Greed. The whole concept is summed up perfectly by that one word. The script though could have been a bit more creative and could certainly have used dialogues.
Direction
The animation while nice lacked that punch. The expressions of the wild dogs were non-existent and you could only make out what the whole story was because you had heard it countless times.
The background music made the short seem like a kid movie. It certainly makes you feel that the short is not for elders. And if something is making you feel old, you are certainly not going to enjoy it.
Conclusion
I can berate Wild Dogs for not doing much, but actually I feel sorry for it. The moviemakers missed a great chance to make this short into something better. It could have been more funny and interesting if they had put a bit more time on it. It feels to be put together hastily. And with no dialogues it misses out on a lot of jokes it could have made. Groans and grunts seem okay for a little bit, but why go for the realistic touch when already the dogs are walking on their hind legs!
Oktapodi is about two octopuses that are fighting against the evil forces to stay together forever. This is an age-old tale of the world creating hurdles and problems for the lovers, yet it’s presented in an interesting and fascinating way.
Direction
The animation is at quite a high level for a short. The details that separate good from great are certainly there. One thing that needs to be appreciated is the expression that the octopuses deliver. They only have two eyes, but they exhibit all the necessary feelings through them. Sometimes they are convoluted, sometimes open wide, sometimes you see a dreamy look in them. Here the animator deserves a pat on the back for treating them as humans and not as some animals who can not express their feelings.
Conclusion
Oktapodi deserves a lot of credit for picking up a simple plot and giving it a completely different spin. It will not only appeal to the kids, but also to the elders and that’s what makes this short special.
But, one thing I would like to mention is that the short is probably too small to create a major impact on you. You will have a laugh or two while watching it, but its length means that you will forget it sooner rather than later. You might even be watching it for some relief during work and in that case you are never going to remember it for long.
A Robin Hood of sorts, Tar Boy is about a person fighting against the corrupt and power hungry people.
The script was really well written and makes the movie very captivating.
Direction
The direction goes in perfect tandem to the story. As the storyline is fast-paced, the animation complements it, by being done in an all-action and sometimes very rogue way. Sometimes it is so fast-paced that its difficult to take it all in or understand the narration in the background. You need to be wide-awake to understand and appreciate it.
The animation being done in flash is not of a very high standard, but it’s done in an enchanting way and blows you away with its surreal surroundings and action.
Conclusion
Tar Boy is a breathless, all-action movie that will give you little time to think about the nonsensical storyline and will sweep you away with some compelling storytelling and awesome action sequences.
It doesn’t teach you any morals and it doesn’t try to be too clever. Its pure, unadulterated action and leaves making “sense of life” to other more serious productions.
A lot can happen in 10 minutes and that’s the whole point of the story. For someone 10 minutes might feel a long time, for others it could pass in an instant. And for some, 10 minutes is all they have to survive.
Direction
If the direction is poor, the idea can fall flat. But, here, the storyline is accompanied by some compelling direction and camerawork. Most of the shots are handheld, but you don’t feel the camera shaking too much to ruin your viewing pleasure.
There is this one continuous shot where the camera keeps rolling for like 5 – 6 minutes I feel, but it doesn’t look clumsy. It only enhances the feeling of anxiety and confusion that the little boy is feeling at the time.
Moreover, the effects to show that there has been a blast were brilliant! And I don’t mean the puff of smoke we see in the distance! I mean, the way the camera jerks a little every time there is a blast that makes it all even more real.
Even the soundtrack is put up together really well and the chugging sound that accompanies the scene when the kid is running to his home creates great tension and suspense. My breath actually became raspier and quicker as the scene went on. It really was that absorbing.
Acting
It might surprise you, but I can honestly say I did not think anyone was acting (apart from the guy in the store). It seemed so natural. And while it may not win awards for acting, because no one was that central to the theme (or had a big role), I did not find any faults either. The only person who was over the top was the salesman – but then salesman are sometimes boisterous in their approach, so it isn’t that big a bother.
Conclusion
10 minutes did what a lot of shorts were incapable of – it makes you think. I like to do my reviews immediately after watching shorts because it is the first impression that is the most important, but I couldn’t do it with this one. It overwhelmed me. Its simple yet powerful, strong and even beautiful. It doesn’t try to be too clever with the plot, yet it delivers a strong message.
Every minute is important. Every minute there is something happening in other parts of the planet. There are wars being fought, people dying, people crying etc etc. And yet we sit in our homes doing nothing about it.
This short is about a guy who lets his imagination run a little too wild and which eventually gets him into trouble.
Direction
Its good to see so many animated shorts coming out, but after watching Pixar and Dreamworks at work, it’s sometimes difficult to properly gauge them. The animation here was not of the standard I wanted it to be. It was a bit bland. The detail that separates good animation from great was missing. Having said that, it was way better than many other shorts that I have seen. And it was pretty fast paced, so you will definitely enjoy it.
