The Rating Scale
| A+ |
4 Stars |
| A |
4 Stars |
| A- |
3.5 Stars |
| B+ |
3.5 Stars |
| B |
3 Stars |
| B- |
2.5-3 Stars |
| C+ |
2.5 Stars |
| C |
2 Stars |
| C- |
1.5-2 Stars |
| D+ |
1.5 Stars |
| D |
1 Star |
| D- |
1/2 Star |
| F |
0 Stars |
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Shorts Collection #12 |
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Black
Written and Directed by: Nathan and Seth Anderson
Starring: Robert McAtee, Seriina Covarrubias, Kevin Dahlgren, Jenny McGriff
Running Time: 40 Minutes
Website
Grade: A-
3.5 Stars
An intriguing and involving film from the filmmaking team of Nathan and Seth Anderson, "Black" is accurately described as a psychic thriller. The story of a husband and wife, Emile (Robert McAtee) and Dana (Seriina Covarrubias), "Black" weaves its way through a dizzying array of subtexts that may or may not involve psychological disruptions, emotional blockage and/or unresolved traumas. What is known is that both Emile and Dana are in danger of having their marriage and, perhaps, even their lives destroyed if they cannot find a way to unite against the dark forces that have infiltrated their lives.
Powerfully filmed in pristine black-and-white imagery, "Black" is decorated in soft, deceptively simple shadings of black, gray and white throughout the film from the costuming of the characters to the actual production design and even the staging areas being utilized.
Emile is seemingly troubled by the recurring dream of a monster or alien chasing him. Is this being ill intended? It's unclear, yet each time Emile awakens he is bound and gagged. Emile is a psychiatrist who is facing a potential terminal illness, and yet struggling to communicate honestly with his increasingly distant wife.
Dana, on the other hand, is a psychic who accidentally invites a negative force into their home while attempting to help a man find his missing wife. Emile doesn't believe in her psychic abilities, and their initial conflicts center around her refusal to take the medications he has prescribed to address her "delusions."
In the matter of a mere 40 minutes, Seth and Nathan Anderson have constructed a film that is visually hypnotic, emotionally involving and also quite intelligent. They are aided, of course, by the strong performances of Robert McAtee and Seriina Covarrubias as the young couple who must fight through their darkness if there is hope of reaching the light.
McAtee also provides "Black" with a stellar original score, a perfect complement to the film's journey between stark realism and psychic fantasy. Filmed in the Pacific Northwest, "Black" magnificently capitalizes on the area's natural beauty with an eerie calm that feels like Ansel Adams meets "Twilight Zone."
Repressions
Written and Directed by: Adam Kargman
Starring: Sharon Case, Debra Hopkins
Running Time: 24 Mins.
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Let's be honest. Having an Emmy-winning actress appear in your short film is a definite plus. Nonetheless, while having an experienced and talented actress may help it doesn't guarantee a winning short. For example, Oscar-winner Louis Gossett, Jr., appeared in last year's short film "Window" in a casting coup that would seem brilliant but had little impact on the film.
Such is not the case with "Repressions," a 24-minute short film written and directed by Adam Kargman and starring Emmy-winning soap actress Sharon Case as a 31-year-old woman with no job and a troubled relationship who seeks help from Dr. Flowers (Debra Hopkins), a psychologist whose controversial techniques bring vividly to mind the tragic results when therapy becomes more about the therapist's agenda than the client.
As the troubled Janie, Case is utterly mesmerizing in portraying an obviously intelligent young woman who's just vulnerable enough to be victimized by the woman who should be empowering her. In a mere 24 minutes, Case creates a devastating portrayal that is emotionally raw without ever crossing the line into melodrama or histrionics.
Films such as "Repressions" are always challenging, at best. While one doesn't want to minimize the trauma of countless numbers of survivors of sexual abuse, the impact of irresponsible therapeutics and false memory is undeniable. On more than one occasion, I found myself screaming at Dr. Flowers "YOU IDIOT!"
While Case offers an astounding performance, "Repressions" itself could have benefitted from a touch of restraint in the way Dr. Flowers' character is developed. While it's undoubtedly true that there are psychologists and therapists who have clearly and abusively manipulated the therapeutic process, it is a far more common experience that the therapist or psychologist in question is negligent, inexperienced or, perhaps most challenging of all, simply a misguided do-gooder. In "Repressions," the wrongs of Dr. Flowers seem painted with rather broad strokes rather than the gray shadings that are more commonly present.
In a society in which 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys is believed to have experienced sexual abuse, "Repressions" is a stunning film on a vitally important subject.
As a note to abuse survivors, please do be aware that Kargman powerfully shoots scenes recounting tales of abuse complete with flashbacks. Those easily triggered would be best served by viewing "Repressions" in the company of a trusted loved one.
FINDING SPACE
Written and Directed by: Danny Grossman
Starring: Danny Grossman, Elissa Dyann
Running Time: 8 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Yet another short film from our friends at the Socal Film Group, "Finding Space" is a simple, yet stunning 8-minute short film written, directed by and co-starring Danny Grossman.
