The 5th Short Film Hall of Fame [Archive]

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jiraffejustin

05-21-22, 06:34 PM

I wasn't going to do it, but it doesn't look like anybody else was going to do it either. So, here we go.

The usual rules of the hall of fame apply, the only difference is that we are focusing on shorts instead of features. Anything less than 45 minutes is eligible except for previous winners.

Previous winners:

La Jetee (1962)
Harvie Krumpet (2003)
Tale of Tales (1979)
A Dog's Life (1918)
Duck Amuck (1953)
The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946)

Six people (Myself and five others) is the minimum number of participants. I won't put a cap on a maximum amount, mostly because I don't think we'll have to worry about that.

I'll bring forward more details about deadlines and all of that once we actually get people committed.

Expect the presentation to be pretty barebones compared to the usual hof presentation by all of those overachievers.

Send me your nomination.

ueno_station54:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303246#post2303246)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309795#post2309795)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309827#post2309827)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302948#post2302948)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303752#post2303752)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304162#post2304162)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2310342#post2310342)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303615#post2303615)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303597#post2303597)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307374#post2307374)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303133#post2303133)

Thief:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315237#post2315237)
Night and Fog
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2310576#post2310576)
Hedgehog in the Fog
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306327#post2306327)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309978#post2309978)
Nu
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315153#post2315153)
Shell All
Seven
Goodbye Mommy

Torgo:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305764#post2305764)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2308063#post2308063)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309472#post2309472)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304809#post2304809)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302961#post2302961)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303918#post2303918)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304496#post2304496)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306558#post2306558)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303613#post2303613)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307173#post2307173)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303287#post2303287)

Captain Terror:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302567#post2302567)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2313419#post2313419)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2313407#post2313407)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306224#post2306224)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306863#post2306863)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307933#post2307933)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2314353#post2314353)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306339#post2306339)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309751#post2309751)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2310858#post2310858)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2310347#post2310347)

MovieGal:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302902#post2302902)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303461#post2303461)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303964#post2303964)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303473#post2303473)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303483#post2303483)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303948#post2303948)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2312233#post2312233)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303954#post2303954)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303951#post2303951)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2312226#post2312226)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303479#post2303479)

PHOENIX74:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303518#post2303518)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304226#post2304226)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303528#post2303528)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303674#post2303674)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303684#post2303684)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309640#post2309640)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303832#post2303832)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303852#post2303852)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304040#post2304040)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304033#post2304033)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304220#post2304220)

jiraffejustin:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2308762#post2308762)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315145#post2315145)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305690#post2305690)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315243#post2315243)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315253#post2315253)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315287#post2315287)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315289#post2315289)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315294#post2315294)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315298#post2315298)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2315303#post2315303)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307307#post2307307)

Takoma11:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302544#post2302544)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302558#post2302558)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302537#post2302537)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302547#post2302547)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302772#post2302772)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303377#post2303377)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302920#post2302920)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302939#post2302939)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302949#post2302949)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304112#post2304112)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302971#post2302971)

SpelingError:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303209#post2303209)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306255#post2306255)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2302577#post2302577)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305299#post2305299)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305857#post2305857)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304907#post2304907)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307338#post2307338)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304186#post2304186)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2308258#post2308258)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2307776#post2307776)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303485#post2303485)

Citizen Rules:
Brats
(https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304290#post2304290)Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306667#post2306667)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305787#post2305787)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304295#post2304295)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304658#post2304658)
The Heart of the World (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304646#post2304646)
Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2309881#post2309881)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305635#post2305635)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2305633#post2305633)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2308098#post2308098)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2306147#post2306147)

Allaby:
Brats (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303648#post2303648)
Night and Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304667#post2304667)
The House Is Black (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304530#post2304530)
Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303931#post2303931)
Malice in Wonderland (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303936#post2303936)
The Heart of the World
(https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303939#post2303939)Nu (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304550#post2304550)
A Gun for George (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304600#post2304600)
Shell All (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2303943#post2303943)
Seven (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304655#post2304655)
Goodbye Mommy (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2304605#post2304605)

Spots are still open through Sunday 5/29.

Nominees:

Brats (1930; James Parrott) nominated by Allaby
https://c8.alamy.com/zooms/9/380ac2c42cd846e6ac1987a557b68e4f/djc8ra.jpg

Night and Fog (1956; Alain Resnais) nominated by Citizen Rules
https://www.tidf.org.tw/sites/www.tidf.org.tw/files/imagecache/ye_yu_wu__0.jpg

The House Is Black (1963; Forugh Farrokhzad) nominated by SpelingError
https://worldscinema.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-House-is-Black-19631.png

Hedgehog in the Fog (1975; Yuri Norstein) nominated by Takoma11
https://hannianjia.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/p1331542902.jpg

Malice in Wonderland (1982; Vince Collins) nominated by jiraffejustin
https://cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/d983aac108bf88a4150803c3b3c8e7ca-750x537.jpg

The Heart of the World (2000; Guy Maddin) nominated by PHOENIX74
https://directorslounge.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/guy-maddin.jpg

Nu (2003; Simon Staho) nominated by MovieGal
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5b/86/b6/5b86b6caac1ffa79abfd2d0cea520e14.jpg

A Gun for George (2011; Matthew Holness) nominated by Captain Terror
https://httpschannel4-a.akamaihd.net/1408993876/1408993876_2180722327001_900944612-148-1361468283903.jpg?pubId=1408993876&videoId=1982751108001

Shell All (2015; Zaven Najjar) nominated by Torgo
https://carbonmade-media.accelerator.net/28660373;640x348.png?auto=webp

Seven (2018; James Morgan) nominated by Thief
https://artpil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Aesthetica-Short-Film-Festival-2018-Seven3.jpg

Goodbye Mommy (2019; Jack Wedge) nominated by ueno_station54
https://www.lecinemaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/gm1.jpg

Allaby

05-21-22, 06:56 PM

Sounds fun. I'm in.

Takoma11

05-21-22, 07:14 PM

Sounds fun! I'm in.

MovieGal

05-21-22, 07:54 PM

I may be in if that's ok.

ueno_station54

05-21-22, 08:20 PM

not me thinking about how annoying i want to be lmao.

Captain Terror

05-21-22, 08:35 PM

This sounds like the kind of low-effort project I can commit to. Isn't there a thread somewhere that explains the rules? I can't find it.

SpelingError

05-21-22, 08:45 PM

This sounds like the kind of low-effort project I can commit to. Isn't there a thread somewhere that explains the rules? I can't find it.

Read the first post:

https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=64747

SpelingError

05-21-22, 08:46 PM

Also, I might join.

Takoma11

05-21-22, 08:50 PM

This sounds like the kind of low-effort project I can commit to. Isn't there a thread somewhere that explains the rules? I can't find it.

Just nominate anything shorter than 45 minutes that isn't one of the films listed in the first post. Easy peasy.

Citizen Rules

05-21-22, 09:00 PM

Glad to see this happening and yeah first timers should join, as short films are, well....short so easy to participate!

I'll have to think about if I can come up with a good short film, I don't know any of the top of my head, I know some musty old ones🙂

Captain Terror

05-21-22, 09:06 PM

Read the first post:

https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=64747
Thanks buddy

Torgo

05-22-22, 12:45 AM

I'm in! I'll send you my pick ASAP.

CosmicRunaway

05-22-22, 06:33 AM

If not a lot of people join, are you planning on having double nominations like last time?

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 09:38 AM

If not a lot of people join, are you planning on having double nominations like last time?

I'm leaning towards no, but I'm open minded if anybody feels strongly about it.

Captain Terror

05-22-22, 12:16 PM

I'm leaning towards no, but I'm open minded if anybody feels strongly about it.
I've chosen this to be my first HOF precisely because it's so easily accomplished. Any changes that make it more of a challenge are likely to discourage me from joining.
(So now's your chance to get rid of me before it's too late!) :)
But yeah, I'll concede to the majority of course but that's my two cents.

Allaby

05-22-22, 01:01 PM

I'm leaning towards no, but I'm open minded if anybody feels strongly about it.

I’m content with just one nomination per person.

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 01:17 PM

Btw, when I get the next person’s nomination, I’ll reveal the six that we have so far and leave the door open for new folks to join until the end of next Sunday. I’ll also try to decide on the best possible deadline for something like this.

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 04:59 PM

I've chosen this to be my first HOF precisely because it's so easily accomplished. Any changes that make it more of a challenge are likely to discourage me from joining.
(So now's your chance to get rid of me before it's too late!) :)
But yeah, I'll concede to the majority of course but that's my two cents.

Trust me, this will be a very simple process. You just choose a film you want everybody else to watch, and you watch all of the films that get nominated. You rank them top to bottom, send me the list. When everybody votes, I tally 'em up. Whichever film gets the most points, that's the winner. These are all shorts, so I don't think the total runtime of all the films combined will even clock over three hours at the rate we are going.

So far:
Five nominations: 74 minutes combined runtime

Captain Terror

05-22-22, 06:01 PM

I'm definitely in, just trying to decide on a nomination

MovieGal

05-22-22, 07:16 PM

I’m content with just one nomination per person.

I agree. I know more short films but don't wanna watch a lot.

SpelingError

05-22-22, 07:25 PM

I decided to join after all.

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 08:08 PM

I updated the OP to include all of the nominations so far. I was going to include links on the front page, but held off since I don't know how to hyperlink videos from Vimeo without embedding them as it doesn't seem the Youtube trick works for Vimeo.

And I still encourage anybody who sees this who hasn't joined to go ahead and join. I'd be happy with a 10-12 member turnout.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:14 PM

Mine is on YouTube. Link below:

https://youtu.be/W6tAydFtyKQ

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 08:14 PM

Here are the links I've been sent so far:

Shell Out aka Un Obus Partout: https://vimeo.com/219502856

A Gun for George: https://vimeo.com/264829204

Malice in Wonderland:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2BAeh8wZLI&ab_channel=VinceCollins

And SpelingError has a link for The House Is Black as well

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:16 PM

Allaby

05-22-22, 08:21 PM

Brats is on youtube. Here is a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHl0Df4YMeM

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:24 PM

legal

This is where you lost me.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:24 PM

This is where you lost me.

National archive had your film.

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:24 PM

My nomination is also on the Russian site I've sent some of you in the past, though yeah, archive also works.

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:25 PM

National archive had your film.

Yeah, I know. I'm just being goofy.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:25 PM

My nomination is also on the Russian site I've sent some of you in the past, though yeah, archive also works.

I like watching on my TV. Sites like Archive.org and YouTube work best.

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:26 PM

Besides my nomination, I've only seen Hedgehog in the Fog, which is excellent. Don't mind revisiting it.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:26 PM

Yeah, I know. I'm just being goofy.

It's ok. You can be with me.

Allaby

05-22-22, 08:28 PM

A good diverse selection of nominations so far, spanning 6 different decades.

Allaby

05-22-22, 08:29 PM

Beside my nom, I have only seen The House is Black, which is excellent and I gave a perfect rating to the first time I saw it, so happy to revisit it.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:30 PM

Besides my nomination, I've only seen Hedgehog in the Fog, which is excellent. Don't mind revisiting it.

Well, mine has a favorite actor and one I admire as well. They were in a full length movie together and both were great.

Not sure if many newbies know I'm a huge Mikkelsen fan.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:31 PM

Beside my nom, I have only seen The House is Black, which is excellent and I gave a perfect rating to the first time I saw it, so happy to revisit it.

I love early cinema. Have you seen the 1910 Frankenstein?

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:38 PM

Well, mine has a favorite actor and one I admire as well. They were in a full length movie together and both were great.

Not sure if many newbies know I'm a huge Mikkelsen fan.

Haven't seen Mikkelsen in much, so I'm looking forward to it.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:40 PM

Haven't seen Mikkelsen in much, so I'm looking forward to it.

