FILM REVIEWS

Budgerigar: I found Budgerigar to be aesthetically pleasing, achieved prominently through the lighting tehniques within the interior scenes of the house. Furthermore, the camera technique involved very smooth transitions betwen alternative shots, which made for a melodious viewing. For further improvement, perhaps the infatuation between the two boys could have been a little more explicit so as so correspond with the statement at the end that Michael was “in love with someone else”. The interaction between the actors was magnificent in the way it continually built up the awkward tension between the family and Michael. The shift to a parallel sphere that exists in the mind of Michael number one worked well in subtly alluding to his psyche, rather than an explicit revelation of the character’s mindset.

The Hole: I found the concept behind the narrative of ‘The Hole’ inventive and comedic. Similarly, the repetition of the different characters (such as the old woman) walking across the beach and collapsing into the hole made accentuated the comic element. The diegetic nature of the sound was unconvincing as the dialogue did not match the screen movement. The monochromatic filter was reminiscent of silent comedy films, which prompted nostalgia. The central actor performed his role greatly in fulfilling the character of a sleezy, opportunistic man who was simultaneously likeable in his comic mannerisms evident in his inability to lift the girl out of the hole.

Granny Theft Auto: The story behind this film was ingenious as its primary focus was that of a very entertaining Italian woman. The actress embodied a true sense of authenticity as a confused older woman. The inclusion of the negative comments by the woman to the girl wearing the tiffany and co neckelace was a smart decision in that it offered justification behind the woman being taken away by the policeman. The simplicity in the narrative worked positively in helping achieve a story that was easy to follow from beginning to end. There were a few continuity issues that arose between the three boys looking back at the Italian woman who was being interrogated by the policeman; a few point of view shots from their perspective would have helped smooth these moments out.