Coward ★★★★★

Review of 'Coward' which can be found here on Vimeo. 

Length: 28:27

Written by Terry Donnelly, Steve Handley, Mark O'Halloran and Dave Roddham. Directed by Dave Roddham

Genre: War

Date: 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: Two Irish cousins brave WWI trench warfare at its worst.          

You only need to look at the video still above to know immediately that this is a five star film. This harks back to the traditional style of short film making where folk literally made cinema quality movies but shorter than feature length. 

Needless to say, production values here are to a very high standard. Pulling off a period piece is no mean feat never mind creating a realistic battlefield with war torn trenches and extreme weather conditions. The attention to detail in the costume, set design and makeup departments is evident and the crews passion for the project comes through clearly on screen. The lighting, sound design and cinematography are all of a superb calibre and everything gels together well to make for an outstanding visual treat. A nice soundtrack bookends the piece but the sound of battle as well as the good use of silence are as effective as any music could be. 

Martin McCann and Sean Stewart play the lead roles of two small town country boys who predictably look forward to joining up only to quickly suffer the crashing realities of fighting on the front line. Performances (by all cast) are powerful, emotional and raw. That might have something to do with the horrible conditions they're acting in mind. Everyone does well to maintain form while being subjected to torrential rain, engulfing mud and bitter snow. Dialogue is realistic, evocative of the period and has a morose poetic tone to it. Heavy in subtext, there's a lot to like about this. 

Structure-wise, there's a kind of mystery subplot regarding which member of the division is up for being shot because they deserted. I'm not sure if keeping the audience continually guessing about who this character is was the best decision. It could provide to be a distraction from the emotional content of the film. War genre pieces are usually driven by a 'who will survive and who won't?' question anyways, and that might have been enough to carry this plot forward without adding in the mystery element. 

Overall, this takes (for me) a compelling topic and treats it with the respect it really deserves. There's a lot of heart in this and the tragic ending is by no means a negative. Very much a visual masterpiece, they haven't scrimped on providing excellent emotional content as well.  

N.B. If you're listening to this with headphones, be prepared to jump out of your skin a couple of times with all the unexpected gun shots and bomb explosions. 

Best Bit: Creates an excellent emotional impact and looks fantastic.   

Worst Bit: The introduction sequence at the start is a bit long and slow paced. 

Final thought: I well thought that the wifey at the beginning was giving her son the precious iPad mini that his father would want him to have. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here and an interview by the film's cinematographer Stephen Murphy here. 

Secret ★★★★★

Review of 'Secret' which can be found here on YouTube. 

Length: 09:49

Written by Oliver Morgan. Directed by Rob Birks.

Genre: Drama

Date: 2009
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A young schoolboy suffers in silence at the hands of an abusive teacher. 

A problem shared isn't necessarily a problem halved when it comes to this depressing story. Refreshingly, there's no happy ending here, although that does make it a bit harder to see the moral, which in this case, seems to imply that even if you talk to someone about being abused, they'll probably just tell you to put up with it until the fella gets bored. 

Reece Webster and Kieran Hocking are both excellent young actors and superbly cast. Webster is particularly adept at providing us with a naturalistically  oppressed performance. Each handles the well written dialogue giving careful attention to the subject matter. The handheld camerawork helps give a more intimate feel when watching and good shot composition and editing is key in highlighting the emotional story beats. A simple and economical soundtrack is also used to great effect. 

There's an immediate hook as the storyline almost immediately delves into a somewhat shocking scene which is handled very well. There's some nice symbolic imagery in amongst it all and the soft focus provides a dreamlike (or nightmare) feel to the tone. An all round professional and competent production, which treats the disturbing plot line incredibly well. 

Best Bit: Opening sequence and Reece Webster. 

Worst Bit: Somewhat unresolved plot. 

Final thought: "Just say No!", oh, sorry, that was for drugs wasn't it. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

First The Worst ★★★★★

Review of 'First The Worst' which can be found here on YouTube.

Length: 02:14

Written & directed by Bevan Walsh. 

Genre: Comedy

Date: 2011
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: Two school pupils argue over which of them is the least popular. 

This is a good little short. Well produced, straight to the point and has great performances by a young cast. Gaby Ilagan and Charlie Burton take the helm as the two socially awkward teens each trying to defend their outcast status. 