Conclusion
I am probably being a mean old meany above – animation isn’t entirely that bad (considering I have seen a lot worse). And even the music featured in this short is done nicely. Though the absence of dialogues is a let down.
Distraxion might give you a laugh or two, but that’s just about it. It is hardly 2 minutes so you can’t expect much more. I would have liked it to be a bit longer so the director could be a bit more expressive in his illustration. Even for a short movie it was too darn short.
Distraxion might not be enough to make a crappy day good, but it will just be able to distract you from your problems for a couple of minutes.
By the way, an “x” in the title doesn’t make it look cooler!
This short tells a famous story that is found not only in Christian scriptures, but also in Islamic book, The Quran (although with variations). I don’t wanna mention even an itsy bitsy bit about the story to maintain a bit of suspense :). But, its not a straightforward history lesson, as the story is told by a child and is animated.
Direction
It’s an animated movie, but it’s done very nicely. As this is based upon a 1960’s series of recordings in which children tell Bible stories, the animation is done so that it looks to belong to that decade. That’s probably the best thing about this short – its animation. With all the CGI now, we do miss the old cartoons and this certainly gives the feeling of one.
However, the child who tells the story – I am sorry but his accent is very difficult to understand. This movie is for international audience and a person with such a strong accent is not suitable for reading in such a short. It might look cute for a little while, but it becomes irksome when you can’t understand what he is saying.
Conclusion
“Give up Yer Aul Sins” is nice, but nice doesn’t cut it in this bloodthirsty industry of shorts! (No seriously it doesn’t). The short has to be something more. And this is where it fails. It makes no impact on the viewer and it might make you feel nostalgic, but that feeling will be replaced by irritation when you won’t be able to understand what the child is saying.
It’s a Bible story so people who have read the Bible already know it, but those who haven’t, they will barely be able to make head or tail of the short because of the very strong accent of the kid.
Give up Yer Aul Sins is a short that you won’t remember for long.
The title pretty much blurts out the story. But, it’s still a very interesting and funny short to watch. Who hasn’t thought of shooting your boyfriend/girlfriend’s ex – this short shows the lady actually doing it, and thus fulfills many people’s wish.
Direction & Acting
Nothing to complain about here. It’s pretty standard though there is hardly any soundtrack.
The acting wasn’t all that nice. Although the plot didn’t give much depth to their characters, but it didn’t seem like they were in a war situation apart from all the swearing. And they swear a lot. They probably concentrated on it a bit too much and forgot to act! They seemed a bit too relaxed to be in a war.
Conclusion
The surprising thing about this short was its length. It could have been longer. The idea was nice and they could have made a lot of jokes and maybe even created a lot more tension then they did. They just didn’t try hard enough.
I shot your ex-girlfriend might not amaze you with its acting or direction, but the idea is presented in a very different scenario. And that makes it a very good effort and quite an enjoyable short. Though the swearing does make this a short not for kids, the elders are going to enjoy it I am sure.
None. And basically that’s it. If you like movies that have some sort of concept or a storyline, this is not for you.
Direction
Its saving grace, direction is by far the best thing in this short. A thriller of sorts, the music and the random and absurd camera angles complement the idea. The zooming in of the camera and the speeding up of action now and then really enhance the viewing pleasure. You might not make anything of the story, but you will certainly feel a chill.
Acting
Considering there were only two actors, the scared and the “scarer”, it was quite good. The scared guy pretty much made all the faces and did all the movements that are the norm in a horror movie. And the guy who was chasing him, I particularly liked his make up. It was very well down.
Conclusion
I am really not sure why this came into production in the first place. It seems pointless and meaningless. It doesn’t even try to ram a moral down our throats.
But, strangely I do like it. Comparing it with horror movies of our time, most of them actually are pointless. So why can’t this short be?
Saying that it does make you feel a bit scared and it’s certainly not for kids. I won’t even recommend it watching in the dead of the night. Happy Meal will leave the horror buffs feeling content for sure!
It is based around a girl, Lisa, and her relationship with her mom who is suffering from a disease that I shall not mention so as not to give the story away.
Direction
While the camera work does seem a bit shoddy at times, the direction is pretty satisfactory overall. One thing I would certainly like to mention is the soundtrack. Keeping in mind the nature of the movie they could have made it pretty heavy and sad. They could have tried to make the viewer really sad and depressed. Thank God they did neither. The background music while sensitive to the situation does not try to take advantage of the viewer and that’s cool.
Acting
Carlie Nettles as Lisa was brilliant. This is not the first time she has appeared in a short and she has some serious talent. Her acting was very realistic and she really did seem like a kid who is having trouble dealing with all the problems.