You should watch Valhalla Rising if you haven't. It truly shows his acting abilities.

SpelingError

05-22-22, 08:47 PM

You should watch Valhalla Rising if you haven't. It truly shows his acting abilities.

I'll keep an eye out for it.

Allaby

05-22-22, 08:51 PM

I love early cinema. Have you seen the 1910 Frankenstein?

Not yet, but it is included as a special feature on the Arrow blu ray of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which I recently picked up. I plan on checking it out soon.

MovieGal

05-22-22, 08:52 PM

Not yet, but it is included as a special feature on the Arrow blu ray of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which I recently picked up. I plan on checking it out soon.

It's on YouTube as well.

Takoma11

05-22-22, 09:30 PM

What a great range of films! I've only seen two of them. Since I just watched The House is Black a few months ago, I'm reposting my review of it:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GCI9CFv-K_U%2FWN0yJQ7FZRI%2FAAAAAAAALDc%2F_5bM00GuPlolTvv9Rl3ceJscsO8IxU70QCLcB%2Fs1600%2Fhb1.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

The House is Black, 1963

This short documentary film captures glimpses of the lives of men, women, and children living in a leper "colony" in Iran.

This is a very brief, but moving portrait of the lives of people living with a disfiguring, frightening disease. While there are a few isolated shots of the effects of leprosy, most of the images of the people are in action: children in a classroom, a woman nursing a baby, men smoking pipes or cigarettes against a wall. The drooping eyelids, missing noses, and mangled fingers are all normal in this setting.

Underneath it all, there is narration consisting of religious text and poetry from the woman who made the film. There is an undercurrent of irony as the chanting students thank God for giving them eyes . . . even as leprosy is robbing them of their vision.

The final shots, however, give a call to action. Leprosy is treatable. If the poor are treated well, the disease can be eradicated. It is a push for compassion, to replace fear with love and caring.

4.5

ueno_station54

05-22-22, 09:31 PM

just submitted my nomination. went with something fun instead of being a bitch lol.

Takoma11

05-22-22, 10:25 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.fineartamerica.com%2Fimages%2Fartworkimages%2Fmediumlarge%2F2%2Foliver-hardy-and-stan-laurel-in-brats-1930--album.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Brats, 1930

Two fathers (Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy) are looking after their sons (also Laurel and Hardy). The two men are trying to enjoy a quiet game of checkers, but their sons' antics keep interrupting their game with increasingly disastrous results.

I have a real love for practical effects, and I am especially a sucker for the use of oversized props (a la that one sequence in Eternal Sunshine). So a lot of this short was really playing to something that I totally enjoy: the "boys" playing with large blocks, or climbing the stairs, or romping around on the dresser. All of the sets were really well done, especially the oversized bathroom.

If I had things my way, the entire short would have centered on the boys. As it is, we get several stretches of hanging out with the "dads". And it's not bad stuff, but the stuff with the kids is so fun that I found myself a bit impatient whenever we left them.

This was a really fun little romp.

4

Citizen Rules

05-22-22, 10:33 PM

What the hell I just joined, what's one more HoF:) At least this one will be fast and easy...so far I'm liking the noms too.

Takoma11

05-22-22, 10:43 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nylesa.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F02%2Fhedgehog.png&f=1&nofb=1

Hedgehog in the Fog, 1975

A small hedgehog (Mariya Vinogradova) goes on a journey to visit his friend, and encounters many other creatures along the way.

This is my nomination and I have watched it countless times. I have also used it with my elementary students in a lesson about mood. I absolutely love this film.

For starters, I am totally taken by the visual style of it, which blends two-dimensional figures with "live" and real elements, like water and some sort of sea creature. The short leans heavily into the perspective of the hedgehog, and there are so many beautiful moments that capture his point of view, like when he thinks he sees an elephant only to follow a stick toward the object and find it to be a tree, which slowly rotates above him. I find this to be a really beautiful film, right down to the little details like the way that the hedgehog clasps his hands behind him in the early minutes.

There is a fun little sense of humor that runs through the short, such as the way that the hedgehog knows exactly what the bear will say when he arrives, right down to the "what do you call it . . ." or the way that the owl following him gets so easily distracted by the echo. The unexpected encounter with the dog, and the surprise ending to it, is also up there.

What I love most about this short is its mood. It fills me with a simultaneous sense of melancholy and hope and something else I can't quite name. I am very aware when I watch it that I feel a lot of feelings. Every encounter that the hedgehog has walks a line between fear or sadness and beauty. Obviously the horse is the key example of this, but I also like the seemingly-sinister "Someone" that carries him safely to shore as a favor. There is an atmosphere to this short that just goes right to my heart.

Totally enchanting, and one of my favorite films, period.

5

Takoma11

05-22-22, 10:44 PM

Also, the version that I watched tonight (the top result on YouTube) had pretty funky subtitles. I found one that has much better subtitles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf4GfWPnHxM&ab_channel=Shaunt503

Thief

05-22-22, 10:47 PM

This is definitely manageable for my busy schedule so I might join in. What's the deadline to jump in?

EDIT: 5/29! Great. I already have two shorts in mind, but I'll give it some thought.

jiraffejustin

05-22-22, 11:03 PM

Added ueno and Citizen's noms to the OP

Takoma11

05-22-22, 11:20 PM

Night and Fog is another recent watch for me (and I'm shocked it hasn't won any previous short HoFs!! And I imagine it would win this one!). Here's my review:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Fw780%2Fcnl95VtUon66J1PLRPpsgYgwHF7.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Night and Fog, 1956

This documentary, filmed ten years after the end of WW2, recounts the creation of the concentration camps and the suffering of those unfortunate enough to end up in them.

Despite the mostly sedate tone of the narrator, this film is like a howl against the cruelties that people can inflict on each other.

Watching this film, I felt the way that I often do when confronted with cruelty on this scale and scope---it is almost beyond comprehension, and it's like looking into a nightmarish abyss. My grandfather was present at the liberation of one of the concentration camps (I want to say Buchenwald), and my mother said that he was never the same after what he saw there.

There is almost nothing that I can say about this film. It is heartbreaking in the sense of the the entire scale of it but also down to little details, like footage of a man carrying a nude, emaciated corpse slung over his shoulder. The outraged question at the end of the film--"Who is responsible?" feels like an indictment that reaches far beyond the Nazi leadership.

5

MovieGal

05-22-22, 11:37 PM

Citizen Rules

Great nomination. I have seen several films about the Nazi concentration camps and this was the one that had the most impact on me.

I own the Criterion dvd of this as well as Shoah.

Captain Terror

05-23-22, 12:08 AM

BRATS

This is not one that I'd recommend to an L&H newcomer, just because it's a bit gimmicky and therefore an anomaly in the catalog. That said, it's still lots of fun. I actually prefer the moments when Stan & Ollie are their usual selves, so my favorite bit is probably the game of pool, and Stan's attempt at harmonizing on the lullaby. Ollie's ride down the stairway is one of their more memorable sight gags.
As for the kid stuff, the oversized props are impressive, especially considering they were constructed for a 20 minute two-reeler. The animated mouse was fun also.
As a massive fan, this is one that I often neglect so this excuse to revisit it was welcome.
(I almost went with an L&H nomination myself, in fact) :up:

SpelingError

05-23-22, 01:24 AM

Since I already have a review for this one, I figured I'd post it now.

The House is Black (1963) - 5

This short is one of my favorite films of all time. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did when I first saw it considering how poor the quality of the film is (some of the subtitles blend into the background, making them difficult to make out), but by the time I finished it, I was blown away by it.

The line "Leprosy is not incurable" is repeated twice throughout an opening sequence which states facts about leprosy, almost as if to make sure the meaning of that line isn't lost concerning the grisly images we see of the people with the disease. This monologue also indicates that the people we see suffering in the film could be cured of this disease. It's just that the government failed to take care of them as, instead of solving the problem, they herded them into the colony documented in the short, leaving them to further deteriorate. Instead of this scene coming off as preachy, this unspoken message is implied rather than directly stated, making for a powerful scene. Regardless of whether you pick up on this implication or not, it still manages to get under your skin.

Farrokhzad also does a great job at exploring the ironies of the daily lives of the people in the colony, specifically with religion. Multiple sequences indicate that religion is a major part of their cultures. In one scene, a group of kids thank God for giving them hands, eyes, and ears - features which many people in the colony don't have. In another powerful moment, a man holds his withered hands in the air and refers to them while reciting a prayer. This is followed by a sequence which cuts between a group of people practicing religion and several shots of people with deformed body parts, in turn creating tension through the editing. Watching this, you can't help but wonder why all these people thank God for giving them gifts which many of them don't have. It seems likely that religion is an abstract concept in their lives and they don't think much about the words and prayers they say.

In addition, a few sequences in the film stuck out as especially powerful. The first of which shows a couple women putting on makeup and brushing their hair. Seeing this, it's clear that, in spite of their facial and bodily features, many of the women in the colony still make an effort to look beautiful or to find light in their current situations. Another scene shows a group of boys playing ball together. Unlike a number of the older people we see in the colony, their mobility doesn't seem to be effected by their disease. The deformed facial features on a number of them are hard to ignore though and, considering how the shot which immediately follows this sequence shows a man with one leg using crutches to walk down a path, the short seems to suggest that those boys will end up like the old man unless they're cured of their disease (one effective shot which occurs earlier shows a man giving his crutch to a boy to play with). The classroom scene at the end is also worth mentioning. Something about the scene, specifically some of the answers the boys give to their teacher, makes it feel staged. It just seems too suited for the messages Farrokhzad wants to send to have naturally occurred. While I usually find staged scenes like this to be jarring in documentaries, I didn't mind it so much in here as it's still able to make for a devastating critique of religion.

Overall, this is a perfect short. Instead of solely raising awareness for the issue documented in it, Farrokhzad has several artistic points which she incorporates into the dialogue and the visuals of the film quite phenomenally. Sadly, Farrokhzad died shortly after this film was released, making this the only film she ever directed. Who knows what else she could've given us? However, this film will forever stand as a masterpiece to me and, if you can get by the occasional issues with the subtitles, you're in for a great treat with it.

Next Up: Brats

Torgo

05-23-22, 01:31 PM

I'm excited to jump into this, which I hope to do later this week. I'm especially excited about the Matthew Holness movie since Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched.

I watched my pick, Shell All, at the 2016 Atlanta Film Festival. If you don't like it, you'll at least be able to win Letterboxd contests for least-watched movies since only 18 users have seen it!

CosmicRunaway

05-23-22, 03:30 PM

If you don't like it, you'll at least be able to win Letterboxd contests for least-watched movies since only 18 users have seen it!
This made me curious to see how many people had seen one of my nominations from the last Shorts HoF, Flankers. Apparently 20 have, so it's only slightly less obscure than yours haha.

Another of the films from that HoF, Bomb, also only has 18 views. Next closest is 49.

Edit: wrote "more" instead of "less" :facepalm:

Torgo

05-23-22, 03:46 PM

This made me curious to see how many people had seen one of my nominations from the last Shorts HoF, Flankers. Apparently 20 have, so it's only slightly more obscure than yours haha.

Another of the films from that HoF, Bomb, also only has 18 views. Next closest is 49.I'm surprised my pick has so few views because it played at many other film festivals. I can only assume that a lot of Letterboxd users don't know they have short films in their database or that they just don't bother to log them.

Oh well. What they lose in completeness, we gain in smugness. :cool:

Captain Terror

05-23-22, 07:16 PM

I'm excited to jump into this, which I hope to do later this week. I'm especially excited about the Matthew Holness movie since Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched.

I still haven't seen that so I can't say how this short compares, but I find it funny.

(Just learned that I can stream Garth for free! Nice. That wasn't the case last time I looked for it.)

