This film just blew my mind! I loved it at first, I've watched it several times now and it gets even better with each viewing. The male protagonist does great - his numbness is actually palpable. Equally well does the female protagonist. The plot revolves in a very surrealistic manner and it all develops into intriguing scenes. I'm not even going to bother to launch questions on this or that meaning of certain details, for I feel that some things are not meant to be explained and the "true story" is always the interpretation one makes of it. And this one will have as many "meanings" as the number of individuals that interpret it.. Relationships that went the wrong way/governmental powers that experiment with children/people united for a greater good... All small parts of a film that can be glued together in whichever ways one wants, in order to produce a "story"... It's undoubtedly a very surrealistic film, a characteristic that I personally love. Some things are straightforward, some others take some thinking and linking to do, and then I still have some doubts about the meaning of certain other things in the film. Some particular sequences are filled with symbolism and clues to finding a meaning to the whole story, and are still puzzling me... The photography is outstanding, loved the way it was made to look so "noir", with the black/white scenes, plus the views of the city were very well chosen. The sounds/music are sublime throughout the entire film - the way the majestic sounds and the simple sounds are combined makes it very non-smooth, in a very likable way, because it is absolutely coherent with the plot. The disorientation feeling one gets from the scenes is right on the spot! The final sequence of scenes, at the sound of a very Wim Wenders-esque Crime & the City Solution guitar playing is absolutely brilliant! A very David Lynch-esque kind of film. Explendid, really. Strongly recommend it!
4 Reviews
"Mesmerising" says some dude on the internet
andywingrave-172-209429 September 2011
Now, an unbiased review of this film is something that has been coming for a long time. And sadly I'm not the person to do it justice really. I'm not a film critic by anyone's standards. Put purely and simply, I'm a film layman, and I'll make no attempt to try and second guess what the writer/director of this film was attempting when he made Substation. However, what I can do is give my honest opinion of what I thought of the film. That's what a review is, after-all.
So, if I had to sum Substation up in a word, it would be: 'mesmerising'. Without a doubt it is one of the most captivating and engaging experiences I've ever had in front of a cinema screen. I say that with complete sincerity. In my opinion, this film is all about the sound. Sure the plot and the cinematography are in a word - mind-blowing for what I believe to be this director's first short. But the sound tells a story in and of itself. It actually still hums inside of me when I think of it. The sound ultimately drives the mood, the tone, the feel and the story of the film. It left a lasting impact on me that no other piece of film has ever managed to achieve. So for that and that alone, I was blown away - before we even get into discussing anything else about the film.
So now, moving on to the plot/direction. I said at the beginning of this review that I don't care to take a guess at the story he was trying to tell, or the point he was trying to make. Ultimately that's ancillary to the experience in my opinion. I'm sure the director thinks that the point he was trying to make is as plain as day, but it definitely isn't. This is most certainly not a criticism, because the style and substance of the film is a very clear homage to classic Film Noir/Lynch and even Cronenberg in places (ok I overheard those phrases in a coffee shop one time.) But ultimately that's something to be applauded. I'm of the opinion that the best art is open to interpretation, and this is something Williamson delivers by the truckload - a film that has characters who, in my opinion, could be anyone. The fact that you are dropped into a plot unfolding with no background or frame of reference is what I can only describe as refreshing. It allows you ascribe your own motivation for the characters' actions and that I think is why this film might polarise the vast majority of people. Because ultimately some people like to be handed things on a plate, and others like to work for their intellectual stimulation. That's not to say either opinion is wrong. But if I were hiking, I'd be pitching my tent in camp latter - (I hear camp former's toilet facilities are shocking!)
I thought the acting was spot on. I think all of the actors projected the bleary monotony of it all (life that is, not the film) with conviction and I can only presume that this was intentional. However, as they say - never presume, it makes a pre out of um and e. But in short - I thought it was fantastic and the whole film was cast impeccably.
(I always thought people were joking when they told me I wasn't very funny.)
There is an awful lot to love about this film. I didn't even get round to talking about the cinematography (i know nothing about cinematography - it was pretty, very pretty).The one major criticism I would have about the whole experience is that it left me wanting more. But in summation - it's a brilliant piece of complex work from a first-time director that deserves your full attention.
So, if I had to sum Substation up in a word, it would be: 'mesmerising'. Without a doubt it is one of the most captivating and engaging experiences I've ever had in front of a cinema screen. I say that with complete sincerity. In my opinion, this film is all about the sound. Sure the plot and the cinematography are in a word - mind-blowing for what I believe to be this director's first short. But the sound tells a story in and of itself. It actually still hums inside of me when I think of it. The sound ultimately drives the mood, the tone, the feel and the story of the film. It left a lasting impact on me that no other piece of film has ever managed to achieve. So for that and that alone, I was blown away - before we even get into discussing anything else about the film.