Sally Smythe as her mom did well too. I actually started feeling sorry for her.
Overall, this short has some of the best actors on display and its nice to see such good acting in a short.
Conclusion
My Name is Lisa doesn’t try to force the viewer into liking it, but it’s the subtle things that make this a short worth watching. The acting is really good and the concept is different. We mostly see mothers having ill children in shorts, but it’s the other way round here.
This short will certainly touch you. It might not make you cry or feel depressed, but its not there to do all these things. It’s not even about the disease itself, but about the people who have a loved one suffering from it. It’s their plight that this short portrays and its darn successful in doing it too.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where people breathe off each other (its depiction is less disgusting (or arousing) then it sounds), Connected has a rather bland script.
Direction & Acting
It blew me away! Seriously! The landscape shots through out the short are some of the best I have seen. They really do paint a picture of bleakness and combined with the humans wearing some sort of mask and suits to survive, it gives an uneasy feel to the viewer (as it should).
The soundtrack was okay, though the repetition of the breathing sound began to annoy me. I can understand that they want to emphasize on humans breathing and all, but its very annoying hearing someone gasping for air for 5 straight minutes!
One thing I would like appreciate though is the western music played at the climatic scenes. It was a very big risk but it pays off handsomely. It might make the scene a bit comical, but I liked the change. At least, it wasn’t more breathing noises.
Can’t really comment on acting, as we don’t get to see any person’s face through out the short. We do see people dying, but that was pretty routine stuff. Nothing too fancy there.
Conclusion
I am not sure what was the budget of this short, but it seems quite big as far as shorts go. However, it doesn’t tingle my senses nor make me excited at all. The script is too bland. It maybe moralistic, but I need a little bit of entertainment too!
Connected can be applauded for its cinematography, but for me, it fails to make a connection with the viewer.
Making films that have a meaning and are there to teach something to the audience is a good thing – but repetition does make things boring. While the short does carry good intentions in bridging the gap between nations, I just don’t feel that it captivated me that much.
Direction & Acting
You expect a short produced by Fox to have no faults regarding direction and camera work, and yeah it was pretty much spot on. The tension created (which basically lasts through out the movie) is done nicely and it does make you wonder (if you have never seen such a movie before) how our heroes will get out of their predicament.
No complaints about acting either – it wasn’t great, but it didn’t need to be either as the short didn’t demand very little emotions.
Conclusion
For quite a while, I was at a loss. Seriously. I didn’t know what was wrong with the short. There is clearly something wrong, but I didn’t know what! Direction and acting was okay – the story might be a bit predictable, but it at least had meaning and purpose.
Then it hit me! Nothing, and absolutely NOTHING stands out! It takes no risks at all, the story isn’t new and no character development leads to no outstanding acting.
Hence, Strangers is just going to slip under the radar. It won’t be remembered for anything. Everything has been pretty much done before.
I criticized a short for basing all of it on just one idea. This short too, revolved around one basic thought. But, the idea is original, likeable and best of all; it is not dragged on forcefully. It is about Ben, a static outdoor information technician (if you don’t know what that is, watch the short :)).
Direction & Acting
The camera work was great in the short. They played around with the focusing a bit and that actually made it all the better. Sometimes you have to take risks, and it certainly paid off. The direction was also steady and the last scenes were certainly one of the best-shot scenes I have ever witnessed in a short! Though I do feel that there should have been a change in background music at that time because of the change in mood of the movie. With that, the scene could have been even more memorable.
I can’t fault the actors for not doing much in the short because actually there wasn’t much acting margin in any of the roles. They were believable and that’s what counts the most.
Conclusion
Certainly a feel good short, Sign Language does not try to be too clever with the storyline and keeps it simple. Will you remember this movie for long? Not a chance! But, it does keep you entertained for the 3 minutes it’s on and for me that’s what matters.
Showing a guy actually enjoying his work and throws in a couple of deep and meaningful sentences, Sign Language might try to make us think, but the script isn’t powerful enough. It’s too simple. And it is this simplicity that I like.
Running is about a dysfunctional family basically. Though, the concept is old there is a lot to like about Running.
Direction & Acting
If you have read my previous reviews (which I am sure you must have :)) you must know how important direction and acting is to the short. You can have a great idea executed poorly to make a lousy movie. But, if the direction and acting is nice you can get away with a lot.
That is the case with Running. Direction is quite good and though there are no major faults though the angles used, sometimes lacked imagination.
The acting however is pretty good. The girl is really talented for her age and her acting is remarkable. Though you sometimes do feel she is over-acting, but that’s so much better than being dull and expressionless.