Takoma11

05-23-22, 10:36 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-jjc7d4z4-BA%2FT7a8XlTJBxI%2FAAAAAAAABCw%2FkffCXBD9vk0%2Fs1600%2FMalice%2Bin%2BWonderland%2B-%2BVince%2BCollins%2B(1982)%2B2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Malice in Wonderland, 1982

[Insert plot summary here, LOL!]

I'm generally not super into the whole trope of taking a child's story or folk tale and making it "adult". Partly because I think it's been done to death (not always poorly, per se) and partly because I've always felt that too often the driving force is just a bit juvenile in trying to be edgy.

But I still quite enjoyed this short, mainly because it manages to avoid a lot of pitfalls that could have easily made it off-putting.

To start with, I appreciated that the women in the film were drawn as adults. Using a child character in a sexual way is kind of iffy, and I was glad that the Alice figures here don't seem to be intended as children (or even teens). Despite the overall gruesome aesthetic, I did have to laugh at one point because they couldn't resist throwing in an extended sequence with a woman with porn proportions. But generally everything is so bizarre that the nudity/sexuality feels like part of the nightmare.

The pace of the film is also unrelenting, which works in its favor. By refusing to linger on anything, it sweeps you up in its momentum. And given the absolute barrage of images and noises, keeping that momentum is key. Fortunately, this is not a short that overstays its welcome, and at 4 minutes it seems like it's just the right runtime. Less would not have felt coherent, but more would have grown tiring.

Despite the whole "but sex and disturbing" aspect that is the dominant vibe, my favorite sequences were the ones that played with recursion or tessellation, such as the "lifting the teacup" sequence or the part where the queen's face is assembled out of tessellated flying birds.

3.5

SpelingError

05-24-22, 01:07 AM

Would it be possible to have an index of all our reviews in the first post of this thread, btw?

jiraffejustin

05-24-22, 08:41 AM

Would it be possible to have an index of all our reviews in the first post of this thread, btw?

I don't want to promise that I'll make one, but I'll say I'll try to make one. I did say that this will be pretty barebones compared to other HoFs. Plus all you overachievers have already posted like 30 reviews.

MovieGal

05-24-22, 03:48 PM

87296
Brats
(1930)

When I was younger, I remember watching Laurel and Hardy short films on Saturday morning and as time fillers for other films that ran short of the time allowed. They may have been funny back then but not so much now.

This was a bit cute as they starred themselves as children. This was slap stick comedy. I found it a bit silly as an adult and the line " You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead" was really lame imo.

I guess I'm not much of a fan now.

Takoma11

05-24-22, 05:36 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FxIKDVisj-Bk%2Fhqdefault.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Nu, 2003

A Jakob (Mads Mikkelsen) marries Lisa (Elin Klinga), but something between them isn't right. While Lisa gets pregnant and cares for their baby, Jakob begins a relationship with Adam (Mikael Persbrandt), which seems to partly explain the lack of sparks between the married couple.

This is a nearly dialogue-free short, with some really lovely compositions and a stark black-and-white look.

Reading reviews about this film online wasn't all that illuminating, because they mainly seem to be "Mads Mikkelsen touch MY face please!", but I think that the story itself is fairly easy to grasp. While usually the tragedy of a gay person shoehorned into a straight marriage is more to do with that person, here it is Lisa who gets the really rough side of things. The baby seems to stand for either her mental state or the state of their marriage, and either way by the end of the short the babies screams have taken on a metallic/demonic tone.

I think that the opening sequence, in which Jakob touches his wife's face with a mix of affection, apprehension, and confusion, is probably the strongest moment of communicating how alienating it would be to be in a marriage in which things just didn't feel right. While Jakob goes through the motions--the marriage and the sexual consummation of their union---it is without real passion. By the time Jakob finds a relationship that makes sense, it is too late. Him finding his happiness means the emotional abandonment of Lisa (and their baby!).

A solid short with good performances.

(Also, this had no impact on my rating AT ALL, but I was a bit irked to see that the most common plot summary around for this one refers to Lisa has "having something up her sleeve" as if her killing of their child is something done as a trick or a way to punish Jakob, when the sound effects and the way she is filmed clearly show that she's having some sort of breakdown or possibly post-partum depression issues.)

3.5+

MovieGal

05-24-22, 06:04 PM

Takoma11

05-24-22, 07:20 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Falchetron.com%2Fcdn%2Fa-gun-for-george-film-91be1254-f517-4f83-ab78-321e6e9f96f-resize-750.jpeg&f=1&nofb=1

A Gun for George, 2011

Terry (Matthew Holness) is the embattled writer of a series of suburban revenge novels about a man seeking perpetual revenge for the trashing of his prized car. As Terry's attempts to get published (or even placed in the local library) are shut down again and again, his anger brings him closer and closer to the mindset of his violent protagonist.

There's always something pleasing about a parody that reveals a genuine affection or nostalgia for the very thing it's mocking. In this case, it's the glut of 80s "decent guy can't take it anymore!" type stories.

The main thrust of this short is the comedy. From the running gag about how Terry's writing frequently features guys being hit (with a range of weapons) in the balls, to the fact that he's written uncountable stories all stemming from the same incident of car vandalism, to the hilarious and painful montage of Terry trying to get his book into a library or any other place with a shelf. Holness maintains a perfect tone of arrogance atop deep insecurity, something that's highlighted every time Terry runs up against any kind of threat or authority figure. The thriller plots he loves so much are, for me, clearly something that comes out of the desire to face a serious threat so that he would be justified in responding in violent fashion.

But there's more here than just comedy. Some of the fantasy sequences (in which Terry imagines himself as his own protagonist, the "Reprisaliser"--a clear knock-off of the Equalizer franchise) have a really excellent look to them, including a shot from inside the car as a hooligan smashes it while Terry/The Reprisaliser ducks for cover. Obviously the overall context is humor, but true to the fact that they exist inside of Terry's heated imagination, they look good and without the comedy context would be pretty scary. The final moments, in which we watch Terry's imagination and reality collide with what we anticipate will be a bad outcome, is honestly a bit chilling.

I really enjoyed this one!

4.5

Takoma11

05-24-22, 07:23 PM

Mikael Persbrandt plays Mads' brother in "The Salvation", which is a very good western themed film. I will recommend any films of Mads as well.

He tends to pick really interesting projects, and he's always one of the best things about them.

MovieGal

05-24-22, 07:34 PM

He tends to pick really interesting projects, and he's always one of the best things about them.

Yes, Mads is an amazing character actor. I think his best two are The Hunt and Valhalla Rising. Another Round, After The Wedding and Adam's Apples are pretty good as well.

I would have to rewatch his older films to rate them in order. I have seen at least every one once except a few that are a rare find, or at least when I tried to watch them, they were.

ueno_station54

05-24-22, 08:54 PM

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w780/h97tVzKt49agB7ulPdVKTuHsFu1.jpg
Hedgehog in the Fog (Yuri Norstein, 1975)

Takoma hitting us with one of the most iconic short films there is and its reputation is very much deserved. Everything about it is perfectly executed. The lighting and environmental effects standout the most for me, with the fog and water adding so much to the vibe and love love love how they play with the speed at parts. Just a beautiful, wondrous and slightly funny little film that's endlessly charming. Clearly an all-timer.
4

Takoma11

05-24-22, 08:56 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.q7q3p8H1IvuwxPd4Pi0y7QHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1

Un Obus Partout, 2015

A young man decides to cross a bridge to visit his fiance in Beirut. He takes his best friend along---the two of them hoping that a big soccer game will be enough of a distraction for them to get past a series of snipers guarding the bridge.

This is a sharp little film and very kinetic. I liked the style of having the characters in black silhouette, with the occasional accent of color. The background is patterned with detailed lattice work, something that creates a stark contrast once the two men are on the bridge and the background is mainly various shades of dark.

The film uses a device of cutting between the soccer game and the manic drive across the bridge (giving double meaning to many moments, such as "he shoots!") and for the most part it is very effective.

There is a heaviness that hangs over the film. Even if the men succeed on their mission of visiting the fiance, they are still living in a violent, unpredictable country. And yet, what more can you live for in such a situation except for small victories?

A good short and, like many that have been nominated in this HoF, just the right runtime.

4

Takoma11

05-24-22, 09:07 PM

Torgo

05-24-22, 09:48 PM

Malice in Wonderland

I enjoyed this short as a phantasmagorical distillation of Lewis Carroll's classic novel. Vince Collins must have been inspired by Ralph Bakshi because it resembles what one of his fever dreams would look like; or better yet, it comes across like what would happen if he directed Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More" music video. Speaking of Bakshi, the sexual imagery is as raw, unsubtle and striking as it is in his early movies. The surprising ways Collins makes his imagery sexual combined with his use of looping and repetition is what makes the short so hypnotically watchable. The booty-bumping trees are a highlight in this regard, which is also the sequence that made me laugh out loud. Admittedly, I have not read Alice in Wonderland, my only familiarity with the story being the classic Disney movie, which I haven't watched in many years, and course the music video I mentioned. As a result, a lot of the commentary probably went over my head. A YouTube commenter mentioned that it's about the painful process of going from girlhood to womanhood, which I think fits. However, whether I was an expert on Lewis Carrol or not, I still think I'd be more taken with the strength of the craft than the themes the short brings up. With that said, I joined this Hall of Fame hoping I'd see some quality animation - bonus points if it's the kind that messes with your head - and since it succeeds in both regards, I'm glad I watched it.

Takoma11

05-24-22, 10:34 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shortoftheweek.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2FGoodbye-Mommy-Jack-Wedge-02-768x432.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Goodbye Mommy, 2019

A washed up detective is hired by a queen to track down her errant husband and their strange alien baby.

I would never have watched this short on my own, mainly because the type of computer animation that it uses just does not get along with my brain. Sure enough, I started to feel a little seasick about 5 minutes in and had to take a few breaks along the way.

And yet despite the fact that I needed a walk and a big drink of water halfway through it, I did end up enjoying this short and I'm glad it was nominated, as it was very different from everything else I've watched so far.

What really clicked with me here was the humor. "He realized he would do anything for this large, beautiful woman." The voice acting really worked for me, as did the visual gags (like "Killer Speaks" and "Killer Listens"). I think that it takes talent to walk that line of something looking "wrong" while still looking intentionally made, and this short fell on the right side of that line for me.

It also deserves credit, I think, for having a world that feels at once totally bonkers and yet also startlingly coherent.

3.5+

jiraffejustin

05-24-22, 10:48 PM

Just a call to other members who aren't already joined up: we need more people to join up so Takoma11 has more films to watch.

Captain Terror

05-25-22, 01:32 AM

A Gun for George, 2011

The final moments, in which we watch Terry's imagination and reality collide with what we anticipate will be a bad outcome, is honestly a bit chilling.

Happy to read this last sentence of yours. The comedy bits are very funny, but it was because of the end that I nominated it. You GET it! :up:

ps- am I expected to review my own nomination?

SpelingError

05-25-22, 01:59 AM

ps- am I expected to review my own nomination?

Yeah, everyone is.

As an aside, if the short is still fresh in your memory, you're not required to rewatch it.

ueno_station54

05-25-22, 04:09 PM

http://www.lecinemaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/gm1b.jpg
Goodbye Mommy (Jack Wedge, 2019)

I know a lot of people don't really dig on 3D animation but being 30 (and also Canadian) I think makes me predisposed to loving it. Growing up with shows from Mainframe Entertainment and 64-bit video games, janky 3D just hits right for me and now that its approachable enough for very small teams or even one person to make weird, cool stuff in the style its even more my bag now.

