Blog | Film Reviews & Movie Trailers

David Lynch: The Art Life

Jul 3, 2017
2 min

David Lynch: The Art Life

★★★★ Directed by Jon Nguyen and Rick Barnes Starring David Lynch Documentary Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Audiences may know David Lynch as one of the greatest surrealist directors of all-time but most are probably unbeknownst of his first artistic foray: painting. David Lynch: The Art Life focuses on just that while also following Lynch’s personal life in an effectively intimate style. The documentary acts as a biography of sorts. Lynch recounts different major periods an

It's Not You short film

Jun 3, 2017
2 min

It's Not You short film

Directed by Sophie Peters-Wilson Written by Sophie Peters-Wilson Starring Timothy J. Cox, Sara Ruth Blake, and Abigail Spitler Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi It’s Not You deconstructs divorce in a way that is simple yet heartfelt. That way is through the effect on the offspring - in this case, the daughter of a couple. What follows is a relatable journey that starts with harmony and joy but ends with disconnected acceptance. The short film begins with the aforementione

Neon short film

Apr 28, 2017
2 min

Neon short film

Directed by Mark J. Blackman Starring Kerry Bennett, Joe Absolom Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Putting a modern spin on a classic fable is a difficult task, but when done with a well-thought approach, it is an undeniably unique treat. Neon does just that in an admirably stylish and gripping way, making it an inventive fantasy/romance. Neon follows an office worker named Mary (Kerry Bennett) after she suddenly receives a phone call from her boyfriend Elias (Joe Absolom

Cleanliness Begins at Home short film

Feb 7, 2017
2 min

Cleanliness Begins at Home short film

Directed by Samir Dash Starring Abhinav Dash, Dukhi Shyam Sahoo Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Sustainment of our environment is a universally acknowledged duty, and sometimes the public may need a visual reminder of that. Cleanliness Begins at Home is an amusing and digestible example of one such reminder and it will definitely leave audiences with a higher level of awareness, particularly among children. The short film follows a young boy as he imitates his grandfat

Cold Reader short film

Jan 27, 2017
2 min

Cold Reader short film

Directed by Michael Beddoes Starring Melissa Clements, Rosalind Lonsdale & Stephen Schreiber Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi With an inventive opening sequence setting a playful and quirky mood, Cold Reader provides a joyous and cheerful viewing experience that is sure to lift your spirit. The short is set in a library and revolves around a newfound relationship and understanding after bored librarian Gaia (Melissa Clements) decides to approach regular visitor Edward (

Cocaine and Cormorants short film

Dec 26, 2016
2 min

Cocaine and Cormorants short film

Directed by Alexis P.N. Starring James Ruskin, Alice Sainsbury Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Absurdity and dry humour are cohesively combined to entertaining results in this comedy-crime short, director and film student Alexis P.N’s graduation piece. Cocaine and Cormorants follows a birdwatcher in the UK as he finds himself in the middle of a Colombian drug cartel’s smuggling plot. Things are further complicated when a massive crowd of bird enthusiasts rush out in d

Second Summer of Love short film

Dec 2, 2016
2 min

Second Summer of Love short film

Directed by Pablo Fuentes Starring Jackson Milner, Bettine Mackenzie, Isobel Hughes, Andrew Gourlay, Jude Monk McGowan, Geoff Arnold, Regé-Jean Page, Jacob Shephard, David Burnett, Theo Green. Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi From 1988-89, there was a raving scene in England. It celebrated the rise of acid house, a newly-emerged subgenre of EDM, as well as a rapid increase in ecstasy and LSD. It was called the Second Summer of Love, and this short film of the same name

A Brush Soaked in Carmine documentary film

Nov 17, 2016
2 min

A Brush Soaked in Carmine documentary film

Directed by Teodor Todorov (Теодор Тодоров) Starring Jordan Opitz (Йордан Опиц), Marin Markovski (Марин Марковски) and Elijah Tsotsin (Илия Цоцин) Documentary Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi The truth can be clouded in many ways, especially in a crime case. A Brush Soaked in Carmine, a Bulgarian documentary directed by Teodor Todorov, presents such a case where we will never know the true intentions of the perpetrator and whether it was manslaughter or downright murder, but

Coming to Terms short film

Nov 9, 2016
2 min

Coming to Terms short film

Directed by David Bertran Starring Wyatt Greene, Carissa Bazler, Nancy Daly, & Michael Maino Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi There is that kind of film that serves as catharsis for losing a loved one. Coming to Terms provides it sensitively and soothingly, albeit in an unconventional way that I am still coming to terms with myself. This short film revolves around a pair of young siblings and how they deal with the death of their father. They try to fathom the complicat

Harry Stands Up short film

Oct 27, 2016
2 min

Harry Stands Up short film

Directed by John McGovern Starring Tim Casey & Eileen Fennel Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Contemporary black and white shorts come and go. Their usage of this is generally because of atmospheres it can exude, but most of the time, filmmakers’ decisions to use the filter is typically superficial. Harry Stands Up, however, uses black and white perfectly by both creating crisp visuals, forming a dark atmosphere and giving an expression of the main character’s world. Ha

