The Rating Scale
| A+ |
4 Stars |
| A |
4 Stars |
| A- |
3.5 Stars |
| B+ |
3.5 Stars |
| B |
3 Stars |
| B- |
2.5-3 Stars |
| C+ |
2.5 Stars |
| C |
2 Stars |
| C- |
1.5-2 Stars |
| D+ |
1.5 Stars |
| D |
1 Star |
| D- |
1/2 Star |
| F |
0 Stars |
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Louis Iacoviello as Charlie in Mike Doto's short film, "The Legacy."
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THE LEGACY
Written and Directed by: Mike Doto
Starring: Louis Iacoviello, Paul Butcher, Jo McGinley
Running Time: 12 Mins.
WEBSITE
Grade: A-
3.5 Stars
What would you do if you found out your father was a superhero?
In writer/director Mike Doto's masterful "The Legacy," Charlie (Louis Iacoviello) is a retired actor whose near Hollywood break-through in the title role of the big-budget "Kryptoman" flick fell victim to squabbling between the director and the producer. A dejected Charlie retired to a small-town farm with his beautiful wife, Louise (Jo McGinley), and his son, Billy (Paul Butcher).
One day, it is announced that "Kryptoman" is back on track with the original cast and, not so coincidentally, 10-year-old Billy spies his father's photograph on the cover of a news magazine.
Could it be? Surely not?
Easily one of the year's top short films, "The Legacy" manages to be both a tribute to the magical, larger than life superhero films of the past while carving out a wondrous journey all its own. In 12 minutes, Doto manages to capture more of the heart and spirit of "Superman," of which it bears an almost too close resemblance, than Bryan Singer's buffed up 2006 full-length feature that very nearly killed the franchise. Actually, "The Legacy" bears more a resemblance to the "Lois & Clark" television series than any of the feature films, however, it should be said unequivocally that Doto beautifully transcends the superhero genre with a timeless story that weaves its way through lessons about fathers and sons, belief, trusting the magic in our lives and pure, childlike wonder.
Michael Rizzi's camera work paints the sort of picture one used to see every Sunday evening while watching the Disney Sunday Movie, films of simple joy and innocence and hope. The original score by Joey Newman is the perfect accompaniment for a story that manages to balance being both larger than life and celebrating of the little things we can do in life to make a difference.
The performances, as well, are top-notch across the board with delightful chemistry between Louis Iacoviello's Charlie and Paul Butcher as his bedazzled son, Charlie. Jo McGinley shines as the matriarch of this quite super trio.
Serving as absolute proof that a filmmaker need not have James Cameron's nine-figure production budget to create a film that enchants and delights, Mike Doto's "The Legacy" is 12-minutes of cinematic bliss you will find yourself wanting to watch again and again.
KD MATHESON BOUNDLESS TRIBESMAN
Conceived and Directed by: Vezun
Featuring: KD Matheson
Running Time: 12 Mins.
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Referring to his work, digital artist KD Matheson states "Within my work I tend to think of creating a meeting place, a bridge in space and time that blends the past and the future and is expressed into the present. They are as vessels that house lines of connection to the mysteries of our past, the understanding of who we are now and the wonder of what we will become tomorrow."
Attempting to capture within the span of a 10-minute short documentary this meeting place, creator/director Vezun has assembled an essay in video and music that features live painting footage, interviews with Matheson and numerous images of Matheson's boundless tribal creations.
Matheson's art work has been featured in exhibitions around the world, in CD jacket covers, in book publications, in movies and in other places here and there. Utilizing a variety of mediums, including clay, c-g art, paint, film and animation, Matheson's artistic creations breathe life into another world and "KD Matheson Boundless Tribesman" immerses the viewer into a world that is simultaneously fantastic and yet feels strangely and comfortably familiar.
Vezun creates both the camera work and the music for "KD Matheson Boundless Tribesman," a perfect blend of mythical and magical with primal beats and images. While there are a couple of spots during the film's interviews with Matheson himself where the sound mix is just a touch off, "KD Matheson Boundless Tribesman" is a visually and emotionally appealing tribute to one of contemporary digital arts most acclaimed artists.
Currently on the film festival circuit, "KD Matheson Boundless Tribesman" blends the experimental and the experiential into an intriguing and inviting short documentary.
CLIMBING KILI
Directed by: Daniel Meincke
Featuring: Tim & Maureen Clark, Wendy Ellis, Tom & Yolanda Lobacz, Paul Meincke
Running Time: 16 Mins.
Grade: A-
3.5 Stars
Far more entertaining and inspiring than anything brought forth by Jack Nicholson or Morgan Freeman, "Climbing Kili" is the true story of three middle-aged couples who decide to tackle one big ole' bucket list item...climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
While it is common for directors to wrap a film such as "Climbing Kili" around a heartwarming story of overcoming obstacles, triumphing over nature or some other weepy storyline, in "Climbing Kili" director Daniel Meincke wisely trusts his intelligent, sensitive subjects to sell the story themselves along with the stellar camera work of Michael Noens and an excellent original score by Theadore. In a mere 16 minutes, Meincke patiently brings out the story of a group of friends whose loyalty, perseverance and self-sacrifice is a lesson for us all.
