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HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Clarum Somnium Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: James Learoyd | Posted on: Feb 13, 2024 Directed by: Alexandre David Lejuez Written by: Alexandre David Lejuez Starring: Eva Langlet Alluring yet challenging, Clarum Somnium (2023) is an experimental short. Described, by the filmmakers, as “The purification of a mysterious girl, between dream and reality”, the piece will not be for everybody (what is?), but this cerebral experience holds plenty of original visual and auditory ideas to admire. Over the course of ten minutes, we’re shown a woman in a shower, city structures, and finally the natural world. Having these elements complement each other in unusual ways is artistically ambitious and certainly worth analysing; unfortunately, the film can risk feeling static or repetitive... but then again, it must not be viewed through linear story conventions as the filmmaker has chosen to disregard narrative. So, we must instead consider the concepts at play. Thematically, we’re working in vague but interesting territory. One hypothesises that the film’s juxtaposition of images – between the dreamlike fluidity of the streetlamps / buildings and the more strange, visceral nature of the woman washing her hair – is there to perhaps encourage the viewer to either consider any similarities, or, on the other hand, its extreme differences. The frequent use of dissolve transitions suggests that there might be a flowing, universal connection; however, it may be more stimulating to engage with the images’ contrast... for instance, what clashing textures can be identified? - from interior to exterior, should we feel the warm and cold; wet and dry? Then again, should a contrast be found between any emotions present? The singular character in the film does not appear to be in a state of ease -- more a kind of numbness has taken hold of her, appearing dazed; this is an intense, potent state of being, and there’s a vulnerability to the situation she’s in. The opposite then can be found in the other images: without any character, focus, or emotional messaging, you’re urged to allow the shapeless, indistinct beams of light to flow past you, for the spectator is placed in a vehicle – a liminal space. Interestingly, the final images are not of a person, or of the urban environment previously displayed... trees and nature are what the filmmaker chooses to conclude with. An audience may see this as symbolising hope or being indicative of a release from some form of darkness. To be candid, it’s incredibly challenging to write concisely regarding what a film like Clarum Somnium is ‘about’, but what does help any viewer along the way is the music included: it’s a great way to gage the mood of a surrealist piece if all else fails, and thankfully this film provides a pleasantly mystical ambiance to what we’re seeing. The instrumental soundscape is incredibly immersive and is of a high professional quality, allowing the spectator to merge what they’re seeing with what they’re hearing to form something ever more abstract. One could argue that this works particularly well when the shots are at their most unusual – images depicting the streets upside down, throwing the world of the short into chaos, forcing us to simply admire the shapes and respond to the meditative score. Director Alexandre David Lejuez is using film as a canvas on which to experiment and express that which is impossible to capture through linear storytelling. For an audience, it’s a puzzle they’ve been given: one can attempt to solve the enigma or, alternatively, engage with the piece via a purely subconscious plane of thought... but some may not wish to do either. The short is inventive and thoughtful, but ideally should pack a bigger punch, daring to be more provocative and less repetitive. But overall, Clarum Somnium displays enough originality and artistry to leave you wondering what else the filmmaker has up their sleeve. About the Film Critic James Learoyd Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Riddle of Fire Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Matt Weiner | Posted on: Mar 21, 2024 Directed by: Weston Razooli Written by: Weston Razooli Starring: Phoebe Ferro, Charlie stover, Skyler Peters, Lio Tipton An inseparable band of foul-mouthed children drawn into a fairytale-like quest might sound very of the moment, but Riddle of Fire shows how much richness there is to explore in the hands of a unique voice that doesn’t settle for pastiche. It’s hard to pin down any single genre that gets loving attention from writer-director Weston Razooli, but imagine the Goonies adventuring through the world of Mandy … and it only gets dreamier from there. Children Alice (Phoebe Ferro), Hazel (Charlie Stover) and Jodie (Skyler Peters) liven up their summer vacation by stealing a video game console, only to be thwarted by a lock on the family television. In exchange for game time, the kids must bake a blueberry pie to cheer up Hazel and Jodie’s sick mother (Danielle Hoetmer). When a key ingredient gets snatched up by John Redrye (Charles Halford), the trio—who call themselves the Immortal Reptiles—follow him back to his house, where he lives with the cult-like Enchanted Blade. When they accidentally stow away in the cult’s truck on a trip into the woods to hunt a prized stag, the group hardly notices that their afternoon has gone from whimsical fetch quest to life-or-death survival. As the kids play a game of cat and mouse with the cultists, Razooli heightens the fairytale elements. The cult leader, a witch named Anna-Freya (played with beguiling menace by Crazy, Stupid, Love .’s Lio Tipton ), figures out they are not alone. It is only with the help of her daughter Petal (Lorelei Mote), a princess with powers of her own, that the children manage to outsmart the gang and escape back into town—but not away from danger. Razooli’s mix of humor and danger ratchets up the suspense for any adult watching the movie even as the young heroes remain defiantly unbothered. It’s a proper fairytale, and also a stylish throwback to an era of movies that delight in the mischief of featuring young kids getting into real trouble. But Riddle of Fire rises above other nostalgic retreads in the way it commits to the mystery and unease of the world Razooli creates for a remarkably assured feature debut. The film captures the spirit of adventure for weird