Conclusion
All said and done Running is an okay short. I have nothing much to complain apart from a weak and done-to-death script, but its execution is pretty much spot on. The ending is pretty much left for the user to decipher. We are left to wonder what decision is she going to take (although signs are she will make the right one).
While you may very well be satisfied after watching it, the next day you would have completely forgotten about it! Even the name is so common; you are not going to remember it.
Running won’t occupy your thoughts for long, and that is its biggest downside.
The concept is really nice and original and does keep the viewer guessing till the last minute (and even after that if you are not paying attention).
Direction & Acting
While some of the parts of the short are great, especially the ghost town, I do feel that the movie could have been even more frightening if it had been shot at night. The soundtrack does complement the action and helps to create a feeling of uneasiness.
However, everything seems lost in the climax. The point where the whole story revolves around its head, the movie simply breaks down. It’s the climax where you need the director to be at his best, the music to be at its spookiest and the actors to be vigilant. None of these things happened. What could have been a great scene just falls flat and takes the whole movie with it.
The acting was not that good either it has to be said. Our protagonist’s lack of expressions was mind-boggling. He did not seem scared at what was happening around him not surprised. It was like everything was normal and usually his life is that crazy.
Conclusion
A psychological thriller, lacking in punch is Still Life. Like many other shorts its concept is nice and original, but its execution could have been a bit better. There is a reason horror movies are shot in the dark while this has not been.
Still Life is not a roller coaster ride from start to end, which it should have been. Somewhere in the middle everyone just stopped caring.
Different idea yeah, but that’s just it – its just an idea. And you can’t build a whole movie, even a short around a single idea. There has to be some progress. And sad to say I did not find any in Offside.
Direction & Acting
I am not sure if the director was told that the movie had to be at least 5 minutes long or did he seriously think he had to drag it to 5 minutes! Because, my God did he drag it! Some scenes just went on and on without serving any purpose. When the guys were listening to the commentary, it could all have ended much sooner. But, no – the director used the same type of shots over and over again – to make the short as unbearable as possible!
Can’t fault the acting though as there wasn’t much acting to do. No words uttered at all. They were okay, really.
Conclusion
Ideas don’t make movies directors do (and actors of course, but this sounded better :)). The concept was good, but one idea does not make a movie. This movie could have been a whole lot shorter and it might have made it better. But, it just dragged on and on and even 5 minutes seemed a lifetime.
So much so that I don’t even want to review it. It was like a player who was not only miles offside, but could not hit the target either.
Every mom thinks her kid is special. Well, this one takes it to another level, when she says that he is Jesus!
The idea is a bit eccentric and different, but the script is really well written and makes it into a highly enjoyable short.
Direction
Apart from some quirks here and there, the film is shot very nicely. The editing is also quite smooth and the multiple-angled shots (that are missing in so many shorts) make it a pleasant viewing.
Acting
But, by far the best thing about this movie is the acting. I was surprised, astonished and even a bit shocked! It was so good. Billy’s mother, with her hilarious over-the-top yet believable antics stole the show for me. Billy’s acting was also pretty decent, with his shy, dumb and sometimes overly cautious approach to life.
It’s not often that you get to play roles in a short that have so much depth. And even rare is the fact that you have good actors playing them. But, Nothing Special provides two really great actors with the chance and they take it with arms wide open!
Conclusion
Nothing Special starts off rather timidly, but it roars into life with great acting and script. A comedy, a drama, I don’t care what you call it, but its certainly very engrossing.
It is light-hearted in its approach, but it also tells us that everyone is special in his own way and that mothers should really give their children a bit more breathing space!
You might not like the story, but you cannot fault them for not trying. Its different, and its full of life.
Nothing Special is something really really special!
Thrown Away does not bring anything new to the table concept wise. If you have seen Dawn, Dusk, Noon, Evening and What not of the Dead – it’s pretty much like that (and a lot more boring).
Direction & Acting
I am not sure if the director knew whether he was directing a comedy or a suspenseful thriller or something. He seemed lost. The start was promising, and there was a sense of forlornness created, which was pretty good. Then the actors started speaking and everything was lost!
The actors had no chemistry, sentences were spoken as if they were just, you know, acting! They failed to realize that they might get killed any instant and that food is scarce. Yet, they are happy to make burger jokes!
Moreover, the mutated people they showed seemed more like mental retards to me. They actually made the whole movie even funnier!
Editing was bad, there were some awkward scenes and the background music that was supposed to make an ambience of suspense could not do its magic either.
Conclusion
Lousy, uninteresting, boring – any of the words can be used to describe Thrown Away. It started fine then all of a sudden, it lost all its charm, its charisma like a middle-aged wife!
Short filmmakers should really take their audience more seriously or at least try to take their movies seriously. Thrown Away should really be thrown away!
Concept Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was only one female alive? Well, this short does exactly this. A very original, and may I call it an eccentric idea, resulting in a sort-of enjoyable short.
