Helicopter

I feel bad for Ari Gold- he lost his Mother in a helicopter accident. But why make a film that relies on that as the only emotional piece. This is not a bad film, its just not a great film and the fact that it relies on the gimmick of the helicopter and its autobiographical association, make it difficult for me to see Ari Gold getting much work from this film.

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.

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.

I was fortunate enough to see this short film at the 2002 East Lansing Film Festival in Lansing, Michigan. I must admit that at first, the cheap animations and fake cars are a bit of a distraction. Right away you may find yourself writing off this movie before it even really begins. But as the movie progresses and the storyline unfolds you begin to realize that the focus of the movie is not it's budget or it's effects but rather it's rich emotion and colorful characters. Furthermore, the fact that the director is the real main character, seems to bring you into the screen and emotionally attach you for the duration of the short. I think the actors do a fine job of capturing the dark, yet humorous tones of the script and they breathe life into characters that are going through disbelief and terrible sadness. If anyone gets a chance to see this short, get out there and do so because hopefully we'll see more of Ari Gold's work in the future.

I started receiving the Sundance Channel and saw this beautiful, funny, heartbreaking little movie. What luck! Mr. Gold is a talent to watch.

I have ordered his movies on his website, to show to my family. We have had a loss in the family and this film speaks better than my words do.

Thank you.