Nominated for a 2009 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award, "Climbing Kili" works beautifully because Meincke focuses the film on the ensemble nature of the adventure. While each person involved may very well be there for a different reason, it quickly becomes clear that they are sharing this adventure together with great intention and genuine affection for one another. Each individual succeeds in different ways, while each individual faces different challenges along the way.
Meincke incorporates footage of the climb itself with post-climb interviews and personal reflections from each climber about the impact of the experience. The final result is a short film that feels less manipulative and histrionic and more grounded in the very real human thoughts and feelings of accomplishing most Americans will never accomplish.
SKIN AND BONE
Written and Directed by: Philip M. Magcalas
Starring: John Depew, Allen McRae, Cassandra Meyer, Shaun Butler, Philip M. Magcalas
Running Time: 35 Mins.
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Grassroots filmmakers are you paying attention? If you've ever caught yourself using the excuse "I don't have enough money to put together a decent film," then "Skin and Bone," a 35-minute drama written and directed by Philip M. Magcalas is exhibit A for you to watch.
Filmed on a modest $500 budget and featuring an all-volunteer cast and crew, "Skin and Bone" is a Robert Altman style film that follows the intertwined lives of a group of healthcare professionals and patients inside a prestigious cardiac cath lab where everyday life doesn't stand still while life and death decisions are going on virtually every hour of every day.
Dr. Bradley Lindemann (John Depew) is the lab's medical director, an expert known throughout the world for his knowledge and innovation while being equally as known throughout the hospital for his gruff exterior and not so pleasant bedside manner. Tom (Allen McRae) and Michelle (Cassandra Meyer) are the unit's new cardiovascular techs while researcher Anthony (Shaun Butler) has come on this particular day to follow a not so hospitable Dr. Lindemann. The cast of over 30 includes doctors and nurses, techs and ancillary staff, patients and even a few outside the confines of the lab itself.
As the day unfolds, the lives of staff and patients alive will be changed in ways big and small. Tomorrow will be more of the same.
Inspired by his own professional stint working in a cath lab, Magcalas has crafted an honest, authentic and emotionally satisfying short film that transcends its modest budget on the strength of Magcalas's insightful script and his equally insightful ensemble cast. While there's no denying that there are moments where the film's budgetary constraints are rather obvious, especially where the sound mix is concerned, the distractions are minimal thanks to the non-sensationalistic style in which the film is shot.
"Skin and Bone" was winner of the Best Comedy or Drama (Over 30 Minutes) at the COMMFFEST Community Film Festival in Toronto, and received its world premiere at the Rainier Independent Film Festival while also being named a "Pick of the Week" at the Boston Globe.
"Skin and Bone" benefits from stellar original music by Jason Rozen and Elijah Ebenezer Wyman, while Magcalas's camera work is inventive with only a few very brief transitional scenes losing temporary focus. As is not at all uncommon in ultra-low budget films, the editing is a touch off at times but this is only a minor distraction.
Copies of "Skin and Bone" are available on the Milk and Cookie Productions website for a mere $7.95 including shipping, with a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the film designated to benefit Partners in Health as part of Haiti relief efforts.
DELAYED
Directed by: David Herman
Written by: Gregory Shull
Starring: Bob McCracken, Erin Foley, Chris Marrs, Joe Thornton, Jr., Stephen Simon, Gramme Diamonde
Running Time: 13 Mins.
Grade: B
3.0 Stars
Herman Freck (Bob McCracken) is the CFO of Unified Energy, a company on the verge of collapse. His assistant is freaking out, his wife won't stop calling and the FBI is hot on his trail. At the airport, Freck's escape flight to Zurich is delayed one hour.
One hour. Will he make it?
Odds are pretty good you know how Delayed, a 13-minute short written by Gregory Shull and directed by David Herman, is going to play out but the aptly named Bob McCracken brings out the very real trauma playing a man whose entire world is on the verge of collapse. In a scene reminiscent of John Lithgow's famous mid-flight crack up in Twilight Zone: The Movie, McCracken captures nicely the very real and maybe not so real corners of Freck's increasingly tattered mind as threats both real and imagined begin to close in on him.
Meena Singh's camera work is solid throughout, nicely blending Freck's increasingly claustrophobic mind with the expanse of the airport terminal, while the original music from Russ Howard III gives Delayed a heightened anxiety that companions McCracken's increasingly frenetic performance as his inner demons wreak havoc on his psyche'.
It's arguable that director David Herman's decision to incorporate special effects lessens the impact of McCracken's shattering facade, especially given the strength of McCracken's convincing performance. Minor quibbles aside, Delayed is an intelligent and thought provoking short film.
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