Direction
I have seen other shorts by the same guy and he certainly puts a lot of effort in his work and here again it shows. While not as good as his other work, here some mistakes were visible in direction and camera work. But, such mistakes remained relatively minor and did not make the screening unpleasant.
Acting The guy playing geek in this movie was the best of the lot by a fair margin. His acting was original, and he did not try to over-act, which is usually the case in most of the comedies.
I do have some reservations about the other three who were rather a let down. The guys seemed completely disinterested and the single actress did not do justice to her role either.
Conclusion
While the concept was really nice, The Alpha Male falls flat because of poor acting. The script was really good, but apart from one actor the others seemed to be amateurs who had no interest in the short and were there because the director had put some spell on them.
Alpha Male was a short I wanted to like, but the acting was disappointing. You might remember it for the story, but hardly for anything else. Recommended for those times when you have nothing else to do.
Concept
While not different from many other romantic comedies, Drawn does try to bring something new to the genre and it succeeds in pulling it off.
Direction
Nice story is accompanied by some excellent direction. In every scene you will get to see hints to the background of the movie and credit goes to its director (who has also written, shot and edited it) for managing it in such a remarkable way.
While I did feel certain scenes, like the one with the doctor were below par, but the rest of the movie makes up for it.
Acting
Only good actors can do comedy, and Thank God this short has loads of them! The main players, Scott, Rachel and Ben have great chemistry and their scenes are certainly the funniest in the movie. Scott (played by Art Wallace) was in my opinion the best of the lot and I hope to see him in more shorts. But, while there were so many good players, there was also the guy who played doctor. His acting was quite poor for a film of such a high standard.
Conclusion
A romantic story with comedy thrown in for good measure, Drawn is of a rare breed in short movies. It not only captivates viewers with its storyline but the performances make it a film worth watching.
As you guys know I have never been a fan of romantic movies, but this certainly was entertaining and there were some “awwww” moments too for the ladies :)
Short and sweet, Drawn is great for making you feel better and putting a smile on your face.
"The National Film Board of Canada, in association with the Cannes Short Film Corner and partner YouTube, welcomes you to this NFB competition, now in its fifth year.
It's your turn to choose. Internet votes will decide the best film, and the winner will be announced at Cannes on May 21. The prize: an HD MINI-DV camera and a mobile studio including laptop and editing suite.
A sleep deprived office worker finds a Black Hole whilst photocopying late one night Suddenly the possibilities seem endless. Will greed get the better of him?
Phil & Olly aka Diamond Dogs met in the last murky years of the 20th Century at one of Wimbledon School of Arts now legendary parties. They teamed up in 2003 and began shooting no budget promos whilst busting their balls as Art Directors to pay their bills. Phil & Olly continue their careers as editor & art director respectively to fund their directing projects in a world of ever shrinking budgets.
The boys are currently in production on music videos for Will and the People and The Enemy and in pre-production on a 30 second Miller Light commercial. They are also penned to shoot a 4 minute short for Future Shorts in conjunction with Samsung called Spontaneously Capture your life and in pre-production with The UK Film Council in association with Virgin Media Shorts on a short film project called The Archaeologist."
REVIEW
Concept
Strange, bizarre, peculiar – you won’t go wrong with any of these words while describing Black Hole. The idea is totally out-of-this-world yet the message is simple. God provides enough to satisfy our needs, but not our greed.
Direction
Director does not take any risks and I am fine with it. Though I do feel that the short could be a bit long to show how our protagonist gets erm associated with the hole, but apart from that its fine. No faults, no fun, work done.
Acting
When things start getting weird around you people generally tend to get surprised or scared. Well, they at lease show some emotion! The guy in this short shows none! Or maybe 0.5! This short features only one person so the producer could have at least gone for a better actor. For the most part of the movie he seemed drunk to me!
Conclusion
Black Hole is very different from other shorts I have seen. It pushes the boundaries of reality and literally breaks them apart, but it does this with a message in mind. Delightfully simple yet capturing our imagination is what Black Hole is all about.
It could have been so much better if the actor, could, you know, had tried to act! A great plot ruined!
Score: 6.5/10 (I would have given it an 8 if it had not been for YOU KNOW WHO)
Concept
The concept is not new and there have been many feature films about this, but the way it has been shot is brilliant. Though it does make a couple of factual mistakes, everything else was fine. Do remember people its just a short movie, a fiction and we can certainly give it a little bit of leeway.
Direction
Probably the best-directed short movie I have ever seen! Every shot was perfect and the camera work awesome! Its not often you see such nicely directed shorts as many amateurs are in the field too. But, surely a professional did this? Especially the last scene where the viewer will be just blown away by the twist.
