wiseguy-18 Reviews

Woodkid: Run Boy Run (2012 Music Video)

Rousing, Pounding Background Beat

[9/10 · 1 September 2017]

to go with a very well-made short film.

The video begins with a young boy running away from an imposing bleached-white structure. Is it a School? An Orphanage? A Prison? He continues this headlong flight, in his schoolboy-like attire: short pants, suit-coat and with a book bag strapped to his back; his little legs pumping furiously to carry him away at maximum speed. The lad has a most determined look on his dust-covered face as he makes his way around and over numerous obstacles in his path, rocks, boulders, roots and tree branches.

One of these branches catches the boy's foot and sends him sprawling on the ground. Just then we see a fearsome-looking horned beast arising from up out of the earth and rushing in the young man's direction. Quickly the creature closes the gap, as our hero struggles to get back to his feet. He is not fast enough, however, and the hairy monster is upon him, now; but instead of the supposed rending and tearing of the young boy's fragile body, we see the 7-foot tall beast scoop the child up from the earth and carry him under his powerful arm, continuing the hasty flight that was in progress.

After a while the monster tosses the lad ahead of him and the boy quickly lands on solid ground to resume the trek. The beast then motions from behind him and we see others of his kind arising out of the dirt to join in the exodus, many larger than the first one, with some being veritable giants. It is apparent that they mean the boy no harm, instead supplying him with a sword and shield, and a horned helmet, which, once donned, makes him look like a smaller version of one of their number.

Joined by more and more of the creatures, the boy is soon leading a sizable army toward a gleaming white city of skyscrapers, their eventual goal. Our protagonist is seen giving a rallying cry to his troops to move onward, and a look of hopefulness is mixed in with the determination on his young face.

Kodaline: Brother (2017 Music Video)

Very touching and emotional piece.

[10/10 · 5 August 2017]

9-Year-Old Ralph's big brother has just died. The young boy is grief-stricken, and moves as if in a haze, through the unfamiliar rituals of the funeral and then family and friends at the house. That night he falls into a fitful sleep, only to awake a couple of hours later to a frightful sight in the hallway - a ghost. It is the classic, flowing white sheet variety of ghost, and when Ralph slowly approaches it and pulls the sheet off, he is surprised --but also elated-- to see his brother's face underneath, smiling down at him.

The two spend the next few hours laughing, joking and playing games together, finally rearranging the furniture in the living room and making a fort out of cushions, pillows and sheets, getting under the canopy and going to sleep next to each other. The next morning Ralph awakes to find his brother gone, his picture in the place where he had lain sleeping.

It was all just a dream. . . wasn't it?

Shut Up, Butterfly! (2008)

Powerful little film

[1 August 2017]

13-Year-Old Vincent has grown up in violent surroundings -- his own family. After the latest round in the family feud, where his stepfather beat him and his mother, Vincent decides to call the police but is taken to a youth center unintentionally, while Child Welfare makes a determination in the matter.

Because of his troubled home life, Vincent tends to uncontrolled outbursts of violence, and no one is safe from them -- including the director of the youth center, whom he lashes out at for attempting to break up an altercation between himself and one of the other boys. Then he meets his roommate, Tobias, known to the others at the center as "Butterfly," a diffident, introverted young boy about Vincent's age who collects butterflies in an attempt to cope with the death of his parents in an automobile accident.

Vincent becomes curious about the butterfly boy and tries to empathize, and, step by step, he gains the friendship of Butterfly. But one day Vincent's mother reappears to tell him that he will not be leaving the youth center, as her and his stepfather have reconciled their differences, but he is not wanted at home anymore.

Vincent is stunned. All his feelings of rage and hurt are taken out on his defenseless roommate, Butterfly...

Indochine: College Boy (2013 Music Video)

Not a 'feel-good' video,

[1 August 2017]

but a thought-provoking one. . .

This is a well-made --if somewhat disturbing-- video dealing with some sensitive subject matter, namely school bullying.

The tempo of the music fits the on-screen action pretty well. I can't make the same claim about the lyrics, as they're mostly in French and the English subtitle translation may or may not entirely convey the original intent.

This video contains some graphic scenes of violent acts that some may find disturbing and/or offensive. Please Watch Responsibly.

Strýta (2012)

Powerful Short Film

[9/10 · 1 August 2017]

The first time I watched it, I was struck by the ironic ending, with Viktor being the one who was killed instead of Steiner, which we were visually led to believe.

But then on subsequent viewings, the tragedy itself hit me, and on each watching I found myself being affected more and more by it, crying even in the seconds before we see the blood running down the wall. . .

I didn't pick up on the significance of the scene at the 7:25 mark until my second viewing. This is where Steiner is at his window and Viktor is throwing pebbles, trying to get him to come out.