While this doesn't have the polygonal look of the computer animation of my childhood, I love both the similarities and differences to that style and really adore how much it utilizes whatever workspace it was created in (Blender? Maya? idk), especially in the camerawork. Stretching and distorting characters is pretty standard for animation but I haven't seen a ton of things that apply that idea to the camera. Having the focal length and whatever else squishing and stretching all over the place is such a look and that extremely exaggerated Hitchcock Pull got a good laugh out of me. Just such a good example of taking advantage of the medium you're working in. Like you really couldn't replicate this in even other styles of animation. Its such a visual splendor or nightmare, depending on who you ask and the music matches it perfectly. A lot of it has this ethereal vibe while also being distorted in the exact way the camera and visuals are. The whole vision is so cohesive but doesn't feel like its overly scripted either, which is kind of tough in animation with how much planning has to go into it. Manages to keep that free and open vibe that I love so much. Its just a really fun film. The voice acting adds a lot plus there's a couple really funny lines. I adore this so much.
4.5

CosmicRunaway

05-25-22, 05:37 PM

Mainframe Entertainment
Thinking about ReBoot, Shadow Raiders, and Beasties/Beast Wars makes me instantly nostalgic. :up:

jiraffejustin

05-25-22, 05:37 PM

Have you seen any of Vince Collins' 3D stuff? I think you might like it.

Takoma11

05-25-22, 06:40 PM

Happy to read this last sentence of yours. The comedy bits are very funny, but it was because of the end that I nominated it. You GET it! :up:

I mean, I finished watching it a short while before a friend posted something about "what happened in Texas" and I went to Reuters and, yeah . . . .

The whole vision is so cohesive but doesn't feel like its overly scripted either, which is kind of tough in animation with how much planning has to go into it.

This is what I appreciated more and more as the short went on--the way that it managed to imbue everything with a sense of spontaneity, even though you know inside that everything has to be planned out.

ueno_station54

05-25-22, 06:44 PM

Have you seen any of Vince Collins' 3D stuff? I think you might like it.
i think you recommended his stuff to me once before and i didn't watch any lol.

SpelingError

05-25-22, 08:44 PM

Brats (1930) - 2.5

Eh, it was okay. Slapstick comedy is fine and all, but I found the jokes in this one to be a mixed bag. Some of the gaps, like the ones where Hardy was hit in the head by various objects, for instance, were overused and stopped being funny fairly quickly, while some other gags were rather straightforward and had somewhat predictable punchlines. On the other hand, there were a couple of well-executed gags here and there, like the pool table and bathtub scenes, but I'd say the jokes missed more than they hit for me. I did enjoy the practical effects though. The oversized props were creative and I had a blast watching Laurel and Hardy interacting with them. That the props looked identical to the furniture they were based on further added to my enjoyment of them. This definitely made up for some of the jokes which fell flat for me. Unfortunately though, they only made up for so much and I'd still call the short average.

Next Up: Goodbye Mommy

PHOENIX74

05-26-22, 04:14 AM

I might have a better feel for the short film format after this Hall of Fame is completed, but what the hell - nominating a film doesn't hurt, even if it comes dead cold stone withering last. I'm in, and after watching some neat horror shorts from Alter (check out Home Education), Oscar-nominations and winners plus general shorts from the likes of Jim Cummings and Guy Maddin I went with what was on my mind at the start. But I enjoyed my little short film festival, and I reckon I'll enjoy this Hall of Fame.

ueno_station54

05-26-22, 04:27 AM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTRmM2U1MGMtMGE3ZS00Zjk5LTk3NDAtYjcwOGEwNDUyMzA4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDgyNjA5MA@@._V1_.jpg
Brats (James Parrot, 1930)

I don't know anything about Laurel and Hardy but there's not a lot here that would make me want to seek out more and whichever the skinny one is has like no charisma lol. The oversized props are good and there's a couple good bits but nothing really got a laugh out of me. Just kind of came and went.
2.5

Torgo

05-26-22, 01:14 PM

Goodbye Mommy

This movie made me think about this quote from the movie Henry Fool: "an honest man is always in trouble." I mean, why bother being an investigative journalist, detective, or signing up for any other truth-seeking profession? When you're not watching your back, you're lamenting the breakup with your romantic partner, who probably left you because your job took up all your time. That's the situation in which our hero and hard luck case finds himself in this odd, funny and slightly frustrating short. I mentioned investigative journalist because the detective's city reminds me of the equally distinctive and weird dystopian metropolis in one of my favorite comic books, Transmetropolitan. That this city is ruled by a king and queen instead of a mayor is nice touch because it's funny, obviously, and for how it emphasizes how badly and like pond scum guys like our hero are treated by the very powerful. As for the aesthetic, it's delightfully odd - I'd describe it as looking like the video game Another World, but in 3D and filtered through a kaleidoscope - the highlights besides the city being the detective's constantly changing Memento-like tattoos. I can't say many good things about the sound mixing, however, especially in terms of the dialogue, which like the contrast between YouTube commercials and content ranges from too loud to unintelligible. Other than that, I enjoyed this tribute to the truth-seekers of the world and the strange way it empathizes with the overly tough lives they lead. Hopefully, there will come a day when they won't have to pin all their hopes and dreams on a Close Encounters of the Third Kind-like alien intervention for their lives to improve.

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 01:43 PM

jiraffejustin

05-26-22, 02:50 PM

What was your nom?

PHOENIX74 nominated the great The Heart of the World by Guy Maddin

I'll get the OP updated later today, but just wanted to make sure that it was known what was nominated.

jiraffejustin

05-26-22, 02:59 PM

ueno_station54

05-26-22, 03:01 PM

i personally love The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes but that might be a big ask

MovieGal

05-26-22, 03:11 PM

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 03:18 PM

MovieGal

05-26-22, 03:20 PM

Why do you ask? Just curious.

Someone probably wants to nominate it.

If it's allowed, I will drop. Reading about stuff like this, I'm ok with. I know films are fake. Documentary like this aren't.

Captain Terror

05-26-22, 03:28 PM

I've seen enough of it to know that I'm not in the mood to try again.
This is only my first HoF but it would never occur to me to force something like this on others. I mean, you can still nominate it but that doesn't mean I'll watch it. It's not like I'm going to jail for not following the rules. :)

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 03:33 PM

Someone probably wants to nominate it.

If it's allowed, I will drop. Reading about stuff like this, I'm ok with. I know films are fake. Documentary like this aren't.I totally understand where you're coming from, I won't watch that either. Now, I've seen some gruesome fake stuff (thanks PahaK:p) and while I don't like it, I can watch it...but a real autopsy no thanks. I think that could trigger people in ways that are pretty bad and cause some real mental discomfort & mental issues for some.

jiraffejustin

05-26-22, 03:36 PM

Nobody is trying to nominate it. I'm just asking to find the line, so to speak. It seemed pretty clear to me that is past the "do not nominate" line, but I wanted to hear what the actual responses would be to the question. I don't know where the line is for what I wouldn't watch, but I would like to sniff out the general line.

Torgo

05-26-22, 03:37 PM

I'm not crazy about seeing something like that either, I'm afraid. Besides, based on what I've seen of Brakhage, I feel like I'd struggle to write anything about it.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 03:42 PM

I totally understand where you're coming from, I won't watch that either. Now, I've seen some gruesome fake stuff (thanks PahaK:p) and while I don't like it, I can watch it...but a real autopsy no thanks. I think that could trigger people in ways that are pretty bad and cause some real mental discomfort & mental issues for some.

At least when I read the biography about Armin Meiwes, I could put the book down at times to let my stomach settle. Also, my own visualization is different than someone projecting what I have to see.

ueno_station54

05-26-22, 04:05 PM

i do find it fascinating that we can all watch docs about the most horrendous things in human history no problem but the human body in a strictly medical context is way too much.

SpelingError

05-26-22, 04:32 PM

I could probably watch it, but since a bunch of other people are hesitant to watch it, it might be a good idea to avoid it.

SpelingError

05-26-22, 04:34 PM

I mean, we do have Night and Fog though, which is about as disturbing as you can get with real-life footage of dead bodies.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 04:45 PM

I mean, we do have Night and Fog though, which is about as disturbing as you can get with real-life footage of dead bodies.

I have seen Night and Fog and even shared my dvd with ppl who enjoy WW2 stuff like that. I have seen several documentaries about the war camps but that one, for only being 32 minutes, hits the hardest.

SpelingError

05-26-22, 04:46 PM

I have seen Night and Fog and even shared my dvd with ppl who enjoy WW2 stuff like that. I have seen several documentaries about the war camps but that one, for only being 32 minutes, hits the hardest.

Yeah, it's an incredibly powerful documentary.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 04:50 PM

Yeah, it's an incredibly powerful documentary.

What's even worse is the Propaganda films.

I have several. Der Ewige Jude is atrocious on how it describes the race.

Takoma11

05-26-22, 05:00 PM

Also, quick poll for everybody who is participating:

If the film The Act of Seeing With One's Own Eyes was nominated, would you still participate in this hall of fame? If you don't know what it is, I'd say google it before answering. This is a hypothetical, but if the only choices were to participate or not based on this one film being required viewing.

I have to say that I'm honestly not sure, and I probably wouldn't know until I started watching it.

My hard line tends to be around real animal cruelty (and obviously real cruelty perpetrated against anyone). If what happened in the film was strictly medical, I might be okay with it.

That said, in this moment I'm thinking about dead school children, some of whom share names with the children I teach, and I am not sure how I'd react to such content right now.

Captain Spaulding

05-26-22, 05:04 PM

I've decided to join. My nomination:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7aS4Zfh7MmY/S75bwO4l5pI/AAAAAAAAApE/AtYMEAsyJXA/s400/actofseeingwithonesowneyes.jpg

Hopefully everyone's cool with a bit of erotica.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 05:28 PM

I've decided to join. My nomination:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7aS4Zfh7MmY/S75bwO4l5pI/AAAAAAAAApE/AtYMEAsyJXA/s400/actofseeingwithonesowneyes.jpg

Hopefully everyone's cool with a bit of erotica.

Hey Stranger!!!

Captain Terror

05-26-22, 05:30 PM

It's not so much a matter of what I will watch or not watch. I'll probably subject myself to the Brakhage film one of these days.
I just don't feel like this challenge is the appropriate place for me to presume upon the rest of you to have your buttons pushed or thresholds crossed. I eliminated a couple of potential nominations for reasons WAAAY tamer than actual autopsy footage, just because I don't know any of you IRL. There's people who won't watch a fake dog die a fictional death. I might think that's silly but I also have no desire to force that person to watch something that makes them uncomfortable.

And to clarify, I think it's a good thing to occasionally make ourselves uncomfortable. I just don't think it's my job to tell you when/how to do it. Especially in the context of an ostensibly fun movie challenge.

Now who's the jerk that's makin' me watch Night And Fog??? :mad:

Takoma11

05-26-22, 06:11 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheseventhart.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2FThe-Heart-of-the-World-400x248.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

The Heart of the World, 2000

Two brothers, Osip (Caelum Vatnsdal) and Nikolai (Shaun Balbar), are in love with the same woman, a scientist named Anna (Leslie Bais) who studies the literal heart at the center of the world.

Having just watched Keyhole, it was fun to go back into Maddin-land so soon. I am a fan of his sense of humor and his use of vintage-style framing.

This short moves at a frantic pace, squeezing a whole lot of plot into just a handful of minutes. The editing is breakneck, and the speed of the story helps the different jokes or visual moments land. But Maddin has a pretty deft hand, and despite the speed it's easy to follow the story with its many (many!) twists and turns.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, in which Anna becomes the new heart of the world and transforms into cinema, though I will grant that it was totally unexpected.

A fun short, and not one I'd seen before.

4

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 07:12 PM

...Now who's the jerk that's makin' me watch Night And Fog??? :mad:Me...That's my nom and if it's really a problem for you or anyone else, I will change it.

