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Kirpianuscus
Reviews
Twas the Text Before Christmas (2023)
decent to nice
The basic motif to see it was, in my case, Trevor Donovan. And, indeed, he does a nice job . Good parts, forced final, fair portrait of Nana and some strange situations. But, more important, a pretty inspired start point , not too inspired used but , in good measure, acceptable.
I like it because I have not high expectations. A wrong phone number, the Christmas in Vermont of a New Yorker young lady, her boyfriends as autumn leaves and his father living between Australia of son and USA of daughter, family and a venerable couple at new chance of happiness and a burned turkey, a dog and a charming grandmother.
For a nice evening, good option.
Dead Presidents (2023)
a kind of hold up
Two brothers. An improvised hold up. One of siblings fascinated by Point Break and far to be too clever. The other- lost in the veils of events. And a victim, killed in most stupid way , twice.
A dark comedy about thirst of adventure of two young men for who the keep of the urn with their dad ashes is the kick to demonstrate their manhood, with ridiculous consequences.
Some cliches, some reference to classics and decent performances. Exploration of small world , not very ambitious, naif at whole, seductive for the innocence and for easy superiority of viewer. And, sure, for bitter - ironic final .
The Valley of the Swan (2024)
paper boats
A short film between Ceaikovski touch , curiosity and games of childhood.
A post apocaliptic world. Paper boats as solution for navigation. Two influencers prepaired to demonstrate the fake of urban legend. With not the pleasant consequence.
The gatekeeper is confronted with determination of young man about the confrontation with danger. Poetic, a sort of Gulliver , thrilling and profound inspired story about risks , survive and solution to be remarked.
The scene of Swan drinking the passagers of paper boat reminds the old fashion horrors of 1950 decade in beautiful manner - not ignoring the blood drops on ground-.
In short, pure interesting.
The Time Machine (2024)
hommage
More an hommage to book than a real adaptation, it reflects one of episodes of novel in fair, honest manner, the good point being represented by the memory about white petals in context with confrontation against Morlocks .
The connection wit Weena, this is the heart of this not bad short film, must see for admirers of book . Because it reflects emotions, fears, regrets of a man who can not save the other, who experienced terrible moments and who remains, in good measure, captiv between worlds.
Well acted, smart crafted story and inspired final. A film about choices, vulnerability, high price of experiments and only proof about a fantastic experience.
Remember Us (2024)
history at ground level
A civil war. 12 years of executions, fights , tensions. The stories of few survivers documented by a journalist who believes in need to preserve the traces of recent past at personal level.
The story of a young woman , witness to the brutal death of his mother, in prison for years, leader of resistence group, founder of a school for native language in El Salvador.
A father and the painful memory of his late daughter.
A woman and her traumatic memories from childhood.
A perspective, profound useful one, at ground level, of recent history. Its virtue - being portrait of Salvadoran Civil War, it is universal. Again, precious virtues of animation .
Country People (2016)
a teacher
A writer , after the death of his boyfriend, accepts to be literature teacher in a small comunity .
But his students are not ordinary ones, a myster covering their dialogues, clothes and relations and the literature studied by them is homosexual literature .
Small clues, some questions , old photographies and the discover of truth , not easy to be accepted but precious spice for economy of story.
Being myselff teacher, I was just touched by this second chance for a man discovering, as precious privilege, a lost world and the clash with his one. Correct acted, nice game of suppositions and the tenderness of revelation. A beautiful short film for its poetic message, first.
To Live and Dine in L.A. (2009)
the providential man
A young man and his intense phone conversation . A German group, full of energy and passion. A couple in which she is far by the interests of her husband.
And the entry in restaurant of a film star who, for each table , has the fair solution .
A nice film who, for a first sight , can be a sort of advertisement for David Hesselhoff . In essence, wise perspective about status of cinema actor who offers more than the frame proposed by his roles but the human implication in help of others, fascinated by fame , characters and memories from a rich career.
In same measure, the dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant , reflects social status and this criteria is one of basic ingredients of charm of story.
In short, just smart crafted short film.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
charming
For cast, special effects, childhood flavors , tastes , fair resurected, charming is the proper term to define this film. The story has the virtue to remind simple, essential themes, from the trust in yourself to the force of believes, useful child near adults and a magic shop . And, sure, magnificent Dustin Hoffman.
A film like large opened window in early spring morning. And , after its end, easy to be grateful to director for a splendid adventure, some moral lessons and nice performances.
Not great, obvious. But in few moments, occasions, situations - like after a real tough day, profound useful. So, charming is the word about it.
The Death of Kafka (2022)
nice
I am one of Franz Kafka modest admirers. So, the title works pretty tricky in my case but the story itself has as start point exactly a confusion.
A guy in an appartment looking for feed his cat. A scarf on closet door . A lady. Their dialogue destroying the previews suppositions. And the bad news about poor cat.
