"SHADE"-
Written and Directed by: Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Starring: Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Patrick Dempsey
Running Time: 14 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
The winner of a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film during the 2006 Heartland Film Festival, "Shade" is a 14-minute film chronicling the real-life story of a woman with a rare genetic condition that causes her to constantly avoid sunlight. Written by, directed by and starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley (in her first directorial effort), "Shade" also stars Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) as her ever-loving, constantly loyal husband. In 14 minutes, Williams-Paisley creates an emotionally raw, heartbreaking look at one woman's challenges and the courageous (or perhaps foolish?) decision she makes. For a "short," the make-up and production design is remarkably effective and Dempsey and Williams-Paisley have a nice chemistry. Williams-Paisley, in particular, offers an outstanding performance here...easily one of the best I've seen in short films in the past year. "Shade" is an marvelous short film from an actress we love and a director to be watched. Listen carefully."Shade" also features music from Williams-Paisley's husband, award-winning country artist Brad Paisley!
"Window" -
Directed by: Varda Hardy
Screenplay: Varda Hardy, Patrick Bennett
Starring: Louis Gossett, Jr.
Running Time: 16 Mins.
Grade: B-
2.5 Stars
As produced by director and co-producer Varda Hardy, the 16-minute film "Window," starring previous Oscar-winner Louis Gossett, Jr., is the story of Ralph, an ailing veteran holed up in a hospital whose only wish is to have the window bed. As he becomes increasingly despondent and belligerant, Ralph becomes antagonizing to Gene (Robert Patrick), the terminally ill veteran who possesses the window bed.
Varda's film is simple, straightforward and timely. The powerful presence of Gossett, Jr. benefits the film greatly, though subtlety has never really been the actor's strength. "Window," much like its title, is rather obvious and the ending was quite predictable. An effective performance from Gossett, Jr. saves the film from mediocrity and nearly creates a film as important as it clearly wants to be. "Window" captured the Crystal Heart Award during the 2006 Heartland Film Festival.
"Emily's Song"
Co-Directors: Thomas Kennedy, Frank Kelly
Screenplay: Frank Kelly
Starring: Eric O'Brien, Shane Murray-Corcoran, Jason Byrne
Running Time: 15 Mins.
Grade: C+
2.5 Stars
Another Crystal Heart winner, "Emily's Song" is a 15-minute film about two brothers who set aside their differences to help their father grieve the death of their mother.
Co-written and directed by Frank Kennedy, "Emily's Song" is a simple, sweet story that had the curse of being screened by me after the marvelous "Shade." Thus, many of the emotional moments of "Emily's Song" simply felt a bit more forced and lacking in authenticity. The film's brothers are Irish, and the film has a strong Irish feeling to it that is evident even throughout its production design.
Jason Byrne, Eric O'Brien and Shane Murray-Corcoran all perform competently, however, "Emily's Song" ends up feeling just a bit too short.
"Queen of Cactus Cove"
Written and Directed by: Anna Christopher
Starring: Alia Shawkat, Alex Frost
Running Time: 22 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
"Queen of Cactus Cove" gave "Shade" a run for its money at the 2006 Heartland Film Festival and was undoubtedly a true crowd-pleaser. The 22-minute short film stars Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development") as a teenage chess champion facing the prospect of losing for the first time when she faces her best friend in the championship of her biggest chess tournament. The film co-stars Alex Frost ("Elephant"), and it is the chemistry of Shawkat and Frost that is key to the film's success.
"Queen of Cactus Cove" is quirky, charming and utterly delightful with director Anna Christopher delivering one of 2006's most emotionally resonant short films.
"I Want To Be A Pilot"
Written and Directed by: Diego Quemada-Diez
Starring: Collins Otieno
Running Time: 10 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
Diego Quemade Diez directs this 11-minute short film centered on an East African child named Omondi who watches planes fly overhead everyday in his impoverished nation and dreams of becoming a pilot. More photo essay than actual film, "I Want To Be A Pilot" captured the Audience Award for its emotionally charged, yet simple approach to looking at East African poverty, hopes, dreams and realities.
"ZOMBIE PROM"
Written and Directed by: Vince Marcello
Starring: RuPaul, David Engel, Candice Nicole
Running Time: 36 Mins.
Website
Grade: A
4.0 Stars
In all my years of being a film critic it has never happened. I've completed thousands of film ratings and over 1,000 film reviews in my life including films of all genres and short films. It hasn't happened once...What am I talking about? The ever elusive four-star rating, a rating of which I've given approximately less than 1% of all full-length films but NEVER a short film.
Until now.
