Film Reviews:

Coffee & Pi:

This film is proof that simple ideas are usually the best. The humour that comes from Adrian factoring in the different possible ways he could approach Rebecca taps into the natural awkward and nervous feelings we go through when we want to approach someone we like. I really liked the equation graphics that accompanied the possibilities Adrian was considering and I think they really helped tell the story and add a style to the film. The story is very easy to relate to and funny, the actors performed the characters really well. The only thing that really distracted me was some of the framing (close-ups) could’ve been a bit neater and tidier, particularly in the important conversation between Adrian and Rebecca. I felt like that scene could’ve been covered or edited in a more interesting way to highlight it’s importance.

Shelter:

Wow. This film brought intensity from the get go. The sound production and editing of the entire film, but in particular the beginning when the children are running away, is amazing. The opening scene gets you straight into the suspense and thriller genre of the film and hooks the audience instantly. I loved the clever use of editing and using lens flares to suggest what is outside of the shelter to avoid having to show the outside world. I wouldn’t have thought that a futuristic apocalyptic world could’ve been depicted so well with the constraints that we all had, but this film definitely proved me wrong. However, the story did seem a bit rushed towards the climax. It’s probably more suited to a feature film length as I really would’ve liked to see more interaction between Blair and the siblings, building that tension up and wondering what will happen. I understand the ending of them returning to a better world, but I don’t think it was really necessary and you could’ve ended it on the siblings hugging after Blair is killed. This may have given you more time to build up the suspense between the characters.

A Love Lost:

I was interested to watch this film as the mood and story are both quite similar to our film ‘Getting By’. The pacing of the film was great in that it reflected Graham’s grief and his daily struggle without his wife. The use of voice over was an interesting choice and I think it would be great to see a version without it, because I think the story would come across just as well. With saying that, I did like the insight into Graham’s day, like how he sometimes forgets and makes breakfast for two, or remembers too well. The lighting in the anniversary scene was superb and I loved the candlelight, it really brought the mood of the scene to life. I did find some of the dialogue in this scene a bit confusing though. The stark contrast between the lighting made me think he was daydreaming of what he wishes he said to his wife before she passed away, and it only became clearer that it was a memory further into the dialogue. Catherine’s reaction to Graham answering his phone during dinner kind of goes against what she was saying to him. Overall, the sadness and grief of Graham came through in the way the film was put together.

Sliced:

I was really keen to watch this film as I helped out on it. I really enjoyed it, I thought it was really funny and the suspenseful and intense music just added to the absurd nature of his addiction. The opening scene in the alleyway is really funny. It’s a shame that some of the other scenes had to be cut for technical reasons but I thought it was clever how the transition between the dinner scene was cut to the alleyway. The performances were great, however the only criticism I have is that I think the ending could’ve been exaggerated a lot more – maybe he is lying on his bed covered in white bread and in bread heaven, like you would see with gangstas and cash. I think that the addiction could’ve been pushed even more further, however I still think it’s great and funny.