http://www.inspirationallifefilms.com/ |
Strings - Italian Science Fiction. Yeah, in the past, it's been rough. Some of the worst SciFi movies of all-time were made, or at least re-dubbed, in Roma, and it still burns having seen so many of them on Creature Features when I was a kid. Strings is far from those days. In fact, it's one of the more thoughtful and masterfully done science fiction films in decades. The idea is a classic: a mysterious orb gives the user the power to transfer between Earths. David, our hero, knows he shouldn't be tampering with the forces he's playing with, and yet, he has to. The script is incredibly well written, with the acting being some of the finest you're likely to find in SF today. This is a phenomenal film, one that you should actively seek out because it will reward multiple viewings! |
Prairie Dog - Horror and I have issues. Smart horror films - I love 'em. Prairie Dog plays out more like a small town family drama with elements of horror than as a horror film, but hold out for a smart movie, incredibly well-made, exactly the kind of film you might find in a multiplex. It's well-acted, though never over-the-top in that respect, and it's clean. I found the movement a bit thatched, as it would move well, and build strongly towards what I found to be a satisfying, yet somewhat clouded ending. I really enjoyed it and hope this one goes far! You can find more at https://www.facebook.com/PrairieDogMovie |