Acting
Damn it! I can’t criticize this movie in any department! The acting is what brings the concept and direction together and if done nicely you can forget the plot holes completely. And in this short it was pretty great. There were quite a few actors from a little girl to an old man and everyone was up to his task. Not one actor disappointed.
Conclusion
This short needs your full concentration from start to end. Not because it’s very confusing, but because the hard work people have put in it, deserve this! One little thing I need to add here is that the soundtrack is pretty well put. It does create the required tension and suspense in the viewer and keeps him on the edge.
Lastly, I have rarely seen a short put together such nicely. Watch it and savor it.
"From the makers of "Black Button" comes the third short film from Dark Heart Productions - "The Window".
- Finalist in the upcoming ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
- Shortlisted for TROPFEST, the world's largest short film festival.
- Front Page Feature on www.youtube.com.au
"Julian feels compelled to travel to his local pub. On arrival he finds his friends and family there celebrating, and they have some important news." "
REVIEW
Concept
The concept is pretty great, however the twist comes too late in the film to save it.
Direction
Its nicely done and you don’t see any major faults in direction, editing or camera work. However, sometimes the camera closes up on the people a bit too much for my liking. However, the last scenes where the whole story comes together, the director is pretty much spot on.
Acting
My major beef with shorts are that generally acting is pretty poor. And this short suffers in the same way. Moviemakers should at least go to the trouble of having trials for the actors.
The main actor was very dull in his delivery and half the times he seemed to be in a rush to speak! The guy playing his dad however was brilliant. His speech, his expressions were some of the best I have seen in short movies. You might have seen him in other shorts too as he is a professional actor and it showed.
Conclusion
Sometimes it’s nice to have complex storylines just to keep the viewers on the edge and interested. But, with a muddling storyline comes great responsibility :) – you need to make sure that everything is tied up properly in the end and it does not leave the viewer confused or disenchanted in the end. The storyline as I have said was nice, but neither acting nor direction could match it.
"Synopsis; They say that 11:11 is the time to make a wish. If that is so, what would be special about 12:12..? This short film shows the weird, odd and unusual events that happen to a young man when the clock strikes 12:12. Enjoy!
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VideoInformation; This is my first major attempt at creating a creepy type of film, and I hope the video does give out a weird feeling. You'll probably never look at the time of 12:12 the same way again. I hope you like it!
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Music Made By Yours Truly - Jeremy Cathey :)
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#81 Top Rated Entertainment 11/13/07
#56 Most Discussed Entertainment 11/13/07"
Its very difficult reviewing shorts because not all of them are done by professionals. This one sadly is not and while the idea is nice and original, it seems too much inspired by other horror movies in its implementation.
I won’t delve into the story but I would like to the guys making this short for at least trying to create a short for the horror genre. Not many people do this. Moreover, they do succeed in creating suspense and a bit of thrill for the moviegoer. We have regularly seen in horror movies that instead of keeping the camera still they tend to move it around to give us chills and this is exactly how the makers have done it in this short.
The music might not create that foreboding feeling, but seeing this as done by amateurs I am actually pleasantly surprised they remembered even making a soundtrack!
Nice effort, but they could have made it a bit longer to make it scarier for the audience.
"PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING
'The Box' is NOT a rip off of 'Black Button', nor vice versa. More details below.
-YouTube Awards 2007 - Top Six Finalist, Best Short Film
-WINNER: Fitzroy Short Film Festival (Melb, Aus)
-WINNER: DearCinemaFest Short Film Festival (Int.)
and more...
Mr Roberts finds himself awoken inexplicably in a white room. A man sits before him at a desk and in between them stands a black button. If Mr Roberts pushes it, he will receive a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. Or he can take the key to the door and leave penniless. The catch? Pushing the button will result in the death of a human being. What would you do?
EDIT 1: Some people have observed a similarity in the premise of this film and an revival episode of The Twilight Zone in 1986. Please note (1) We had never seen the episode and only learned of it long after we'd finished the film. (2) The Twilight Zone weren't the first to do it. There was a short story before that, which was in turn based on an old premise called the 'Faustian Bargain', around since the 16th century (deal with the 'devil'). An almost identical premise exists in several cultures. Richard Kelly is even making a film with this premise called 'The Box'. (3) Our film is similar in premise, but different in plot, characters, dialogue, aesthetics, setting, moral meaning, religious undertone, twist etc. Each version, including ours, aims to bring something new to an old idea. Please have the respect to not accuse us of plagiarism.
Additionally, we have no particular religious affiliation; this is a fictional work and its ideas are designed to encourage thought and debate, not comment on any particular theology.