Unattended Item short film

Oct 16, 2016
2 min

Unattended Item short film

Directed by Filippos Vokotopoulos Starring Sean Cronin Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Unattended Item is a tale about getting yourself in way too deep emotionally and financially. It also involves loan sharks and illegal loans. If you are expecting a thrilling crime short, though, this is not for you. This is a quietly engaging piece that subtly reaches profound heights that go beyond its main plot. The story focuses on Andy (Sean Cronin), a man trapped in debt. This

The Interrogation of Olivia Donovan short film

Oct 5, 2016
3 min

The Interrogation of Olivia Donovan short film

Directed by Carl Mackenzie Starring Cristian Solimeno, Eva Pope, & Ellie Paskell Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Child abduction is a tough subject to tackle but it often serves as disturbing and compelling stories for film. The Interrogation of Olivia Donovan is inexplicably no exception. It blends intense dialogue, a haunting score, and an engaging backdrop to create a drama you will not soon forget. The short film instantly immerses the viewer in on the situation --

Twenty Twenty-Four indie film

Sep 26, 2016
2 min

Twenty Twenty-Four indie film

Directed by Richard Mundy Starring Andrew Kinsler Indie Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Twenty Twenty-Four crafted a set and almost tangible atmosphere to a degree of quality I have rarely found in this year’s releases of indie films. Heck, it is superb in most aspects. The audience will feel thoroughly compelled throughout these 88 minutes of pure psychological and absorbing terror. Starting with an overview of the ongoings of this universe, the audience is instantly aware

Bench short film

Sep 14, 2016
2 min

Bench short film

Starring Christopher Law & Jack McKenna Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Losing a friend is tough, especially when considering a close friend. This short film, Bench, is a heart-warming tale of a man coping with this sort of loss and ultimately overcoming it. The short film, from Red Kite Films, immediately opens with a tracking shot of a man on a bench. Audiences will instantly connect with his grief through Christopher Law’s empathetic performance. Another man soon ac

Opus Dei short film

Sep 4, 2016
2 min

Opus Dei short film

Directed by George Najdzien Starring Tom Diver and Tim C. Hudson Short film review by Lorenzo Lombardi Opus Dei, translated from Medieval Latin, literally means ‘work of God’. Priests carry out the work of god, but the priest protagonist of this short film takes it to the next level by taking matters into his own hands in this movie that boasts the ability to make a good story solely around compelling dialogue. To outline the plot would also end up ruining it, as the thrille

A Shadow of Dara short film

Aug 28, 2016
2 min

A Shadow of Dara short film

Directed by Kirill Proskura Starring Johnny Spurling, Jo Price, Antonia Reed & Peter Imms Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi The film & TV trope of an everyman being the catalyst for saving humanity has been done countless times. This can result in a run-of-the-mill attempt that fails to stand out in the world of film. However, A Shadow of Dara should stand out in the Sci-fi short film scene, as it flips this trope on its head in ways you do not expect, and gives a health

Scarlet With Shame

Aug 18, 2016
2 min

Scarlet With Shame

Directed by Raphael Biss Starring Endaf Eynon Davies, Graham Hill, Russell Walker, John Jenner & Steve Evans Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Scarlet With Shame begins with a warning: “This film contains strong language and violence”. It should also be said that the violence and strong language amounts to very little. This short film opens with two best friends as they partake in a few rounds of pool and drinking. This is a celebration of Ewan’s (Graham Hill) upcoming

The Truants short film

Aug 11, 2016
2 min

The Truants short film

Directed by Aaron Dunleavy Starring Jack Hartley, Kallum Trueman & Leo Halstead Short film review by Lorenzo Lombardi Following the devastatingly hard-hitting Throw Me to the Dogs, promising and visceral director Aaron Dunleavy blesses the short film scene with this equally realistic drama, The Truants. Alike his previous effort, The Truants is set in Blackburn. It instantly opens on two teenagers escaping from school, who then go on to gallivant around in industrial locale

The Cheese Box short film

Jul 31, 2016
2 min

The Cheese Box short film

Directed by Paddy Murphy Starring Kevin Kiely Jr, Caroline O Hara & Stephen Ryan Short film review by Lorenzo Lombardi It is 1950s Ireland, and the Roman Catholic church holds a powerful grip on the country. The results of their influence are felt deeply in this meaningful film. Its deep historical message is sure to resonate with audiences for a while after viewing. The Cheese Box tells the true story of a man named “Draughty” (Kevin Kiely Jr), directly affected by the powe

Than All Else Ever short film

Jul 22, 2016
2 min

Than All Else Ever short film

Directed by Thiyagaraja Starring Michael Marinaccio, Eric Roberts, Angela Gulner and Bruce Eckelman Short Film Review by Lorenzo Lombardi Director Thiyagaraja’s Than All Else Ever has a superlative title for a reason. It contains themes of concepts such as love and time, and questions our understanding of the universe. Needless to say, it means a lot to convey in its running time of just under 15 minutes. But does it do it well? We are taken on a journey with a narrator that