So now, moving on to the plot/direction. I said at the beginning of this review that I don't care to take a guess at the story he was trying to tell, or the point he was trying to make. Ultimately that's ancillary to the experience in my opinion. I'm sure the director thinks that the point he was trying to make is as plain as day, but it definitely isn't. This is most certainly not a criticism, because the style and substance of the film is a very clear homage to classic Film Noir/Lynch and even Cronenberg in places (ok I overheard those phrases in a coffee shop one time.) But ultimately that's something to be applauded. I'm of the opinion that the best art is open to interpretation, and this is something Williamson delivers by the truckload - a film that has characters who, in my opinion, could be anyone. The fact that you are dropped into a plot unfolding with no background or frame of reference is what I can only describe as refreshing. It allows you ascribe your own motivation for the characters' actions and that I think is why this film might polarise the vast majority of people. Because ultimately some people like to be handed things on a plate, and others like to work for their intellectual stimulation. That's not to say either opinion is wrong. But if I were hiking, I'd be pitching my tent in camp latter - (I hear camp former's toilet facilities are shocking!)
I thought the acting was spot on. I think all of the actors projected the bleary monotony of it all (life that is, not the film) with conviction and I can only presume that this was intentional. However, as they say - never presume, it makes a pre out of um and e. But in short - I thought it was fantastic and the whole film was cast impeccably.
(I always thought people were joking when they told me I wasn't very funny.)
There is an awful lot to love about this film. I didn't even get round to talking about the cinematography (i know nothing about cinematography - it was pretty, very pretty).The one major criticism I would have about the whole experience is that it left me wanting more. But in summation - it's a brilliant piece of complex work from a first-time director that deserves your full attention.
Brilliantly dark and atmospheric
GriffTannen0510 October 2011
I've been meaning to write this review for ages. I'm not going to give anything away but merely watch this film if you want to see something, new, original and daring. For too long Scottish cinema has lacked a sense of individuality and style and I think Mr Williamson perfectly captures the dark beauty of Glasgow to a tee through striking visuals, a brilliant pulasting score and a complex plot that twists and weaves its' way into your consciousness.
It's akin to early Lynch/Cronenberg in that it is daring, unique and challenging. The best cinema is and I look forward to following this talented young director's career. 10/10....
It's akin to early Lynch/Cronenberg in that it is daring, unique and challenging. The best cinema is and I look forward to following this talented young director's career. 10/10....
An incomprehensible ,sub-Lynchian piece of schlock.
CallumAngusMcleod15 August 2011
Garbage. A parody of a student film. Where narrative is replaced by bad writing and acting, where 'surrealism' forgoes any sense of ever having been defined in favour of incomprehensibility. For a start, it isn't a noir. Influenced by The Third Man, as evidenced by occasional smoke and empty briefcase, but that doesn't fulfil the definition of noir.
An editor is needed as well to tell this Euan Williamson to cut down on the use of 20-second+ shots which do nothing but remove any sense of pace. The direction was uninspired. The music was just noise, apart from the sin of putting Rachmaninov anywhere near this sort of thing. And the first act never finished; there was no sense of perspective, and no reason to keep watching the film except to laugh at the occasional jilted dialogue and momentary 'surreal' torch lit inserts of 'scary' actors. And also, when did it become standard practise to not include any characters in a film, but rather, merely provide the audience with people who speak and move occasionally? This just proves that you need more than a DSLR, decent sound recording equipment and humans to make a watchable film. It isn't even well shot; there were occasional shots that were actually in focus and very sharp in HD which showed how out of focus most of the film was. I've seen toenails more surreal than this.
Drivel; plus false advertising, because I believe the only clues available to a viewer reveal just how empty headed this sort of 'neo noir' shlock is. Very bad, I thought.
An editor is needed as well to tell this Euan Williamson to cut down on the use of 20-second+ shots which do nothing but remove any sense of pace. The direction was uninspired. The music was just noise, apart from the sin of putting Rachmaninov anywhere near this sort of thing. And the first act never finished; there was no sense of perspective, and no reason to keep watching the film except to laugh at the occasional jilted dialogue and momentary 'surreal' torch lit inserts of 'scary' actors. And also, when did it become standard practise to not include any characters in a film, but rather, merely provide the audience with people who speak and move occasionally? This just proves that you need more than a DSLR, decent sound recording equipment and humans to make a watchable film. It isn't even well shot; there were occasional shots that were actually in focus and very sharp in HD which showed how out of focus most of the film was. I've seen toenails more surreal than this.
Drivel; plus false advertising, because I believe the only clues available to a viewer reveal just how empty headed this sort of 'neo noir' shlock is. Very bad, I thought.
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