Our first professional short film. We made it for $200 and shot it on the stage of our old school in Melbourne, Australia. Fortunately, professional actor Robert Grubb agreed to act in it for free after reading the script. This film took nearly a year to put together, working on it in stages and creating the 'white' effect on a home PC. Please note that the younger actor, unlike his father Robert Grubb, has no formal acting training whatsoever.
The Making of "Black Button" is now on YouTube.
Two of our other shorts have been released on YouTube, 'Campsite' and 'The Window'. Click on our profile if you'd like to see them and subscribe for updates on new films. Thanks!"
“God will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. But will with the temptation also make a way to escape.”
This is how the Black Button starts and this is probably the best way to summarize it too. Black Button is about temptations and how one deals with them.
The script was really nice and dialogues were really powerful. You can tell by the use of the words that the writer had really put a thought to it. However, the acting did disappoint me a bit. It did not do justice to the level of writing. The older guy was good and gave nice expressions and his diction was faultless, but the younger guy (his son I am told) was way out of his depth. His acting was really poor. He should have watched Keanu Reeves in the Devil’s Advocate for pointers. Not once do you feel sorry for his character.
Overall the idea was excellent, the direction good but I do feel that the characters could have been a bit more expressive and tried a bit harder. 10 out of 10 for the idea, 6 for the execution.
"Short film about a disfunctioning family and a girl's dream of escape."
It’s been an hour since I saw remains. I am sitting on my rooftop and watching as the sun slowly descends and the shadows start to appear. A cold wind is blowing. And really that’s how I am feeling inside too – cold, shivering and sad. And that’s how Remains wanted me to feel.
This short creates a desolate scene showing a girl who is having a hard time with her family. I won’t go into detail about the storyline but what I would like to talk about is the atmosphere generated by the movie. Its gloomy, its depressing, its melancholic and yet its amazing! The director doesn’t create this sense of despair with cheap tricks, but he makes it happen through the little details, the very lightly played soundtrack in the background and specially the sawdust!
Yes, the way sawdust has been used as an expression of despair in the movie it really speaks volumes about the direction of the movie. You don’t often find such creativity in a short, but Remains excel at it.
The acting while not brilliant, cannot be criticized either. Its not going to win any awards, but it’s not going to deflect the moviegoers’ attention either.
Yes its sad and despairing at times, but that’s what the maker wants us to feel. And now as the sun has completely disappeared and the cold wind blows I still sit here feeling very low. And frankly I am loving it!
Thing is I don’t like romantic movies. I would rather watch paint drying. But, this job means that I have to go out and watch shorts belonging to different genres just to please my readers. And that is why I watched Nostalgia. I won’t talk about the story because I hate romantic stories and the storyline wasn’t much different from any other romantic movies.
But, to add to my misery the movie was poorly done too. Flashbacks are a good way to do a movie, but this movie went overboard with it. Why have them in black n white? Surely the moviemakers didn’t think that the audience would be dumb enough not to distinguish between the scenes happening in different times!
On top of that the acting wasn’t that great. The actress did all right and tried to do her job honestly, but the guy did not seem up for it! He lacked passion of any sense through out the movie and a love story devoid of passion makes a horrible experience for the moviegoer.
You won’t shed any tears while watching this movie, you might shed a tear or two for me who had to watch it and on top of it review it. The great Roger Ebert, in his famous review of the movie North, used the word “hated” ten times in the space of three sentences. And that’s exactly how I feel about this movie.
“A man can stand almost anything except a succession of ordinary days” and that seems to be the problem with our protagonist who is called Jason. He is bored with his routine; life is monotonous until that fateful day when he sees the sign.
Thing about short movies is that rarely its been done by professionals. That’s why you tend to see many little irksome mistakes. And mostly this has to do with the soundtrack and camerawork. However, Signs stand out because of its likeable camerawork and great soundtrack. The music continues to play through out the movie and most of the time this isn’t a bright idea, as it can get a bit irritating. But, not in Signs. The moviemakers take the risk and it pays off very well. The music is splendidly done and really plays to the emotional ups and downs of our hero (who doesn’t utter a word) and the general mood of the story.
I also have no complains about the acting. Its good. However, I do feel that Jason is keeping his mouth open a bit too long at times, which frankly doesn’t look too good on the camera. He is supposed to be shown as someone nervous and shy, but shy people don’t look like mentally retarded you know :)
Overall, this is one of my favorite shorts. Cinematography is superb and the build up to the climax is pretty well done. People tend to make shorts with grave tones and all that but sometimes you want to watch something light-hearted, something nice, something to bring a smile to your face, and this short does a great job on all of these fronts. Highly Recommended!
"Directed by John Kennedy & Ruairí O'Brien. Produced by Divamedia in association with the Irish Film Board."