Captain Terror

05-26-22, 07:38 PM

Me...That's my nom and if it's really a problem for you or anyone else, I will change it.
Nah, that was a joke.
I've put off watching it long enough anyway.

crumbsroom

05-26-22, 08:19 PM

I can't even imagine how mind meltingly shocking and upsetting Night and Fog would have been at the time of its release. It's obviously still a difficult watch to this day, but at least we sort of know what to expect from it in that these are all now very famous images. But in the 50s, I don't think a lot of the horrors in the film had been seen in any broad capacity, and I think a lot of people probably still really didn't know just how bad it all was.it must have ripped a hole through the unprepared

Takoma11

05-26-22, 08:25 PM

Nah, that was a joke.
I've put off watching it long enough anyway.

While you will be (and should be) emotionally devastated by it, the stark counterweight to that emotion is the realization of how essential the film is. It is a howl of despair that deserves to be heard.

All I can compare it to is sitting down and listening to a loved one or friend tell you about something horrible that has happened to them. Yes, you might be shocked or disgusted or sad. In some ways you might wish you could unhear or unsee certain things. But you'll also be keenly aware of how important it is that you are there to listen and to, at the very least, bear witness to their pain.

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 08:34 PM

Nah, that was a joke.
I've put off watching it long enough anyway.Thanks for explaining.

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 08:40 PM

MovieGal

05-26-22, 08:56 PM

To everyone:

I chose Night and Fog as a blind nom, I have not seen it. I chose it by looking at a list of top short films and seen it was highly rated, plus I like historical documentaries....Then I looked at MoFo and seen it had made the Top 100 Documentaries list at #4. Then I looked to see how many members of this HoF had seen it and a fair amount had but not everyone (I didn't want a nom everyone had seen already). Then I looked for reviews here at MoFo and seen Takoma gave it a 5/5 which made me feel that if she didn't have a problem with it then it would probably be OK for everyone.

But now it seems some might not want to watch it? It's not my intention to make a fun HoF, unfun for some. So if anyone isn't comfortable with Night and Fog, I'll gladly change it. Just let me know

It's a great documentary and I fully support it as your choice.

It and an actual autopsy are two different things.

My daughter told me it's on HBOMAX, so that may be my next watch.

Allaby

05-26-22, 09:18 PM

To everyone:

I chose Night and Fog as a blind nom, I have not seen it. I chose it by looking at a list of top short films and seen it was highly rated, plus I like historical documentaries....Then I looked at MoFo and seen it had made the Top 100 Documentaries list at #4. Then I looked to see how many members of this HoF had seen it and a fair amount had but not everyone (I didn't want a nom everyone had seen already). Then I looked for reviews here at MoFo and seen Takoma gave it a 5/5 which made me feel that if she didn't have a problem with it then it would probably be OK for everyone.

But now it seems some might not want to watch it? It's not my intention to make a fun HoF, unfun for some. So if anyone isn't comfortable with Night and Fog, I'll gladly change it. Just let me know

I haven't seen it yet, but I have heard a lot of really good things about it. I have no problem with you nominating it.

jiraffejustin

05-26-22, 09:59 PM

Night and Fog was nominated in like maybe the first or second shorts hall of fame. If you want to change it (before Monday) you can, but I don't think there is any need.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:03 PM

87316

Nuit et Brouillard
Night And Fog
(1956)

Alain Resnais' Night and Fog takes us on a journey of Jewish citizens, no matter where they were located in Europe at the time of World War 2, to concentration camps. The journey from their own village, large or small, to a place that would be their last on this earth.

Their eyes were startled and they were uncomprehensible of what they were to experience during their time there, Each camp was set up like a small village. They had the Kapos, the prisoners who seek favoritism from the Nazi SS officers, who were treated a bit better than the regular prisoner. Work was demanded daily under the watchful eye. If you stepped out of line, then it could result in a beating or much worse, death. The community had what looked like normal work buildings but they were the gas chambers where Zylon was waiting for them.

When the camps were full to capacity, death was ensured. Incinerators burned day and night. Pyres were set aflame. Mass graves of people who were forgotten, with no name, no way to let any loved one know they were gone. Gone forever. However, thanks to filmmakers like Alain Resnais, their story lives forever.

This is a short documentary film with a big punch. It will imprint in your mind the horrific images of what war can do. I remember my first viewing of this film and how I would talk to others who had an interest in the topic of World War 2 of this. I would highly recommend it to anyone, whether this is a subject of interest or not.

This is a film of the destruction of humanity at the hands of someone who will always be remembered throughout history for what they have done.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:05 PM

jiraffejustin

Did someone else join the Hall of Fame? if so, can the first post be updated with that?

That's how I base what I am watching from.

Thanks!

Captain Terror

05-26-22, 10:16 PM

But now it seems some might not want to watch it? It's not my intention to make a fun HoF, unfun for some. So if anyone isn't comfortable with Night and Fog, I'll gladly change it. Just let me know
It's 100% a valid nomination and will no doubt win, in fact.

My comments about "fun" did not mean that I expect all of the films to be fun. Finding great films is always fun, even when they're emotionally devastating.

I take issue with the edgelord-ian attitude that compels people to deliberately subject their friends to horrific stuff for the lolz, which clearly does not apply to you.

Despite my earlier joke I'm looking forward to Night and Fog more than the rest, if "looking forward to" is the appropriate phrase, anyway.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:23 PM

87318

Hedgehog In The Fog
(1975)

I found this to be a cute little story of a hedgehog on the way to meet his friend, Bear, to stargaze. While searching for Bear, he sees clouds that look to contain a horse and a bank of fog. He wonders if the horse was in the fog. During his time in the fog, he meets some unsavory and friendly animals. From the beginning, an owl had been following him. The bat and owl scare him but he comes across some lightning bugs to help him find a gift he brought for Bear and a fish that helps him back to shore, once he falls into a stream. Finally at last he has found his friend, Bear, who was worried about him.

I really like this Russian tale. I know a few other short films from Russia that I love. This could fall within the same category as them.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:24 PM

It's 100% a valid nomination and will no doubt win, in fact.

My comments about "fun" did not mean that I expect all of the films to be fun. Finding great films is always fun, even when they're emotionally devastating.

I take issue with the edgelord-ian attitude that compels people to deliberately subject their friends to horrific stuff for the lolz, which clearly does not apply to you.

Despite my earlier joke I'm looking forward to Night and Fog more than the rest, if "looking forward to" is the appropriate phrase, anyway.

CT, I'm sure you will enjoy and understand exactly how each of us felt after watching it.

I'm sure it will win as well.

Takoma11

05-26-22, 10:28 PM

Despite my earlier joke I'm looking forward to Night and Fog more than the rest, if "looking forward to" is the appropriate phrase, anyway.

It is a really amazing piece of cinema.

This isn't an "eat your vegetables" film. It is really great and powerful, but also artful.

SpelingError

05-26-22, 10:35 PM

To everyone:

I chose Night and Fog as a blind nom, I have not seen it. I chose it by looking at a list of top short films and seen it was highly rated, plus I like historical documentaries....Then I looked at MoFo and seen it had made the Top 100 Documentaries list at #4. Then I looked to see how many members of this HoF had seen it and a fair amount had but not everyone (I didn't want a nom everyone had seen already). Then I looked for reviews here at MoFo and seen Takoma gave it a 5/5 which made me feel that if she didn't have a problem with it then it would probably be OK for everyone.

But now it seems some might not want to watch it? It's not my intention to make a fun HoF, unfun for some. So if anyone isn't comfortable with Night and Fog, I'll gladly change it. Just let me know

To be clear, I don't have any issues with it being in this thread. I've seen it a few times and I already know what to expect from it. Yes, it's horrifying, but I think the film is incredibly important given that so much holocaust denial and antisemitism still exists in the world today. Also, as a couple other people mentioned, it will likely be the film which wins this Hall (and that would be a much deserved win).

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:39 PM

87319

Goodbye Mommy
(2019)

Story of a detective looking for the Queen's baby, which appears to be an alien. The King lost the baby to a gangster in a card game.

I don't have much to say but "what the heck did I watch?!?". They must have been on some psychedelic drug when making this short.

This is some computer/video game animated film. Are you sure this isn't a long trailer film to a video game?

Not to my taste.

Also, the baby looks like Mr. Bill

Citizen Rules

05-26-22, 10:42 PM

To be clear, I don't have any issues with it being in this thread. I've seen it a few times and I already know what to expect from it. Yes, it's horrifying, but I think the film is incredibly important given that so much holocaust denial and antisemitism still exists in the world today. Also, as a couple other people mentioned, it will likely be the film which wins this Hall (and that would be a much deserved win).Exactly, I thought it was an important film for myself to see. I've seen a bunch of stuff on WWII and Nazis and the Holocaust and those films aren't fun to watch but they really opened my eyes to just how easy it is for a group of people to seize power, then let their fear and hatred turn on others who can't so easily defend themselves. I wish the world wasn't like that, but truth is it doesn't take much to turn humans into monsters.

MovieGal

05-26-22, 10:54 PM

87320

Malice in Wonderland
(1982)

This was some sexual drug-induced psycho version of Alice in Wonderland. Filled with all types of creatures and sexual imagery. Let's say this again "What the HECK did I watch?!?"

It was better than Goodnight Mommy but yeah, not my style.

SpelingError

05-26-22, 11:15 PM

Goodbye Mommy (2019) - 3

The animation style wasn't for me as it hurt my eyes as I watched it. I don't think I'll watch another animated film like this unless it's about as long or a bit shorter than this one. However, I still enjoyed my time with this short for a few reasons. In spite of how crazy the animation gets, that the world depicted in the short remains coherent from beginning to end is impressive. I also found the story compelling, particularly for its portrayal of the detective as a troubled man stuck in the wrong time and setting. While his character isn't always likable, you still feel sympathy for him both due to how he recognizes his past mistakes and his treatment from those who rule the city. Also, even though the animation style wasn't for me, I did enjoy a few touches to it such as some text boxes next to various characters (i.e. "Killer Speaks" and "Killer Listens") as, while these touches would feel jarring in most other films, they feel quite appropriate and coherent in this short. Also, while the tragic backstory cliché tends to bug me, I enjoyed the way the one in this short was presented. I think my only issue with the short's aesthetic, aside from the visuals hurting my eyes, was that the sound mixing of the dialogue wasn't that good since much of it ranged from too loud to near-unintelligible. Overall though, while I don't think I'll ever rewatch this short, I didn't mind checking it out.

Next Up: A Gun for George

PHOENIX74

05-26-22, 11:58 PM

A lot of talk last night (it was last night for me, down here in this corner of the world) about how prepared people would be to watch a short where a human being is dissected, or if Night and Fog is too distressing to watch. Just personally, I wanted to say that I'm one of those people who will watch anything. I have the curiosity-urge of a cat, and in any case, I've watched all those human anatomy episodes where Gunther von Hagens (that guy who plastinates people and puts them on display around the world) gives lessons to students. It's really interesting, but of course it's challenging to watch.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jaPGlYKqL._AC_SY1000_.jpg

CosmicRunaway

05-27-22, 03:28 AM

This isn't an "eat your vegetables" film.
This year's Eurovision really ruined that phrase since it's all I could think about after reading this line haha.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/388e81a12f359947116ce36a53a457ab/369096cf9adfcdd9-38/s540x810/ed6ddf836bfa0d89958fa08b1fcfa75cc48c2be0.gifv

https://64.media.tumblr.com/fa7890bba8959f7ddf69af9d6bf6a686/369096cf9adfcdd9-99/s540x810/5aeac006441a0877651d8a619f1b38df2ff81b4b.gifv

PHOENIX74

05-27-22, 03:45 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/63dt4hWb/brats2.jpg

Brats (1930)

Directed by James Parrott

I like Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - it seems like they were both great guys, and when I watched the BBC production of Stan, and the recent biopic Stan & Ollie I became much more interested in them. I'd seen Mud and Sand (1922), which only featured Stan Laurel, but I can't recall having seen a specific Laurel and Hardy film before, although I'm pretty sure I have. Regardless, I've seen many excerpts from their films, and I'm of course well acquainted with them. Their fame lives on nearly a century after their best work. Brats came out in 1930, when the pairing was only 3 years old and sound was a new thing to cinema. In fact, Brats had been repurposed for silent cinema in some areas where cinemas were yet to install equipment that would allow for the showing of sound films.