Superbly written, Ilagan and Burton deliver their lines very professionally and with good comic effect. Camera quality, composition and edit are equally well executed with a good soundtrack being used to highlight the emotional turning points. 

Not much else to say on this one. Like it a lot. 

Best Bit: "It's worse for me, I'm ginger."

Worst Bit: Want more. 

Final thought: Sympathy for the ginger kid. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

Nursery Crimes ★★★★★

Review of 'Nursery Crimes' which can be found here on Vimeo.

Length: 03:35

Written by L. Whyte & M.J. Magee. Directed by L. Whyte

Genre: Animation

Date: 2010
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: Little Bo Peep finally snaps and goes on a murderous rampage. 

This alternative telling of a familiar tale merges several well known nursery rhymes together and blends them into an altogether darker story. Mimicking the traditional rhythms used in children's rhymes, narration by Andy Turvey is well paced, as is the edit. Turvey's voice over experience comes over in his clear, concise and thoughtful delivery. His reading which is in keeping with kids storytelling juxtaposes well against the disturbing plot and provides another layer of unease to the tone. Of course it's the writing and the concept that really makes this good. While sometimes there's an expectation on which rhyming word is going to be pronounced, inserts of key words such as "gutted", "sickening" and "butchered" all add humorous and surprising moments to the story. 

Both set and character design are brilliant with great attention to detail. Character faces are static but are designed well enough so that they convey character essence suitably. Gruesome blood and guts get presented as cute red wool knitting and the variety of textures and surfaces used build an interesting setting. There is a mixture of animation techniques here. 3D model animation and what looks like 2D cut outs are used, possibly as a time saving device, but creates good variation in visuals none the less. Overall, this not only looks good is sounds good thanks the engaging dialogue. It plays out at a good length and has a winning premise. 

Best Bit: Really like the concept.

Worst Bit: Jack might not be dead. 

Final thought: Plenty of scope for further films here. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

The Surprise Demise Of Francis Cooper's Mother ★★★★★

Review of 'The Surprise Demise Of Francis Cooper's Mother' which can be found here on Future Shorts. 

Length: 07:41

Directed by Felix Massie

Genre: Animation 

Date: 2008
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: Three tales of people learning to cope with the unpredictable and inevitable. 

A nice example of three subplots centred around a common theme, something which well structured feature films should be composed off too. Original style, competent animation which shows restraint through pacing, and compelling narrative, this is a well rounded short through and through. 

Although 2D, the attention in the shot arrangement and composition gives a great depth of field within the frame. While there is often several different things happening in a shot, and with several points of movement, having certain things out of focus gives a clear indication as to what the filmmaker really wants us to pay attention to. Similarly with the audio, the detailed sound effects and an instrumental music track enhance the experience rather than crowding it and never intruding on the narration by the excellent Alexei Sayle who reels of the dialogue like he's reciting poetry. 

That's perhaps testament to the writing which at some points sounds more like a short story. That's certainly not a criticism (well it is narrated isn't it). What probably reads well off the page is a sarcastic and quirky (hate that word) tale which is more than brought to life by the complementing visuals and comedic tones of Sayle. Each storyline is thoughtfully structured together in a way that doesn't leave the audience lingering on one more than the other and which neatly follows on from each other. While the wording may not always be laugh a minute stuff, there are a few gems in there and the character direction on screen more than makes up for it. Very good. 

Best Bit: Good structure, layout and who doesn't love Alexei Sayle (Who's that fat bastard?)

Worst Bit: Pacing could be on the slow side but doesn't really matter. 

Final thought: Awright John, got a new mot'a?

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

What's Virgin Mean? ★★★★★

Review of 'What's Virgin Mean?' which can be found here on Future Shorts.

Length: 02:34

Written & directed by Michael Davies

Genre: Comedy

Date: 2008
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A young girl asks her mother a straightforward question and gets an awkward answer in reply. 

This is such a simple idea you'll wonder if you've seen it somewhere else before. Here, there's a great blend of conversation at cross purposes and visual metaphors being used to bring together the comedic situation of an adult explaining sex to a child. 

Kate Isitt plays Mum and Rebecca Duffy her daughter. Isitt shows experience and good comic timing while Duffy is naturalistic and well directed. Dialogue and performance go hand in hand as delivery of the well written text is essential in any comedy. Structurally, all the right beats are struck, the reveal at the end is clever, and there's a smooth pace which never feels rushed given the films short length. 