This is one of the toughest shorts to review. I really didn’t know where to begin. Should I talk about the story – nah – its just 2 minutes, should I talk about the actors – nah, there are just 2 old men, should I talk about the action – not much there either. I really really loved it, but I didn’t know where to start. And then it hit me – why do I love this movie. It’s because of the aura, the ambience generated by the movie. Shot in black and white creating a nostalgic feeling, the soft yet reminiscing music, the scenic beauty and in the middle of it, two old men reminding me of my grandpa! : D.
It might not leave you enthralled but it will certainly leave a smile on your faces. Recommended for the gloomy afternoons when you are feeling down :)
"An Inuit hunter drives his dog team out on the frozen Arctic Ocean in search of seals, but instead, becomes a witness to murder. Winner of the Jury Prize for Short Filmmaking at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival."
Hearing that Sikumi or “On the Ice” had won awards I was very excited to watch this movie. My expectations were really high, what could it be, what could it be. What turned out was a touch disappointing. It’s a nice little movie no doubt, but an award-dinner at Sundance…that can’t be right. The start is promising – as the protagonist Apuna, rides his sled through the icy terrains of Arctic he finds a murder taking place. But, what transpires next is well nothing much actually. With such a great start the story could have evolved into something better, but the writer just didn’t want to take any risk it seemed. Moreover, the acting was rather poor and dialogue-delivery shoddy.
While saying all this I do want to mention that the place where this movie is shot is one of the hardest places on earth to make a movie. So kudos to them for trying and actually managing to get some great shots of the landscape. With snow and ice all round you it’s very difficult for the cameraman to maintain correct exposure…but you won’t find any such faults here.
Lastly, I think my expectations were a bit too much. If I had watched it without knowing it’s an award winner I might have enjoyed it more, and since I have told you that….ooops!!! :p
"In a destroyed world, the only glimpse of hope is the memory of a forgotten past. But be careful not to let your dreams control your mind...This is Replay an amazing animated short film."
Great thing about short movies is that if you hate one you might still go ahead and watch it, knowing its only going to last a few minutes. Well, that’s also the bad thing about them – sometimes they are so good you feel this could be a feature length movie. Replay falls into the second category. The storyline is great and the animation isn’t too bad either – though I did think that the characters were rather stiff in their expressions.
The setting is an apocalyptic world caused by who knows what where two siblings are surviving in some underground cabin. Outside, there is doom and destruction everywhere – they even have to wear oxygen masks while going out because of the polluted air! One day, the older of the two siblings, Lana finds something that’s going to change their lives forever! And now I shall shut up about the story – you will have to watch it yourselves :).
People who are thinking of watching it to have a light-hearted time – this is not for you! Its intense, its emotional and you might find yourself weeping. Its no Twilight (Thank God!) but its certainly worth the watch (unlike Twilight :)). Ohhh…. and its French (I think), so if you can’t understand French bring your reading glasses for the subtitles.
Before the end of today, what would you wish to happen? (New Orleans)
By: separatethis
"The Story:
Around two months ago when we set out to film, it was another New Orleans day. A sure sign was the radiating humidity that made your entire body feel like it was covered in a sort of sweaty film. Once you get past the initial fear of the inevitable grime and heat, you feel a certain energy or "atmosphere"- like a kid throwing himself without reserve into a mud fight.
We had an idea: ask as many people as possible the same question. We didn't know exactly why- I guess we were hoping to expose a slice of human emotion (maybe). Just the simple act of reaching out and asking the question is such a enthralling experience in itself. So go ahead, ask yourself....."
Fifty people 1 question is a short video rather than a film and the title says it all really. The only suspense that I can try and create here is what that question is. Saying that the question they pose really makes you think. The question is not like a riddle nor does it have one right answer. But it does give an insight to what the person is thinking at the time and maybe the best answer one can give is the one given with least bit of consideration.
To say this video is captivating or amazing would be wrong – it’s neither. Its good, yes, but the camera work does make even the 7-minute video seem long. There was just too much playing with the camera focus for my liking – it was getting a bit distracting. Apart from that it’s a nice, all-around video.
"A young African boy with a haunting back story starts school in Ireland, and finds out quickly exactly what it means to be the new kid. Winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar."
Short in length but certainly big in character, New Boy makes a lot of good points and pulls you in with its simple yet mesmerizing storyline. Even while featuring a lot of young actors, acting remains good through out the movie and all the kids do a great job. The director does not over-complicate things and that’s the best thing about the movie – its simple yet gripping. As the title suggests this movie is about a boy with a haunting past who is trying to adjust to a new environment. Through flashbacks the movie delves into Joseph’s past and tries to explain his behavior.
While all the actors do a good job some extra credit must go to the director who presents the whole tale in just 10 minutes in a very nice commanding way. No scene seems out of place and no dialogue seems inappropriate. The story might not blow you away but it will certainly touch you and make you think.
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