I got a few laughs from Brats, so all in all it's not bad, and must have played really well back in 1930. I thought it was clever to have Laurel and Hardy play both the roles of adult and child in respect to themselves, and for 1930 those effects are pretty good - including at one stage an animated mouse. Silly phrases such as "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be led," just go to show how good the writing was on these early shorts (I'm assuming that the act started to get stale much later on down the track.) There's a whole host of credited and uncredited writers involved in this, so it was a real team effort and I'm assuming there was some improvisation going on as well. I'm not a massive fan of the slapstick stuff - verbal comedy does much more for me than visual, but the checkers and pool scenes were pretty good. Spending a day as Laurel or Hardy (or their clone kids) must really make a person sore - in real life they'd all be blind by now, with all those pokes in the eye.

For anyone reading this, I really recommend watching Stan - it was originally a radio play by Neil Brand about Stan Laurel's last visit to Oliver after he's had a stroke - and once there, although Oliver can no longer speak, Stan explores some issues they may have had during their friendship in an emotional farewell and the two have a powerful few moments together. It really stuck in my memory as something good.

3

PHOENIX74

05-27-22, 06:06 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/3xm9yKdB/the-house-is-black.jpg

The House is Black (1963)

Directed by Forugh Farrokhzad

The House is Black shines a spotlight on a leper colony in Northern Iran and sets about making sure that this community isn't forgotten, and that a connection exists which might help those who have ended up there. It's director is Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad, and she narrates the part of the film that is poetic and religious in nature - Ebrahim Golestan, her lover at the time, also narrates, with objective and factual information. He twice delivers the important information that leprosy isn't an untreatable disease, it's treatable and these people haven't been hopeless cases, but instead cast aside by poverty and the 'couldn't care less' attitude of society towards them. The film is vivid, honest and doesn't shy away from showing the deformations of the people who live here, but it's not a horror show exploiting them with a mind to shock and titillate it's audience. In fact, there's a tremendous amount of beauty in it, both visually and in it's poetic narration.

Here in the colony birds are shown flying in the sky, a dog tends to her adorable puppies and children play happily with whatever they can get their hands on. A disfigured man sings happily, and his song is infectious (a bad choice of words perhaps.) A woman breastfeeds her child lovingly. People residing there play games, brush their hair and apply makeup. There's laughter, smiling and dancing. I was really struck by how much joy and beauty there was, infused with poetry and religious scripture, which at first sounds cruelly ironic (God is thanked for hands, feet and things these people have been denied through no fault of their own) but as time goes by seems to reinforce that these people are God's children. The Bababaghi Hospice leper colony did in fact see a remarkable transformation after the film was shown, and many more doctors found their way to it to help these people. Forugh Farrokhzad is said to have shown no fear whatsoever of physical contact with the people there, and inspired not only the people who live there but many who have seen the film.

What can I say about a film like this? A short documentary about a poor leper colony would be initially though of as either something to inspire morbid curiosity or a depressing and sad postscript to the lives of those briefly captured on camera. Instead it's one of the most inspiring and beautiful pieces of filmmaking you're ever likely to see, and transforms a film which doesn't shy away from it's disfigured subjects into a radiantly beautiful and lyrically wonderful 20-odd minutes of moviemaking. It doesn't ask for help for these people, it inspires people to help and change their attitudes. It's a profoundly spiritual film. I had a little trouble reading the subtitles while watching it as they blend in with the bright whites of the black and white photography, but this isn't really the fault of the film itself, just a difficulty inherent in subtitling black and white films overall - if you'd changed the words to black then they'd be disappearing into the black portions.

A profoundly moving film which has a factual and poetic voice, while at the same time letting the people it's about have their own voice, all at the same time. It demystifies, and truly finds what is beneath the skin - showing us simply people instead of lepers.

4.5

ueno_station54

05-27-22, 03:04 PM

https://assets.e-cinema.com/COVER/A852C8-unobuspartout-01.jpg
Un obus partout (Zaven Najjar, 2015)

A solid little story that certainly looks nice but is also exactly what comes to mind when I think of an animated short, at least in a modern context. A little generic but not bad at all and centering it around a football match is a cute idea that also feels totally plausible.

3

Torgo

05-27-22, 04:23 PM

Ueno liked my pick!

https://c.tenor.com/8gE5vCt_XIoAAAAM/denzel-washington-relief.gif

It's a work of fiction, but the Lebanon War and World Cup did take place at the same time. A feature length movie from '91 I haven't seen called Cup Final is about the same subject. There's also Waltz with Bashir, which I also haven't seen yet, I'm ashamed to admit.

Torgo

05-27-22, 04:25 PM

Shell All (Un obus partout)

This short is just as enjoyable and moving to me now as it was when I first saw it six years ago. I like everything about it, particularly the look and feel, which is appropriately similar to the outrun aesthetic given the setting, but also looks like nothing else I've ever seen. The animation of the bombing especially hits hard for how it captures the chaos of such an event while conveying that to the citizens of Beirut, it's an everyday occurrence. There's also the inspired way the movie comments on the absurdity of war by juxtaposing it with the World Cup. The citizens on Gabriel's side of the bridge are just as invested in the game as the snipers are, so surely, they have more reasons to come together than fight each other, don't they? Another question the movie asks that struck me in this viewing more than in my previous one is if there is such a thing is luck. Could it explain why Gabriel and Mokhtar made it across the bridge or why Gabriel survived the bomb blast? Was the driver in the opening sequence, the poor child whose shoe Gabriel happened upon and the sniper victim at the end simply less lucky? Whether these questions are interesting to you or not, you have to admit that when the movie is exciting, it's very exciting. The drive and its cross cuts to the action of the opening match is as adrenalin-pumping as anything in the best action movies from the last few years. It ends up being a short and sweet action movie that manages to be thrilling without downplaying the horrors of war.

ueno_station54

05-27-22, 04:47 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWM1MGQ2NjctYjdjMi00M2I5LThiN2YtNGEyMzljMDIyMjdkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ5MzkzOA@@._V1_.jpg
A Gun for George (Matthew Holness, 2011)

So the film bounces between this pulp 70s aesthetic and a more modern one and I think what I liked the most is how everything in the film feels designed to look natural in both styles and as a result its never a jarring shift when they switch between the two. I feel like I've seen a lot of things just put a cheap film grain filter on top of modern looking footage and call it a day so I appreciate the extra effort here. Its obviously designed to be humourous, and it is, but it doesn't diminish the actually somewhat serious drama story being told. The tone is handled pretty masterfully tbh and I've also seen a lot of things totally miss the mark trying almost exactly this (anything by Astron-6 for example).
3.5

Allaby

05-27-22, 08:20 PM

87336

Directed by James Parrott, Brats (1930) stars the iconic comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The two star as versions of themselves and as their children as well. I nominated this because I am a big fan of Laurel and Hardy and this is my favourite of their short films that I have seen. It's a lot of fun and I loved seeing Laurel and Hardy play children. I really liked the use of oversized props to make them look smaller. Laurel and Hardy are both wonderful here and the dialogue is amusing and clever.

I first saw this on dvd when I picked up the Laurel and Hardy Essential Collection dvd set, which is a fantastic 10 disc set with several of their best shorts and feature films, plus cool special features. It has over 32 hours of Laurel and Hardy and I would highly, highly recommend it to any Laurel and Hardy fans or anyone who appreciates classic comedy.

James Parrott seems to be mostly forgotten today, which is unfortunate. In spite of only living to the age of 41, he directed 84 short films and 6 features. His work and the delightful genius of Laurel and Hardy live on today for their fans, such as me. 4.5

PHOENIX74

05-28-22, 01:10 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/9QPxtQ8L/hedgehog.jpg

Hedgehog in the Fog (Yozhik v tumane) - (1975)

Directed by Yuri Norstein

What did I just watch? There's something innate in a human's make-up that recognizes creative beauty, where works of art resonate with a pure kind of delight. Hedgehog in the Fog gave me one of those moments where I was truly awestruck with just how perfect this piece of unusual animation looked, and how the narration and music which accompanied it suited that look. It's a fairly simple children's tale of anthropomorphic animals encountering sights that are new to them, and going on an adventure in the wilderness. The titular little hedgehog goes out at night to count the stars with his friend Bear-Cub. He encounters an owl, a snail, a white horse, a bat, butterflies, an elephant, a dog and something mysterious in the river which helps him back to shore when he's adrift. Eventually, after being quite lost, he finds Bear-Cub who is relieved to see him. Hedgehog is happy to be with his friend, but still wonders about that shining white horse he saw out in the fog.

This short film was beautiful. I was quite taken with it. It's like some Russian guy set out to make an animated film for kids and ended up creating a great work of art. Fine drawing with cut-outs animated against the backdrop, and fog simulated by having a thin piece of paper lifted towards the camera which slowly obscures the scenery, or lowered to make it reappear. The water looked real, and I'm assuming it was, along with a floating leaf and a realistic looking tree. Really nice music and echoes, with gentle and lyrical narration. It's cute the way the hedgehog talks to himself, and he doesn't notice at first that the owl is stalking him (in a friendly manner) - he's small, timid but very curious. This is a famous little hedgehog (he has his own statue in Kiev) but it's the first time I've ever seen him, in this beautiful piece of animation. Hedgehog in the Fog is a charming and alluring short film which, although it's for kids, is a superb work of artistry.

5

PHOENIX74

05-28-22, 03:30 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/rsYfpqCM/malice-in-wonderland-505173648-msmall.jpg

Malice in Wonderland - (1982)

Directed by Vince Collins

Malice in Wonderland is like a sexually active cartoon character's near-death experience. An acid-drenched nightmare/dream with a vaginal fixation featuring screams, dive bombers and ricochet's mixing with voices, cries and discordant sounds in the background. The main effect the animation takes is a transformational one, where vaginas, bodies, faces or creatures morph and change and meld into each other - all this very roughly follows the storyline of Alice in Wonderland, with Alice at the end asking us "Who has had such a curious dream?" and then melting while worms appear from within her shortly before exploding. It's trippy and amusing, with it's bright colours intensifying that sense of being under the influence of an hallucinogen. It's a little rough around the edges, and while not completely without merit it's a little repetitive at times. I thought it's unpredictable nature was fun though, and definitely animator Vince Collins' strong suit. Very much open to interpretation, and a decent psychedelic cartoon.

3

ueno_station54

05-28-22, 04:49 PM

https://cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/malice181.jpg
Malice in Wonderland (Vince Collins, 1982)

Weird to say a film of this length is stronger in the first half but its true lol. The first bit playing a bunch with dimensionality, the camera moving around the characters the way it did created so much depth before eventually flatting out in the later half. All the shit in the second half still rips though and this is the exact kind of shit animation is meant for. Really fun.
3.5

MovieGal

05-28-22, 11:21 PM

jiraffejustin

Can you please update first page with reviews? I did several the other night.

PHOENIX74

05-29-22, 12:17 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/QtTwN75N/nu-swedish-movie-poster-md.jpg

Now (Nu) - (2003)

Directed by Simon Staho

Getting Mads Mikkelsen for his short film must have been something of a coup for Simon Staho, and although he'd already directed a feature film in 1998 (also starring Mads Mikkelsen) it really has a 'student film' feel to it, with Staho in an experimental frame of mind. Before Covid (a new defining marker of our time) a friend of mine and I used to go to a small theater in the city - one of those very up-close-and-personal ones where up-and-coming playwrights put on all kinds of plays and shows that sometimes push the boundaries of art, or else hue closely to a certain framework that's tried and true. Nu very much feels like one of those plays, and afterwards we'd go have a drink to discuss it and either rip it to pieces or, if it was at least decent, explore what it all meant. The "gay issue" for lack of a better term (I'm sure there are hundreds of better) was a frequent theme, and here also, Nu explores homosexuality within the framework of the traditional expectations of an era when a guy was just expected to marry a woman and have children, without acknowledging his inner-most feelings. Perhaps that is why nobody talks in the short - people simply didn't talk back then. They were expected to just get on with what society demanded.