In the film, David and Madison (Grossman and Elisa Dyann) are celebrating an anniversary...David offers Madison a trip to the mall to get whatever she wants ON ONE CONDITION- They must have the conversation about a topic she's been refusing to discuss. As they find themselves unable to find a parking space, their conversation becomes increasingly intense until words are shared that will change their lives forever.
Having acted together previously in the Socal short "My Life in Subtitles," Grossman and Dyann exhibit a marvelous, natural chemistry that adds significant depth to what could have easily felt like an awkward, forced 8-minute short. Instead, their natural chemistry creates a believability that makes "Finding Space" an unforgettable emotional experience.
Both Grossman and Dyann offer tremendous performances, and Grossman's dialogue is authentic and natural, while the straightforward production design perfectly complements the simplicity of the story and makes its evolution even more powerful.
A Portrait of Envy
Written and Directed by: Enrique Garcia
Starring: Riley Rose (Critchlow), Kris Kjornes
Running Time: 9 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Cementing her status as a promising young actress, Riley Rose shows up again in October's "Short Cuts" in "A Portrait of Envy," a 9-minute short film written and directed by Enrique Garcia. Rose portrays Gillian, a timid yet artistic young woman who believes she's finally won over Jerry (Kris Kjornes) when he asks her to paint a portrait for him. However, everything is not as she believes and "A Portrait of Envy" quickly evolves into a simple, yet disturbing psychological thriller.
While at first glance it would seem that "A Portrait of Envy" is vastly different from Rose's last film, "Archer House," her characters strike a remarkable similarity in the way they are outsiders almost transparently on the edge. Rose has the rare ability to remain still within her characters, and is able to use her entire physical being in both subtle and not so subtle ways. Currently working on her BFA at University of Southern California, Riley Rose is a talent to watch for in the next few years.
While "A Portrait of Envy" is largely centered upon Rose's character, Kris Kjornes offers a solid performances as Jerry, and Jennifer Popagain does nicely in her relatively brief appearance as Jerry's girlfriend.
Garcia's story is quite basic, and yet wonderfully enhanced by a complementary production design, Tahlee Booher's cinematography and a musical score that companions the film's disturbing feeling without overpowering it or manipulating it.
"Germanity"
Written and Directed by: Matthew Fuller & Andrew McNeil
Starring: Daniel Mandehr, Nathan Hollabaugh
Running Time: 7 Mins.
Website
Grade: B
3.0 Stars
This beautifully photographed film written and directed by Matthew Fuller and Andrew McNeil is a simple, meditative piece centered on a terminally ill German man seeking redemption in the final hours of his life. As he flashes back over the choices he has made, most vividly that of the killing of an American soldier during World War II, his contemplations become our contemplations.
Both starkly real and notably surrealistic, "Germanity" is a quiet film in which each sound, each image and each reflection plays out as if it is etched into the very soul of this dying man. The film's ensemble cast maintains this wonderfully contemplative spirit, allowing the film to envelope you in its relatively short seven-minute playing time.
Filmed on an astonishingly low ultra-indie budget of $700, the production designs for "Germanity" are quite beautiful and, perhaps, even a bit too pristine given the rawness of the material. The original music from The Pax Cecilia beautifully blends with the film's tender spirit, virtually ensuring that "Germanity" will stay with you much longer than its seven minutes.
"Reflections"
Written and Directed by: Timofey Yuriev
Website
Grade: B-
2.5 Stars-
At slightly more than four minutes, this first sci-fi short from filmmaker Timofey Yuriev is proof positive of how much can be done on a mere budget of $1,000 when one combines special effects, vision and a storyline based upon true events.
Yuriev's direction blends beautifully with the cinematography of Laurie Melton to create a film that takes a more meditative approach to the sci-fi genre. While "Reflections" is most certainly beautiful to behold, it is clearly designed to appeal to sci-fi fans and/or those who spend their days contemplating the mysterious of the universe from an intellectual perspective. In a mere four minutes, Yuriev gives us much to digest and "Reflections" is definitely the kind of short that benefits from multiple viewings.
"Love Through the Eyes of Anastasia"
Written and Directed by: Jessica Janzen Nickel
Starring: Anna Bullard
Running Time: 15 Mins.
Grade: B
3.0 Stars
Thanks largely to a natural, appealing performance from lead Anna Bullard, "Love Through the Eyes of Anastasia" is a captivating 15-minute short from writer/director Jessica Janzen Nickel.
The film centers on young teen Anastasia, whose overactive imagination has never lead to trouble...until now. A chance meeting with the guy next door leads to an unexpected warning from Medea (No, not Tyler Perry!) herself about the dangers of getting involved with men. How Anastasia responds is what makes "Love Through the Eyes of Anastasia" such a wonderful view.
Bullard wonderfully captures the spirited young girl with an overactive imagination in both her innocence and worldly ways.
While the film falters a bit once Anastasia has made her choice, it remains a solid effort and easily worth a view.
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