You discover the history of their relation, the status of woman between witch to beech and the affection of man for cat and for her, her passion for strange ingredients and the webb of mutual reproches.
In final, a sort of reconciliation after a cat and mouse conversation. The memory of late cat as basic ingredient of this peace.
So, nice . But who calls his cat...Kafka ?
Gladiator II (2024)
impressive images
Unfortunatelly, I was not a fan of the first part. For not fair historical unaccuracy , for manicheic perspective, for the impressive image against coherent or less coherent story. Its virtue was, and remains , the cast.
The motif for see this second Gladiator was Paul Mescal who i real appreciate. Maybe, some curiosity about presence of denzel Washington.
The impression - the same after Ridley Scot Napoleon - the image is only significant for him. Not the story, not few crumbs of realism. Only the show.
The film was far to be a dessapointment for me. Only portrait of exageration for impress large public. Sure, a fictional Rome . And, for many reasons, it is just enough.
Everything Is Free (2017)
a relation
It is a film with very simple purpose - to remind a sort of sufferance to familiar for not ignore it in happy times - the sufferance from love. . And ideed, this is the main virtue of a mix of friendship, love, sex , presumed affair and a confrontation with touch of sentimental blackmail.
I saw it as decent, in few moments exagerated, looking for create complicated connections between characters and a sort of visual trap for large audience. A painter. The visit of his best friend with his younger brother. The intense feelings of artist for young guest. The discover of relation by sibling and violent reaction - protection, jealousy , fury in pure state...
The only sin is the desire to show what can real be presented. And the conversations between friends , boring in some measure, like many talks between young people. But the try is far to be bad and the only reproche can be about the not so credible final.
But, sure, as many other films from same area, Everything is Free reflects the homosexual sensitivity first and offers a story with precise, in some measure exclusivistic, audience. Nothing wrong in essence .
A Robot's Dream (2023)
poetic
Two robots on an empty Earth after apocalypse , looking for humans. Images of death of a world, tries to learn and few touching scenes - the deer in town or the dressmaker manequins as beautiful ones - .
A film inspiring nostalgia in skin of melancholia , proposing a kind of romance and the not happy effects of discover of humans.
More important, a short animation to remind easy , too easy ignored truths.
So, precious for atmosphere and for small details of story, good kick to reflection and the interesting perspective on reality near us and, not last, inspired remind of fragility of our world.
Through Fire She Calls (2017)
a gift
I loved cinematography and the performance of Anthony Nikolchev, like the not bad equilibrum between history and Sci Fi , touching scenes , fair crafted tension.
And each of them, like the music, are obvious good points. In short, a beautiful film about a British soldier in WWW I, his effort to survive, a terrible nightmare and a stranger giving to him a precious gift.
For me it is enough , the main motif being the seductive portrait of conjugal love and the fear to lose the beloved one.
In essence, a charming poem about war, love and the gratitude of others , represented , in last instance , a crystal pyramid.
Not the story but the emotion of final is the virtue of Through Fire She Calls.
Canary (2023)
warning
A warning. This is the signification of this short film about politic, a religious theory and an employed of a garage who is accused by crimes before his birth.
A journalist obtaines a name and some informations. Her source dies in a car accident. The US authories uses for incrimination of an ordinary guy ADN research and the premise of metempshychosis. The reaction of his lawyer, like the words of speaker of Justice Department , are the fair wake up for viewer.
Because significant remains the way to controll society by politic , reflected by version of Minority Report.
In short, a profound useful short film.
Side Quest (2024)
the medallion
A former noble. Inight, the encounter with owner of a sketch . And, in isolated cave, the fight for precious object.
Two virtues of this too very short film - the mouse , wise , charming and cheap but efficient solution and the fight for medallion , the cinematography representing, in fact, the main arm of noble in this case.
Not last, the air of old fairy tales , well used, fair crafted dramatic effect and seductive final, including for the humor note.
A film without high ambitions but interesting for the warning of drawing of medallion , universal valuable. And this makes pleasant and profound nice this Side Quest.
Hope (2024)
in a church
Two men in a church. One is homosexual. The other - only reserved .
Stories of life - especially early years - , the memories about mother, the invitation to see them again, same place, same hour from the first.
And the absence of courage of the first who , front to church, hesites to enter and leave.
The second encounter proposes the answers about motives of this attitude, from the pressure of family about his bisexuality to the attraction for the other.
A story about relation with your sexual orientation, about loneliness and the premises of new friendship. But, more important, a beautiful religious film, reflecting the terms of personal relation with God and the faith as fruit of crisis.
One good point, significant one, the performances.
Parallels (2022)
daughters. their mothers
The first temptation was to define it as amazing short film.
A film about dreams, family, two young women and their future so different , in light of similar event, having same root , changing, in different manner, their life.