What bothered me quite a bit was that when the woman in this short became threatened by the man's sexuality and despondent over her abandonment she up and decides to drown their child - ending up in a mental institution. I get that the point might be, "don't force people into these roles or bad stuff happens" but turning this woman into a monster felt a little wrong. At the end, the lady is once again a violent transgressor. But perhaps I'm reading it all wrong. This short film is obviously open to interpretation, and yes, a woman in this situation, especially in those days, would normally react with anger - but killing the child just paints her as the villain through no fault of her own. Is her walk into the pond on her wedding day a suicidal wandering? The man rescues her, and although he eventually abandons her and the child, in the end she's painted in a pretty bad light. That age old trope of a woman being emotionally unstable reinforced through her actions here. (I might add though that at one stage the man walks off into a pond and ends up submerged, for a reason I can't quite grasp. He's in over his head, and is traumatized to the point of suicide as well?)

The film speaks well through touch, and just in the way the actors touch each other they act and say most everything that needs saying - and the framing is particularly good. Staho and more experienced cinematographer István Borbás get top points for that. Whatever was done to the baby's screams in this, it seems to have triggered something primal in most people who watch this short - and it feels awful to see anyone raising a child suddenly left to do it alone. For such a long time, people were just expected to marry a member of the opposite sex and start producing children whether ready to or not, and if not then nobody comes out of it unscathed - child or parent. Being gay just rubbed salt into the wounds, and the usual tale would be working a 9-to-5 job you hate, married to someone you hate and don't find attractive, with demanding children with problems. I really hope society continues to evolve, and freedoms increase so we never go back to a time (there are always people who want to go back, with even anti-contraception on the rise) when people were expected to fulfill a certain role in spite of who they really are. This short film reinforces that. There are places though, such as Saudi Arabia, that are still at square one.

3

PHOENIX74

05-29-22, 03:49 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/8zTNtMnr/a-gun-for-george.jpg

A Gun for George - (2011)

Directed by Matthew Holness

I loved Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and especially Man to Man with Dean Learner so I'm delighted this was nominated, as I'd never seen it before. Similar to Garth Marenghi, Matthew Holness plays Terry, a writer and peddler of pulp fiction, this time trashy crime novels - and specifically "The Reprisalizer", a Death Wish-type vigilante series loosely based on his own life, and featuring his beloved Allegro which is barely road-worthy and two Colt Cobra six-shooters. Of course, this is Holness, so the author is a devastatingly sad, foundering, middle aged man who is trying with all his might to keep his books in print and have them featured in libraries, and completely failing at that. When he isn't arguing with librarians over the merit of his fiction, he's daydreaming (in 70s exploitation film style) about being the Reprisalizer and shooting various punks "in the balls".

When not battling away in libraries and publishers offices, he's visiting Ron in hospital - an aged friend in particularly bad condition. Ron leaves Terry a note telling him he's leaving everything to the author, being one of those rare people who enjoyed his writing - but there's something Ron has left him which will invariably invite disaster, knowing Terry. That's if the last few minutes of A Gun For George isn't a fantasy, for during these moments the film has reverted to that 70s exploitation-reminiscent grainy film. The film also implies that Terry had a brother, George (which is what he calls his Allegro now) who was actually tortured by miscreants, thereby instigating the revenge fantasies that he uses in his novels. This could all be make-believe, which sometimes gets difficult to separate from fact in Terry's mind. I would have said that he considers his car his brother, but there is a picture with two versions of Terry in it. He's one of those characters who lacks the self-awareness to realise that he's on the very bottom when it comes to judging the worth of his prose, and that his novels aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

I really enjoyed A Gun for George, and I think it not only played into the strength for comedy that Matthew Holness has, but was touchingly human. It showed a man that had such a deep sense of what his wish-fulfillment would be like that he's put it on paper - thinking it worth sharing with the world. Of course, it would be more healthy for Terry to move on, in every respect, but he has something inside of him that needs some kind of psychological resolution. It's frightening in that you can just sense that one day he's going to try to achieve this, and it's going to end very badly - not only for him, but for other people. He lacks the complexity to work through his traumas in a healthy way, and instead sees things on a very base level - he'd like to torture and shoot those he sees as criminals, and all responsible for a crime he can't get past. I'm treating it all a little too seriously here. "What about my rights?" asks one scared punk in Terry's imagination/novel. "What about your wrongs?" asks Terry/The Reprisalizer. It's a very nice homage to exploitation cinema, a very funny short film and another notch on the belt of the talented Matthew Holness.

They wanted mercy. He didn't.

4

Takoma11

05-29-22, 10:06 AM

[CENTER]https://i.postimg.cc/QtTwN75N/nu-swedish-movie-poster-md.jpg

Now (Nu) - (2003)

What bothered me quite a bit was that when the woman in this short became threatened by the man's sexuality and despondent over her abandonment she up and decides to drown their child - ending up in a mental institution. I get that the point might be, "don't force people into these roles or bad stuff happens" but turning this woman into a monster felt a little wrong. At the end, the lady is once again a violent transgressor. But perhaps I'm reading it all wrong. This short film is obviously open to interpretation, and yes, a woman in this situation, especially in those days, would normally react with anger - but killing the child just paints her as the villain through no fault of her own.

My interpretation of that part of the film was that the woman was suffering from depression (and possibly post-partum depression, which can last longer than many people think). I thought that the distorted cries of the baby were meant to reflect her deteriorating mental state. I saw the infanticide as the act of someone who was sick and needed help, not as an act of revenge or retribution for the husband emotionally abandoning them.

Now, I have read several plot summaries that imply that what she does IS meant as a punishment. However, I think it's significant that he is haunted by her when he is an old man. He did what he had to do to make himself happy, but at the cost of his wife's mental health (and ultimately her freedom, possibly her life if we infer that she died herself in the mental hospital since the version of her we see as a ghost is unaged).

Torgo

05-29-22, 04:52 PM

The Heart of the World

I've seen two of Guy Maddin's movies, The Saddest Music in the World and My Winnipeg, and I enjoyed both a lot. This one distills what I like about them into a concise, 6-minute package. Besides the admiration the director wears on his sleeve for silent filmmaking, obviously, his defeatist sense of humor is on full display here. I mean, wouldn't it figure that the one person who can save the Earth ditches the two brothers, who appropriately represent life and death, for the embodiment of money and the guy who is likely responsible for this whole crisis? Luckily, she comes to her senses at the last moment, and also in true Maddin fashion, it's quality cinema that saves the planet. For that reason, however, it seems more like a glorified promo than a short film, which fits since the director made it to screen before full-length movies at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival. I still had a weird and funny time and credit it for whetting my appetite for more Maddin. I believe this would be a good place to start for those unfamiliar with his work.

Allaby

05-29-22, 06:33 PM

87360

I watched Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) for the first time today. Directed by Yuri Norstein, it is about a little hedgehog on a journey.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. The hedgehog is quite charming and endearing. It is easy for the viewer to become engaged in him and his adventure. The film is beautiful and lovely. It has a very nice look and feel to it, delightful, warm, and playful. The score was quite effective too.

Hedgehog in the Fog tells the story in an engaging and charming way and can delight viewers, young and old. Glad I finally saw it. Great nomination. 4.5

Allaby

05-29-22, 06:55 PM

Malice in Wonderland (1982) is a strange and surreal twist on the classic story of Alice in Wonderland. Directed by Vince Collins, the film uses a lot of sexual and bizarre imagery. I liked it a lot. I loved the weird, trippy style of animation and thought it was a fun ride. An entertaining and effective short film. I hadn't seen it before, but I'm happy to have seen it now. Good nomination. 4.5

Allaby

05-29-22, 07:14 PM

87361

I watched The Heart of the World (2000) today for the first time. Written and directed by Guy Maddin, this Canadian short film is about a woman who is a scientist who works at the earth's core. She is also in love with two brothers and has to save the world from dying.

Overall, I liked this. The film intentionally looks and feels a lot older than it is, being in black and white with no spoken dialogue. I thought that was an interesting artistic choice. The film is also really fast paced and moves extremely quickly. It makes for an entertaining, fun time. The use of music and the editing in the film were effective. Interesting pick. 4

Allaby

05-29-22, 07:46 PM

87362

I watched Shell Out (Un Obus Partout) 2015 tonight. Directed by Zaven Najjar, this short film is about a man and his friend who have to drive across a heavily guarded bridge in order to visit his fiancee. They decide to do so on the night of the world cup.

I liked the style of animation here with the characters in silhouette. The decision to switch between the journey across the bridge and the soccer game is an interesting and effective one. I also felt the music was quite effective in enhancing the mood of the film.

This was a pretty good story and I thought it was directed and edited in a smart and engaging way. This was a good nomination, as it doesn't seem to be a very well known short. I'm glad to have checked it out. 4

MovieGal

05-29-22, 08:11 PM

87363

The Heart of the World(2000)

The short film of two men who love the same woman, a scientist who studies the earth's core and has the knowledge that the world is to end in one day. She must decide which of the two men she loves. One of the brothers, an actor portraying Chris, oversees an orgy of drunken people, while the other brother, a mortician, whose corpse rise. Along comes a man, who is an industrialist, who is in love with money and in love with the woman herself. She decides to go to the center of the heart and become its new heart.

I thought this movie was very confusing. I watched it three times to grasp what was going on. Its not a bad film, but just to much sensory for me to really enjoy.

MovieGal

05-29-22, 08:26 PM

87364

Un Obus Partout
(2015)

The story of a young man and his friend, in Beruit, during a war. The young man convinces his friend to help him get from one side of a bridge to the other, where his girlfriend is waiting. They use the distraction of a Futball game between Belgium and Argentina, but at what cost?

I really enjoyed the visualization of this film. I thought it was interesting to use the distraction of the game as way to get what they ultimately wanted to do.

Thief

05-29-22, 08:52 PM

Deadline to join is today, right?

MovieGal

05-29-22, 08:55 PM

87365

A Gun for George
(2011)

The story of unknown writer Terry Finch, who continues to write stories of a vigilante who fights the thugs of Kent. The only thing is Terry continues to write reoccurring scenes in every novel, which causes the publisher to reject his latest book. Terry seems down on his luck most of the film and people continue to harass him and his car named George. Terry has thoughts of seeking justice for those who do him and his car harm. Terry's acquaintance, Ron, is on his death bed. Ron has left his possessions to Terry, who has visited him almost every day to read his novels to the dying man. While Terry reviews the books on the shelf at Ron's apartment, he finds a lockbox that contains a gun, which gives Terry an idea to take back his life.

I like this film. It had a 70s vibe which isn't a bad thing as I grew up in the 70s. It was entertaining and would probably watch it again.

Thief

05-29-22, 08:55 PM

Oops, I can't post my entry here, right?

Thief

05-29-22, 08:57 PM

Sent my entry to jj, in case I still can join.

MovieGal

05-29-22, 09:01 PM

Oops, I can't post my entry here, right?

right, I was going to message you and tell you to message it to JJ. Im sure the bid is still open. Most of us have watched almost all the films.

Captain Terror

05-29-22, 09:04 PM

I'm waiting for the deadline to pass before I start watching in earnest

MovieGal

05-29-22, 09:06 PM

I'm waiting for the deadline to pass before I start watching in earnest

You can start watching anytime. I have had two long sessions where I have most of the films done.