Nice camera movement helps the small location feel more active and the well paced edit complements that. Music bookends the piece well and the lack of soundtrack throughout brings forward the dialogue which has been recorded without flaw. Similarly, the camera quality is good as is the soft lighting and detailed set design. It all combines to give a very professional look but it's really the concept and performances that shine through as brilliant. 

Best Bit: Nice reveal at the end. 

Worst Bit: Ginger kid! (I can say that)

Final thought: Yeah, WTF does extra virgin mean?

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

The Black Hole ★★★★★

Review of 'The Black Hole' which can be found here on Shorts Bay.

Length: 02:49

Written & directed by Philip Sansom and Olly Williams

Genre: Comedy

Date: 2008
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A downtrodden office worker discovers a useful photocopy printout which enables him to reach through solid matter. 

This is a well known short that's been on the go for a while and has won several awards. There is a shortened version out there too which I believe came first prize in one of the 1 minute short competitions. With a cleverly simple idea and competently executed production, it's certainly hard to beat. 

Structurally, it plays on the rule of three's to build dramatic tension which helps hold and increase audience attention. First the minor discovery of the paper cup accidentally falling through the hole, then the progression to using the hole to steal from the vending machine and further on to the bigger plan of stealing from the office safe. A great tool for short films where time is limited. 

Napolean Ryan stars as the sole character and does an excellent job considering there is no dialogue to be had. Ryan conveys deprived and lifeless just as equally well as he does maniacal greed. Kudos also goes to hair and make-up who have done well to give the 'My soul has been destroyed by working in tedious office" look. 

Key to this films success is the concept. The filmmakers have used restraint, not gone overboard and kept the plot basic but brilliant. Although production values are high, it looks like every effort has gone into minimising unnecessary elements; an average inside location, one character, no dialogue, simple special effects etc. It's probably everything a short film should be. 

Best Bit: Cool idea done in a subtle way. 

Worst Bit: How the guy can fit through a hole in an A3 piece of paper???

Final thought: This is the short film idea that we all wish we had. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

The Gate ★★★★★

Review of 'The Gate' which can be found here on YouTube.

Length: 08:18

Written & directed by Matt Westrup

Genre: Sci-Fi

Date: 2011

Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A government panel discuss a recent outbreak of human mutations caused by unregulated drugs.

This is a pretty cool short with extremely well crafted computer generated effects. There’s a mixture of tones and I won’t recommend sitting close to a computer screen wearing headphones when watching the opening sequence. This is  where the audience may think this is delving into the horror genre. Quick cuts are used to give a fright early on but the fear factor gets lessened by the introduction of the panel discussion, fact giving dialogue, the major use of broad daylight, and the fact that the mutated men don’t seem to have any harmful intent.

Production wise, this is top notch. Clear HD picture quality, well thought out shot composition, seamless special effects, detailed sound recording and fx’s too. Watch out for the oh so typical juddering camera work with intermittent focus adjustments which is a trademark technique for ‘found footage’-type sequences. Although probably used just as an aid to blend sfx’s into the live footage, it isn’t used consistently and so kind of renders itself redundant. It’s the only sequence shot in a first person perspective, all the rest are omnipotent so it somehow doesn’t fit in right.

It’s pretty much an ensemble cast although Dr Ackerman, played by John Mawson, eeks out a bit more as a possible protagonist. All performances are nicely done, feel controlled and understated and are true to each individual character.

The title relates to the bible quote at the beginning but not much more and there’s an added written message for viewers at the end warning against taking dodgy pharmaceuticals for real. Both of which bring additional layers of thought to the film. While the sfx’s are undoubtedly one of the highlights, the thoughtfully constructed structure, proficient dialogue and intriguing plot all combine together in such a way as to not make the effects mere spectacle but a integrated storytelling tool.

Best Bit: The way the generated creatures fit really well into their surroundings.

Worst Bit: Handheld camera stuff on the external shots.

Final thought: For anyone so inclined, there’s a cock shot if you catch the freeze frame at the right spot.

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

Worm ★★★★★

Review of 'Worm' which can be found here at Future Shorts.

Length: 10:35

Written by Kerri Sandell. Directed by Ryan Vernava

Genre: Fantasy

Date: 2010
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A detective tries to solve the mystery of a missing girl whose family believes she has simply turned into an earth worm. 