A film about angry of daughter against her mother, about fury of mother , very young at that moment, against reduced perspective of her mother, about death of mothers and the fly , so different of each daughter.
It reminds many Soviet films from 1980 decade and this is one of her virtues.
It proposes a clear, touching, precise message and this represents more than good point. Its realism is, in same measure, a great good fact . In short, for so many motives, just profound useful.
In the Moonlight (2023)
the portrait
An artist. The effort to find the fair solution for finish the face traits of portrait who he paints. But the memories, the neighbor, the life alone in old house, the fears and visions and desire to put the final touch on painting are obstacles and sources of alteration of his mental health.
Beautiful translation of feelings of painter by James Sobol Kelly. Inspired option for music and precious care for details inside house.
But, more important, the offer of a state more than a real story, in precise manner, suggesting and proposing to viewer kiks to discover in less supperficial manner the loneliness, relation whith other, aging and the purpose modelling the painter.
Silencio (2024)
touching the death
A peasant and his wife corpse. After her death, for him the refuge far by world becomes only normal gesture as refuge under heavy grief, as prepair of his own rest.
And , from the spirit of his late spouse , cutting his palm in mysterious ritual to the version of imitatio Christi , all becomes in his body, with his blood, real and profound symbolic.
A short film about Middle Age perspective about death of beloved other , plague and order of life . Delicate - precise crafted, proposing fairy tale atmosphere and served by beautiful acting .
In essence , a question and remind about the manner to react about things out of us, resignation front inevitable and obtain the peace.
Paradise Highway (2022)
decent
I saw it for Juliette Binoche. And, no doubts, it was a real good motif, her performance being more than well crafted. The sensitive theme of human trafick , in this case, more serious, young girls, the fair tension and crumbs of truckers life are the good points of film, near the beautiful performance of young actress .
Morgan Freean seems too venerable or too tired. But, indeed, his work is more than decent and the film, against some unrealistic scenes and couple fake situations is far to be a bad one.
In short, one of films interesting especially for cast. And for a story reminding one of the sides of evil or power of solidarity, refuge in past and cowardess and an old cop and his precious values. And it is just enough.
Dinner is served (2024)
modest
A young man . His addiction for social media as premise for a car accident. But the beautiful blonde is alive and her invitation to a party sounds great in night.
The behavior of her friends, like a gesture of savage tenderness are nice clues for the direction of story.
This predactibility, confirmed by end, has only two sins - the talk about dog meat and the fight moments of ladies.
But , sure, a modest, not so boring short horror about drivers seduced by blonde girl, paying very much for his egocentrism , not cleverness and the open of fridge.
Beautiful - maybe the first scenes and the last ones. And the drops of clichees.
Prescribed Memories (2022)
a chance
A young man front to TV, seeing the record of happy moments with his late wife. His father helps him with pills reliving his memories. But the abuse transforms him in radical bad manner.
A simple story, powerful for each viewer who losted the beloved one. And image of second chance to be with her or him. This is the essential virtue of this short film - to suggest a version of beating of death , to return to happy moments and change a bitter reality.
But the price is far to be a reasonable one and this is the key detail .
In short, touching, inspired crafted, interesting at whole . Including the fair final and its precise moral.
The Clog (2022)
the battle
A plumber with 15 years experience in his job.
A young family affected by a clog in sink drain. The efficienty of plumber is out of doubts - the self confidence is the proof. But, after a first step easy and short, the work becomes more complicated than he or his customers expect.
An epopeic fight beginnes between plumber and clog and the last seems have all chances to win.
Well crafted short film about a plumber becoming a sort of exorcist, his huge effort about a liquid enemy with some powers, wisdom and terrible perseverance.
The final is more than inspired , like the reaction of young couple.
Alfie in Love (2020)
the games of Talia
A Bed and Breakfast owner.
Her guests - Alfie, a teenager , son of her friend and a young man, Leopold. The veil of masculine rivalry foer conquer Talia . And her provocative games - a knife. Walked by Leopold up on body of Alfie, a slice with jam and ...blood after accident , a pearl in pool and the kisses .
Sexual tension young, beautiful actors, admirable the performance of young Matt Gomez Hidaka. And, sure, the atmosphere in which summer, the reserves of shy boy, the games with him of Talia and Leopold, using his innocence and naivety are well used for a pure provocative short film. The end, more than nice.
Alexandra (2024)
a day at beach
A young couple on isolated beach. Her determination . His care free attitude about significant things for her. An accident , his try to obtain help, empty small town and only an open bar , the bartender being far to be helpfull.
The return.
The enigmatic final offered by morning.
The atmosphere is the main virtue of this film working as a sort of sketch. A very simple story, reduced at few traits and serious fist of questions.
And the last scenes as parts of a sort of circle , defining the loneliness of Daniel and presumed answer about his attitude of Alexandra after accident.
Some familiar references and a real interesting short film.