Pretty powerful little film, if you contemplate it.

Timmy Muldoon and the Search for the Shadoweyes Bandit (2013 Video)

Good Acting, Authentic Police Uniform

[10/10 · 31 July 2017]

Pretty well-made little film, with an capable young man in the lead role. I found next to no info about it on the 'Net, and ended up having to hand-craft my own synopsis. Apparently Owen Teague had a dream to make a homemade video, and things just blossomed into what you have before you, a Hollywood-style Short Film Blockbuster! With cameo appearances by a couple of familiar (and big name) faces, namely Cuba Gooding Jr. as The Shadoweyes Bandit, and Jon Bernthal (Shane Walsh from "The Walking Dead") as Muscle Bruce, you can tell this ain't your run-of-the-mill Short. Production values are fairly high, most of the acting is well-done, and the story is part serious, part tongue-in-cheek, not afraid to tap into old cop-movie clichés when the need calls for it.

I was very impressed at the lengths they went to with Timmy's police uniform - Normally you see ill-fitting dark clothing, with a cloth 'badge' or some tiny, dime-store security guard-looking shield, and a plain belt with little or no equipment on it and a cap- or water-pistol for a gun, but Timmy is sporting a pretty well tailored, authentic set of clothes, with what is still surely a fake badge (it has no department or association on it, in fact, no words at all). But they really went all-out with the belt and equipment - We see a real leather police belt with holster, handcuffs, key holder, several pouches for extra cylinders of ammo, and a modern carrier for the walkie-talkie. His gun looks to be maybe a .25 revolver, of course not something a real cop would carry, but more than enough to look good in the small hands of a 13-year-old.

I applaud all concerned for a well-made, enjoyable, and authentic-looking short film.

Song to Say Goodbye (2006)

Short in Duration but long on meaning

[9/10 · 31 July 2017]

I've watched this 8:28 music video many more times than I care to admit. Not particularly a fan of Placebo at all (in fact, to my knowledge, this is the only song of theirs that I've ever heard), the song is tolerable and fits the action on screen very well, but it's that on screen action that draws me back to the video over and over again. Field Cate is such a beautiful little man, and although he only grins slightly a couple of times during this production, if you've seen his smile in pictures or other productions, you'll have to agree that it is like rays of sunshine. This is a touching, thoughtful video, and one that you really owe it to yourself to view at least once. But, you may find yourself inextricably drawn back again, just as I am.

Star Stuff: A Story of Carl Sagan (2015)

Inspiring short film - A tribute to Carl Sagan

[29 July 2017]

"Inspiring" is an apt description for this short film. With its swelling musical backgrounds, panoramic stellar vistas and PBS Nova©-like presentation, it instills the sense of wonder, discovery and exploration that epitomized the life and work of astronomer Carl Sagan.

Give it a whirl — It's only 10 minutes, and you just might come away *Inspired* yourself.

Dear Foreigner (2010 Video)

Mind-Broadening

[29 July 2017]

This is an audio and video adaptation of a letter from a mother to her son, whom she gave up for adoption when he was born, 27 years earlier. It's a kind of esoteric, even existential thing that you have to wrap your head around to enjoy, but perhaps some of you might. This qualifies as your Mind-Broadening Exercise for today.

Dogwood (I) (2014)

Excellent, all except the ending...

[9/10 · 28 July 2017]

Touching story, good acting by all. I enjoyed it right up to almost the end -- Then I was lost.

We're left hanging at the end -- Did Rowan get adopted? Was he moved to another foster home? Was he eaten by crocodiles? We're not told.

Charlie gives no indication of being heartbroken or even disappointed; instead just going back to his 'everyday' lonely solitaire playing.

This was such a well-made and touching short film -- I hate that it ended in such an unfulfilling way...

Lionhearted (2012)

The kid was the best part of the film

[8/10 · 28 July 2017]

Keyghan Burns turns in a nice performance as Alexander, the young boy forced to grow up before he's ready. The Daddy wasn't convincing to me, the Mother did alright. The two Baddies were just adequate.

There are nits in this short film, and I'm here to pick 'em! These shouldn't be spoilers, so you can read them before you watch, then you'll pick up on them.

1) Why is there a *Child's Voice* making the *Emergency Broadcast*? 2) That was a sorry *Salute* for a *Soldier* 3) Cheesy-looking SFX on the *Explosion* 4) The *Audio on the Radio* sounded fake 5) If the car has been *Sitting in the Desert for Weeks or Months*, how come it's so *Clean*? 6) Kudos for having an actual gunshot, not a sound effect 7) There should have been more blood and gore from that *Spear*

Overall, not bad - I give it an 8.