// browntails
// spotlight on short film
// what did you watch?
// Each week, on a Sunday, I hand the reigns of movie criticism over to you. Tell me what you saw at the Cinema or on DVD/Blu-Ray that either made your pants moist or your temperature sky-rocket due to its brilliance or whackness. If you’ve seen a movie, I want to know about it.
Your review doesn’t need to be sprawling epic like many of my reviews. it can simply be the name of the movie and a rating out of 5. It really is that easy. For example, White Chicks – the greatest movie ever made, 5/5.
This month, the prize will be the opportunity to have your review featured on the site. Plus if it’s really good perhaps we can make it a regular gig. Who could say no to that?!
The bar has been set. I look forward to your responses.
Thanks for writing.
// spotlight on short film – ‘I Hate’
// A distorted self-portrait with some poignant stylistic elements.
It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to do this. In fact the last Spotlight feature was back in April of last year for a short film called English, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have once again been sent a short film to cast my lazy eyes over and actively encouraged to criticise at will. Thankfully that won’t necessary. This time, step forward Edoardo L’Astorina and his short film I Hate.
Being self conscious and having the ability to criticise your character is something that many people lack, myself being the biggest culprit of this. In I Hate, this notion is put under the spotlight. It’s clear from the start where this monologue is leading. We are introduced to an unnamed character who gives a passionate introductory monologue about who she hates. No reasons are given for why she hates them, but we simply cut away to stereotypical representations of these people/personalities. It is only towards the end that we see why the character hates them. If the viewer was unable to predict that there is a little bit of each personality in our narrator, then have a word.
The story may be simple and somewhat predictable, but it’s important to focus on the positive elements within. The style and the tone of the piece is the most engaging thing about it. It’s dark, and to a degree, sinister in its portrayals of women. The way in which our narrator is lit on one side connotes and further exacerbates the idea that she is hiding something from society and thus hates herself for it. The breakout characters are brash and do exactly what you would imagine them to do as they are introduced. I initially thought they took something away from the film, but as we approach the end of the tale it soon becomes apparent why the film maker chose to make them such bold caricatures of the people they were supposed to be.
The actress taking centre stage Clare Latham, puts in a strong performance and shows her diversity in a remarkably short space of time. Your emotions are pushed and pulled around like an aggressive 2-year-old in a jungle gym. You find some characters funny, others aggressive and some annoying and it’s glaringly obvious where the hatred stems from.
I Hate is short, sharp, direct and whilst not the most cheery piece of celluloid I have ever reviewed, I liked the fact that the film maker wasn’t afraid of pointing the finger. It suggests we take a good look at ourselves before we character assassinate others, because chances are you are more like them than you realise. Of course, that’s what I took away from it, I could have missed the point by a country mile!
You can it out below.
Thoughts/feelings/emoticons?
Thanks to Eddy for sending this to me. The offer to review up and coming film makers’ material is very much an open one. Just get in touch.
Once you’ve checked out the short film – Visit the Website
Thanks for reading.
// browntails 