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Written, Produced, Directed & Edited by: C.J. Lazaretti Co-produced by: Hamish Graham Voiced by: C.J. Lazaretti
Review by Chris Olson
With the tagline, “You are what he eats”, and a Monty Python-esque slapstick animation, C.J. Lazaretti’s short film Cosmico is unashamedly forthcoming in its controversy and social (in particular religious) commentary.
Set in a piece of the universe where a gluttonous nobleman is being fed religious iconography, without any sense of decorum, the film is a smorgasbord of abstract creativity where anything goes. Furthermore, the nobleman’s voracious appetite for paraphernalia such as a Hindu statue or a Jewish menorah, threatens the stability of the entire space/time continuum…for some reason.
There is a delectable absurdity to Lazaretti’s short animation film that beautifully contrasts the heavy themes it, literally, consumes. Using the same style so wonderfully created by Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Cosmico tips its hat to comedy legends of decades past, revelling in the farcical nature of the form. Sound effects, an unintelligible script, and quick fire gags are just some of the weapons in Lazaretti’s arsenal that he manages to let loose within a 3 minute run time!
Whilst being provocative and controversial, Cosmico fails to deliver any coherent plot. There is nothing really going on here, except some bold statements about religion, the universe, greed, and the consumptive nature of the human race that could very well be the downfall of us all…Hmm, all that in just three minutes! Imagine what could have been accomplished in a feature.
It is great to see this kind of throwback animation and comedy style, and what is delightful is how relevant it all still seems. With copious amounts of animated comedy shorts online - from Pixar right the way down to indie filmmakers - it is a film genre which has the potential to still amaze and astound, and most importantly, entertain.
Watch the trailer for Cosmico below...
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