"Zombie Prom" is, without a doubt, the best short film I've ever seen. Based upon the off-Broadway play of the same name, "Zombie Prom" is part 1950's comic book, part horror, part love story, part musical, part Troma flick, part comedy and, well, completely brilliant. it's the funniest, most entertaining and most imaginative short film I've ever viewed and, hands down, the best acted short I've witnessed including, believe it or not, a marvelous performance from RuPaul as Miss Strict, the Principal of Enrico Fermi High School.
The story of a seemingly ill-fated high school couple, Toffee (Candice Nicole) and Jonny (Darren Robertson), "Zombie Prom" is beautifully brought to life by screenwriter/director Vince Marcello. While the musical film "Dreamgirls" picked up all the cinematic awards for 2006, "Zombie Prom" was truly the year's musical highlight.
For more information on "Zombie Prom," visit the film's website at http://www.zombiepromthemovie.com/
"BUSINESS JOHNSON"
Co-Directors: Talia Raine, Casper Frank
Screenplay: Casper Frank
Starring: Alonzo Bodden, Reggie De Morton, Jerod Mixon, Rodney Perry
Running Time: 7 Mins.
Grade: B
3.0 Stars
Whereas "Zombie Prom" went for high spectacle and razzle dazzle, "Business Johnson," a 7-minute short film co-directed by Talia Raine and Casper Frank, takes a simpler, more straightforward approach. Six urban comic legends, including Rodney Perry, Larry B. Scott and Reggie De Morton along with three others, are six men hangin' on a porch tellin' lies. "Business Johnson" is funny, raw and uncensored. In fact, it may be the only 7-minute R-rated film I've ever seen (while the film is raw, the "R" is unwarranted, however). In a style that looks deceptively like freestyle riffing, these comic legends are a beautiful sight to behold in this simple yet uniquely wonderful film from Raine and Frank. Word has it that audience response to these characters has led to plans for an expanded project featuring their return!
"BINTA & THE GREAT IDEA"
Written and Directed by: Javier Fesser
Starring: Zeynabou Diallo
Running Time: 30 Mins.
Grade: A-
3.5 Stars
This 2006 Oscar nominee is a 30-minute short starring Zeynabou Diallo as a young Senegalese girl who shares, quite simply, life in her village and her father's grand idea to improve the world. Sponsored by UNICEF, "Binta and the Great Idea" is a story about hope in seemingly impossible circumstances. Written and directed by Javier Fesser, "Binta and the Great Idea" got my vote for the 2006 Oscar (Okay. Okay. I didn't actually have a vote!)
"WEST BANK STORY"
Directed by: Ari Sandel
Screenplay: Ari Sandel, Kim Ray
Starring: A.J. Tannen, Joey Naber
Running Time: 21 Mins.
Website
Grade: B+
3.5 Stars
"West Bank Story" captured the 2006 Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. The story of two competing falafel stands on the West Bank, "West Bank Story" is a light, delightful and, yes, musical short film sure to lift your spirits. Co-written and directed by Ari Sandel, "West Bank Story" is beautifully photographed, well paced and, given our current political climate, a remarkably timely piece of filmmaking.
"ERAMOS POCOS"
Directed by: Borja Cobeaga
Screenplay: Borja Cobeaga, Sergio Barrejon
Starring: Ramon Barea, Marivi Bilbao, Alejandro Tejerias
Running Time: 16 Mins.
Grade: B-
2.5 Stars
This 2006 Oscar nominee is a funny, if somewhat slight 16-minute short from Spain about a man who moves in his mother-in-law to care for him and his son when his wife leaves him. "Eramos Pocos" captured six film festival awards before its Oscar nomination. While the film feels a bit hollow to me, there's no denying its gentle humor and simple humanity have played well to audiences nationwide.
"GLACIER BAY"
Directed by: Douglas Moser
Screenplay: Frederick J. Stroppel
Running Time: 28 Mins.
Grade: B
3.0 Stars
Artie (James Noble, best known as the Governor from the "Benson" television series) and Connie (newcomer Dorothy Bryce) are an elderly "couple" attending a party following their grand-nephew's confirmation in "Glacier Bay," a bittersweet look at a couple dealing with the husband's ever-worsening Alzheimer's Disease. At times quite funny, "Glacier Bay" is just as often a powerful, tender and difficult film. As the elderly man losing his grip on reality, Noble offers a remarkable performance of tenderness, sweetness and, at times, downright hilarity. While Bryce's performance isn't up to part with that of Noble's, her interactions with Artie make "Glacier Bay" a valuable film to watch. Written by Frederick J. Stoppel and directed by Douglas Moser, "Glacier Bay" is a spirited film with an important message about a subject that touches thousands of lives every year.