Think the Adams Family crossed with the Royle Family and you might come up with something like this grotesque lot. Adam Shaw takes the lead role as the detective but almost fades into the background compared to the ultra absurd secondary characters. The make-up artists must have had their work cut out creating these weirdo's. Of course, their appearance and portrayals all add to the eccentric plot. Tone and atmosphere have as much importance here as any other element as this appears to be all about entering a bizarre world which blends fantasy, comedy and maybe even noir? 

There is has a real feature film feel to it. Vivid colour depth, good camera quality, interesting shot compositions and professional soundtrack all combine to show this was well produced and put together. Compliments also to the set designers and prop people who have really gone to town on creating a unique world. The off-kilter camera work, angled pans and dramatic lighting all aid the surrealist nature of the plot, giving a sense of eeriness and unease to the audience. The hallway shot is a good example of this and where the set design also complements the technical work. 

The downfall to introducing such an eye-catching environment is that it takes up a fair bit of setup time to establish it on screen. This is merely a mention and not a criticism though as the viewers will hopefully be too involved in taking it all in to really care about the lacking pace at the beginning. Structure is also well considered and the fact that the mystery isn't truly resolved by the end is no biggie. Although the obscure style might not be to everyones taste, this is certainly an excellent piece of work none the less. 

Best Bit: Camera work. 

Worst Bit: Overdone facial make-up on the mother. 

Final thought: Must now go and clean my flat!

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

Blind Luck ★★★★★

Review of 'Blind Luck' which can be found here on YouTube.

Length: 01:45

Written & directed by James Sieradzki

Genre: Comedy

Date: 2010
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A blind man wins on a scratchcard leaving the shop assistant in a quandary whether to tell him or keep it for himself. 

This works for me. It combines an ultra simple idea with subtle thematic layering. It immediately puts the audience into the protagonist's shoes and asks all of us "What would you do?"

Sound design is of a very high standard here. The low background hum enhances the mood, key actions are highlighted and FX's are used to show a characters inner thoughts. Sound also helps build tension as it mimics the story structure. Dialogue is kept very minimal and this works to it's short length advantage. Both performances by filmmaker Sieradzki and blind man, Alan Booty in particular, are genuine, understated and truthful. Camera shots are not fussed, clean and make good use of close-ups. the lighting is vibrant and works nicely with the artificial strip lighting that all convenience stores are riddled with. 

What I liked most is how the film plays with themes of banality and routine. Even when something exciting and out of the ordinary happens, this looks at how it's still hard to shake old habits and to step out of our mundane lives. This is another example of how the simplest ideas, when executed to a high degree, make the best films. For me anyhoo. 

Best Bit: Idea and audio.

Worst Bit: Tracking shot. 

Final thought: Fifty grand? Should have made it bigger. 

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

Gas ★★★★★

Review of 'Gas' which can be found here on Vimeo. 

Length: 02:20

Written & directed by Kieron Clark

Genre: Drama

Date: 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Logline: A woman decides to top herself via the gas cooker but it takes ages. 

There's something quite vintage about this method of suicide. When was the last time you heard of someone dying after sticking their head in the oven like in the good old days? It doesn't happen much as modern day gas isn't all that toxic and is more likely to suffocate you apparently, who's got time for that? That's probably why protagonist Laura, played by Frances Morris, gets a bit impatient. 

The film has a good build up (no pun intended), the quick introduction to all the gas hobs being turned on in the kitchen immediately grabs audience attention and creates explosive expectations. Tension and anticipation is played well, it's almost humorous and an audiences mind will be quickly ticking away asking many questions, who? Why? Will she, won't she? What about the budgie!? etc. 

This is a simple idea and done really well. Production values are good, great picture quality, uncomplicated shots, nice composition, smooth edit and the handheld camerawork is subtle and works well in the confined shooting location.  No problems with sound or lighting, set design or costume. Everything combines to create a well rounded and emotional piece. Tonal shifts throughout mark a clear structure and dialogue is kept to a the minimum in order to emphasise this too. Slight ambiguous ending, but it keeps the length just right. Great short. 

Best Bit: The way plot plays with expectations. 

Worst Bit: A musical box for a birthday present would probably make me want to kill myself too. 

Final thought: Is she trying to top off the boyfriend as well then?

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.