Helicopter

Overblown, overhyped and self serving student film. Why can't people see past this vanity production? The acting is bad bad bad. The animation and miniatures are "neato" for a few minutes, but come on. Ari Gold, what's next?

It's amazing that a short like this one got so my hype. It was poorly acted, bad direction, and the " toy cars pulled on strings" was embarassing. I'd like to see this kind of movie make it in the REAL world of cinema. Are the film festivals that out of touch? It's too bad that "gimicky" films can still generate press, from even the film industry.

This movie scares some people because they think it's a gimmick to make a film about death? Every other movie out there is a gimmick, this one is a shot to the heart. Director Gold does something I've never seen before in a movie, a real step inside the head of a mourning person in shock. Never mind that it's based on a true story, with animation and live action mixed, it's just great cinema.

Ari, Nina and Ethan have lost their mother when a helicopter carrying her and her famous music promoter boyfriend crashes. While his two siblings live in California where their mother lived, Ari lives in New York. The movie opens with a series of phone messages between Ari and his mother showing that although they try they just never seem to connect.

The film is a mix of live action and animation with the cheesy animation in some way pointing out the unreality of it all. I thought that this was an effective device for showing how Ari and his siblings must be viewing the hoopla surrounding a memorial concert for their mother's dead boyfriend. Yes, the public is in mourning but NOT for the woman that these three are.

As someone who has lost both parents, I found the film touching and evocative and could easily see where the film-maker was going with this. I somewhat suspect that those who have criticized this film have never felt the way that Ari and his siblings are feeling.

This was a clever piece. The combinations of live action, animation, and models were original and amusing. This short piece is an excellent introduction to a young director with much creative potential. I look forward to seeing more work from this director.