kids in a grown-up world. And how sometimes it’s worth risking everything to play a cool video game. About the Film Critic Matt Weiner Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Who Done It: The Clue Documentary Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Sep 26, 2022 Directed by: Jeff C. Smith Written by: Jeff C. Smith Starring: Jeff Smith, Jonathan Lynn, Colleen Camp, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren So, in 1985 there was Clue , a farcical comedy film based on the popular detective board game of the same name (or Cluedo as it is originally called here in the UK) – except that it wasn't really all that popular. Sure, everybody probably had a copy of the game in the bottom of their sideboard somewhere, but it was never anybody's first choice to play and was always an also ran to Monopoly, Mouse Trap, Battleships or Operation. Play was always slow and muted, people were never really sure of all the rules, there was always one cheater who took sly looks at the cards and someone always guessed far too early how the murder happened, getting it wrong but ending the game in the only way it could be done in any sensible length of time. So obviously they made a film of it. Clue , the film, tried to riff off the vibe of the game with its campy, Agatha Christie murder mystery shenanigans and a bunch of strangers with strange names meeting in an old mansion where someone gets bumped off and they try to find out whodunnit. Throw in a bunch of slapstick comedy, manic dialogue, over-zealous performances and an inordinate amount of running from one room to another and apparently you have the basis of a cult classic – depending on who you ask. Jeff Smith is one such person who views the film with dewy-eyed nostalgia and he tells the story of how he was one day sick with Covid and bored with nothing to do, so he decided to create a fan-made documentary about his favourite movie and now, five years later, we have Who Done It: The Clue Documentary . Jeff tells the story from his car for some reason, violating multiple traffic laws as he does so, and he fills in the gaps between his interview segments with his own personal take on how the film – his film took shape. He narrates the story of Clue as he narrates his own story, too and we begin to see how personal this journey has become for him over the five years he has put into it. Jeff does a good job of pulling together most of the surviving cast to talk to, as well as writer/director Jonathan Lynn, and there are plenty of nice anecdotes about pre-production and filming to keep even the most ardent fan amused. Unfortunately the interviews are a fairly amateur affair with not much attention given to lighting or sound and everything has a sort of home-movie feel to its quality. Half of the whole documentary is given over to cast profiling and it's about an hour before we get into looking at Clue proper. Even then the questioning seems fairly surface level and no real secrets are revealed, bringing into question the validity and need for such an investigation. What becomes clear as Who Done It: The Clue Documentary progresses is just how much of this piece has been Jeff's own journey – and when at one point he asks himself who this film is really for – it's easy to see what the answer actually is. Still, there are plenty of other people out there who love Clue just as much as Jeff does and they will most likely be delighted at this retrospective look, as well as getting to revisit with their favourite cast members, even if it is only in the form of convention footage in the case of Tim Curry. For a fan-made documentary, Jeff Smith has done very well to bring so many of the notable people together to revisit this cult classic. However, in the days of The Movies That Made Us and Voir, high production retrospectives with access all areas are becoming increasingly easy to get your hands on, and in that sea of one-hour TV docs this low budget production just doesn't cut the mustard. About the Film Critic William Hemingway Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

★★★★ Directed by: #ChristopherDeakin Starring: #GemmaWhiteley, #AdamMercuryBrown, #JoyceBranagh, #AshleyGregory, #EleanorJessicaRoberts Short Film Review by: Alexandra James A Happy Ending is a spoof reality television show that pokes fun at some of the court room dramas we see today. The show focuses on a young married couple and displays their inner conflicts with one another. For wife Lizzie, she is prepared to divorce her husband for not ever being able to satisfy her in all areas…but specifically in the bedroom! This dark comedy is a combination of Judge Judy, Love Island dramas and absurdity all wrapped up in a show called ‘Out of Order.’  For main character Lizzie, regrettably, this was unforgiveable, and she was ready to take her life into her own hands, her husband’s money and then leave him! However, as the drama progresses, certain secrets come to light and the audience discover that Lizzie is not as squeaky clean as she presents herself to be. As like many of these shows, the audience feed off this scandal and the juicier the scandals become, the better! The short film begins in a court room, its all lights, camera action as the jury take their seats and listen to Ms Who’s tales of woes and the lack of satisfaction she has had to endure for a good few years. Their marriage is in turmoil and there’s no coming back from this, especially when we find out husband David Ducksoup has been going to certain places alone to get his kicks elsewhere…For our Judge this appeared to be a clear-cut case, however, certain witnesses began to shed light on the couple’s marriage which left the judge having to make some tough decisions. A Happy Ending is a witty and outrageous film that keeps you hooked until the very end. It was great to see some of those ‘behind the scenes’ moments where the director instructs some of the reality stars to add more tears at this point or show your angry side when you say this line. Many people believe each scene is authentic and completely unfabricated. However, nothing we see on TV is ever how it truly is, which made for a hilarious premise and managed to break down that wall between fact and fiction and showed us exactly what was behind the curtain. The characters themselves were very funny and combined with the comical storyline and dialogue, it makes for an entertaining show that I would certainly be investing in if it came into fruition!

★★★ Starring: #DevonGrevious, #NateReynolds, #TylerMcCray Directed by: #NateReynolds Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Shear Disturbance focuses on the theme of anxiety and how much it can affect day to day activities such as the simple act of getting a haircut. For protagonist Tyronne, this typical action becomes far more than that and is such a trigger that he becomes completely consumed by even the thought of it. This can be a very real experience for many people that suffer with anxiety, it can become debilitating and stop you from going about your daily life. Director Nate Reynolds portrays these struggles and highlights the importance of patience and understanding when interacting with a person struggling to keep their anxiety under control. The narrative itself is very simple and I think although this is a short film, it would have been great to truly expose the pain within the anxiety. It would have helped the storyline further to pull back the covers of Tyronne’s mind and provide the audience a sense of what it feels like to have this fear. The physical signs were apparent with the trembling and shyness when speaking to the barbers. However, a cutaway of Tyronne’s mental state would convey the severity and seriousness of his condition. It was interesting to see the negativity towards Tyronne as well, the barber seemed to have little to no patience and believed that Tyronne was wasting his time and essentially fooling around. Nate was able to suggest that we need to be more perceptive and recognise the signs of anxiety to help that person and bring them into a calmer and more relaxed environment to support and keep their anxiety under control. Unfortunately, for Tyronne, the experience became all too much, and he was unable to control his emotions and left the shop disappointed in himself. However, another barber came out after him and reassures him that he is not alone. In fact, he has also experienced these feelings and encourages Tyronne to speak with someone to overcome his struggles. Shear Disturbance has a message within, and director Nate Reynolds uses this short film to tear down the stigma and shame of living with anxiety and instead, Reynolds concentrates on the importance of speaking about this subject and sharing these struggles as this will ultimately educate others to understand more about the experience as well as learn how to help and manage them.

★★★★★ Starring: #IsidoraFairhurst, #MiaMckennaBruge, #RitaBernardShaw, #DaniDyer, #MalachiPullarLatchman Directed by: #TeddyNygh Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Watch What I Do is an all-female cast and short drama. It focuses on 3 teenage girls in secondary school attempting to navigate their way through friendship, social status, and their love for basketball. Being a teenager today can be a difficult transition, emotions and arguments become heightened and at this point in life. Conflicts at this age are all consuming and it becomes difficult to break away and see the light, as well as ignore the negativity. This becomes the case for protagonist Layla, as she struggles to become friends with the new girl joining the group. Layla often feels excluded and is unable to connect with Nikki, who chooses to disregard or shame Layla as a form of one-upmanship making her appear to be the ‘popular’ friend out of the group. Layla must find a way to channel her anger and focus on what is most important to her, true friendship, and her passion for sport. Layla’s skills in basketball become clear when she walks past a court and jumps at the chance to make a shot, she is encouraged by the other players to join and be a part of the team. However, through fear of ridicule she shy’s away from this opportunity and ignores their praise. Instead, she is left feeling embarrassed and even more of an outcast by showing an interest in the sport. It became evident that Layla has some form of anger issues which she needs to work on. Layla often represses these thoughts of violence and aggression; the viewer is given snippets of Layla’s frustrated mind with use of cutaway shots. Her anger becomes fuelled when faced with conflict, and unfortunately for Layla she becomes tested to her limit as Nikki starts to put a wedge between her and her friendship with Kezia. Layla has managed to control this anger for a long period of time, however, like a bubbling pot, it does not take long for this anger to spill. The characters are extremely relatable, especially to teenagers growing up and learning to adapt and change throughout their school years and rise above the hate. Director Teddy Nygh breaks down some of the barriers that stop kids from being their true selves. Nygh highlights that for Layla, basketball gives her the chance to channel her energy, focus and discover some new friends who follow a similar passion. This was a great story, and the characters were able to really convey that emotion of betrayal, fear, hurt but also happiness and the importance of friendship. It was an enjoyable watch and the interactions between each character were engaging throughout, you really feel for Layla’s character and want her to overcome her fears and see the true bond between her and Kezia.