I finally figured out how to get them to work on my Amazon Fire TV. My laptop tends to be slow.

MovieGal

05-29-22, 09:23 PM

87366

The House is Black
(1963)

A documentary film of a leper colony in Iran. Leprosy is a devastating disease. It affects a person physically and mentally. They say "ugliness" in the film but their view on life is positive. They are filled with religious fervor. These people do not take things for granted. They are isolated from the outside world other than the doctors, nurses and teachers who take care of them.

I do not find any ugliness in this documentary. The only ugliness is the people who make them feel unwanted and lowly. I enjoyed this documentary and it would be one I would share with others, who I know would view it as I have.

Takoma11

05-29-22, 09:24 PM

Oops, I can't post my entry here, right?

Nominations aren't secret here. You can just post your entry.

SpelingError

05-29-22, 10:48 PM

You guys are on a roll here. I'll have to pick up my pace, it seems.

Citizen Rules

05-29-22, 10:50 PM

You guys are on a roll here. I'll have to pick up my pace, it seems. I have even started yet:eek:

Takoma11

05-29-22, 10:54 PM

You guys are on a roll here. I'll have to pick up my pace, it seems.

I mean, you can go from not having started to being done in less than the time it takes to watch a baseball game.

SpelingError

05-29-22, 11:38 PM

I mean, you can go from not having started to being done in less than the time it takes to watch a baseball game.

Yeah, I'm just a slacker when it comes to writing reviews.

MovieGal

05-29-22, 11:42 PM

Yeah, I'm just a slacker when it comes to writing reviews.

Do like I did.. break it up into 3 sessions. Its so much easier.

SpelingError

05-29-22, 11:44 PM

Do like I did.. break it up into 3 sessions. Its so much easier.

I generally do one at a time, but I'll have to keep that in mind for the future.

MovieGal

05-29-22, 11:46 PM

I generally do one at a time, but I'll have to keep that in mind for the future.

4 to 5 short films are less than the actual movie time. I watch one, write its review and then move to the next. I know you like to think about what you watch before you do your review. I cant do that.. and its funny because I think of things I want to say about mine while watching it but never actually put what I had in mind.

SpelingError

05-29-22, 11:58 PM

4 to 5 short films are less than the actual movie time. I watch one, write its review and then move to the next. I know you like to think about what you watch before you do your review. I cant do that.. and its funny because I think of things I want to say about mine while watching it but never actually put what I had in mind.

I'll probably finish up the 28th HoF in a few days and then I'll be able to commit myself more to this Hall. That way, it'll likely be easier to handle.

MovieGal

05-30-22, 12:00 AM

I'll probably finish up the 28th HoF in a few days and then I'll be able to commit myself more to this Hall. That way, it'll likely be easier to handle.

I think I have two for this.. Theif's nomination and my own.. and I have 3 films for the other. I hope to be done this week with both unless someone else joins this.

I figured out how to get the site to play on my Fire Stick... just a bit of adjusting here or there.

jiraffejustin

05-30-22, 12:01 AM

Sent my entry to jj, in case I still can join.

Yeah, I'll add your stuff to the OP soon, but you can join and share the video of your nom until I can get it updated.

Thief

05-30-22, 12:43 AM

Here it is...

https://vimeo.com/386467614

PHOENIX74

05-30-22, 03:09 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/wTxFnK0j/seven.jpg

Seven - (2018)

Directed by James Morgan

Deep in the Norwegian Arctic a man is being held prisoner by a group of native dwellers, not all that different from us, but beholden to their own customs and way of life. The prisoner is guilty of killing this group's leader, and the leader's daughter has it on her head to either rescue or condemn the man. A ritual plays out where her father's body is cremated in a canoe while a second one with a village elder, the daughter and the transgressor in it row out to deep waters - seven knots in a rope, and seven seconds to decide if he lives or dies. The story almost plays a secondary role to the majestic scenery and there are some pretty breathtaking and satisfying shots that do justice to the Norwegian seaside landscape. Oil rigs dot the coastline, visible reminders of the conflict that goes on, of which our small band are a part of. It's beautiful stuff, and just the sight of it gives the impression that anyone who visits would be compelled to film there.

I left Seven pretty hungry for more of this story, but everything is expertly divulged to us in the mere 10 to 11 minutes the film runs - from the different outlook the youth has in comparison with her older mentors, to the conflict going on and differing characteristics of all three characters. It seems more geared to be a comment on capitol punishment rather than the intrusion these oil and gas companies make into what were once pristine landscapes and unmolested communities. The prisoner seems to have had a kangaroo court decide his fate, and his linguistic difficulties does nothing to further any hope we might have that it was fair. Instead, it seems that the anger these locals have towards what is happening to their home has been transferred to this unfortunate man who happens to have made a really bad mistake, without any malicious intent on his part. It's an okay story, but what I really took away from this were the visuals, which are superb.

3.5

PHOENIX74

05-30-22, 04:37 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/nLB92k9t/shell-all.jpg

Shell All (Un obus partout)- (2015)

Directed by Zaven Najjar

Beirut, 1982 - The FIFA World Cup is about to commence and Gabriel is pining for his fiancé Houda, who he hasn't seen in months. Israel invaded just days ago, and the Palestine Liberation Organization remains under fire - meaning that the bridge Gabriel must cross is under constant attack. He outlines a plan he has, to cross the bridge while the opening game between Argentina and Belgium is played. There is much interest in superstar Maradona, and Gabriel thinks eyes will be glued to television sets around Beirut, allowing him and driver Mokhtar to race across to the other side without getting killed. Helping them will be Mokhtar's lucky charm, but before the drive even starts, Gabriel will have to survive the day in a war zone, with explosions and ricochets sending shrapnel flying.

Un obus partout utilizes an animation technique that uses silhouettes and cut-outs, and it is one that director Zaven Najjar has developed and used in other films (including a one-minute version of Steven Spielberg film Jaws.) This film has a personal connection to him, for he's of Lebanese descent, although he's based in Paris - he also does work illustrating. I think his work is very stylish, and looks very attractive - he can really accentuate aspects of the animation to bring something to the forefront of our mind, such as the soccer balls and Maradona posters - getting us to really realise how popular the sport is at this time, or else blood, which is being spilled on the streets on an hourly basis. When night falls, much of the shapes in the world Najjar has created turn ink black, and the sky becomes blood-red - which is really effective. He won awards for creating this work, and I enjoyed watching it very much. Gabriel is young and reckless, and risks everything to see the one he loves - and also to prove himself in a World turned upside down. Visually impressive and impactful.

4

Takoma11

05-30-22, 12:00 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsevenshortfilm.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F06%2FSEVEN-7-e1529591260427.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Seven, 2018

In a small village, Yohana (Dagny Backer Johnsen) has lost a loved one due to a conflict with a local oil company. The leader of their village (Trond Teigen) wants Yohana to go through with a tradition of retribution against an oil worker (Nicholas Boulton) responsible for her father's death.

The most memorable part of this film was definitely the stunning setting. The beauty of the surroundings seems to condemn at once the intrusion of the oil company AND the ugly actions of the villagers.

Something that the film seems to get right is the way that anger at corporations or large institutions gets aimed at the people on the front line. There's no way that the man who has been captured by the village actually has power over the company's actions. From the little dialogue we get from him, it seems as if his job was to escort a geologist to the shore.

It's also an interesting look at two different points of view. On one hand, the leader's insistence that they have to send a message to the company, that they have to impress on the company that there are consequences. At the same time, Yohana's own sense of justice that actually takes into account the larger guilt of the oil worker.

I found myself wanting just a little more from this one. Maybe more of Johana's experience with the oil worker, or an interaction with anyone else in the village.

3.5+

ueno_station54

05-30-22, 02:58 PM

https://assets.mubicdn.net/images/film/2969/image-w1280.jpg?1481542825
The Heart of the World (Guy Maddin, 2000)

I haven't seen much of Maddin's work but he's kind of always been someone I appreciated more than actually liked but I think this is easily my favourite thing I've seen from him. Recreating a style of filmmaking I really love and doing a more than admiral job of capturing the vibe. I often lament how films aren't able to have this kind of energy anymore and I'm glad to see it brought back here like 70 years later lol. Maddin really nailed this. The visuals, story and energy all ring true of this style and its a blast. Loved it.
rating_4

jiraffejustin

05-30-22, 03:55 PM

I haven't updated the OP entirely yet (I can't keep up with y'all), but I have added Thief's nom. We have technically started now. I'll take some input on when y'all think the deadline should be.

SpelingError

05-30-22, 05:18 PM

I haven't updated the OP entirely yet (I can't keep up with y'all), but I have added Thief's nom. We have technically started now. I'll take some input on when y'all think the deadline should be.
Maybe we could do two reviews each week. That should probably be feasible.

SpelingError

05-30-22, 08:02 PM

A Gun for George (2011) - 3.5

This short centers around Terry Finch, an unsuccessful writer of pulp-fiction crime novels who struggles to find publishing for them. Given the lack of success he finds throughout the short and the trouble he gets himself into in the process, it seems clear that he should give up. Via flashback though, it's implied his brother was killed by a group of carjackers, thus making the main character in his novels a stand-in for his brother and the act of publishing them a tribute to him. As a result, I felt sympathy for Terry and hoped for him to find success. Terry copes with the setbacks he experiences throughout the short by imagining himself as the character in his novels who "kills" the people who give him trouble throughout the short. As others have noted, these scenes are technically impressive for how they accurately recreate the look and feel of a 70's grindhouse film. They're also quite humorous given how Terry often shoots people in their balls in them. With that being said though, while this short offers a handful of interesting concepts, I don't think it wrapped itself up well. Since the short wasn't about Terry facing death, the implication that his life might be in danger at the end didn't work for me and seemed to come out of nowhere. Maybe if the short fleshed out the "fantasy and reality becoming intertwined" theme more, the ending would've appropriately chilled me. Still though, I found a lot to like about this short and I'm glad I watched it.

Next Up: The Heart of the World

PHOENIX74

05-31-22, 02:29 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/tT4NLyRt/goodbye-mommy.jpg

Goodbye Mommy- (2019)

Directed by Jack Wedge

It's messy, looks a little unfinished, and headache inducing, but there's something about Goodbye Mommy that makes me want to watch it over and over again. A detective, sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit, gets out and finds himself embroiled in a search for a Queen's extraterrestrial child and husband, the King. The animated world that the story takes place in pulsates, rips apart and disintegrates and absolutely anything can happen from one moment to the next. Parts are very crudely put together - but that's where a lot of it's meaning is, and you get a sense that the world this detective lives in is crumbling, as is his mind after his wife leaves him and he finds out he's not immune to the schemes of the criminals who put him behind bars.

The stated aim of Goodbye Mommy is to make you “feel like you’re on drugs”- and it probably does better on that count than many other animated shorts. The film acts as it's own Psychoactive Fungi. It has a coherent story, which contrasts the insane visuals we're presented with - everything happening for a reason no matter how crazy or seemingly strange and exotic. Little clues litter the margins, and seeming lunacy is stitched together with reason. Jack Wedge takes us beyond our own imaginings, into overload - and I have to admit not only having a headache after I watched the short film, but also feeling a little motion sick. But I'm drawn to this strange thing like a moth to the flame - despite that slight aura of ugliness it has about it from time to time. But as I said, that fits in with the world Wedge's detective lives in. It's a really artful, cool little piece of animation.

4

PHOENIX74

05-31-22, 05:00 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/LXxzgdys/night-and-fog.jpg

Night and Fog (Nuit et brouillard)- (1955)

Directed by Alain Resnais

I'm sitting here after watching Night and Fog without knowing the words to describe what I've seen - Alain Resnais, with the help of poet Jean Cayrol and collaborator Chris Marker walk you to the gates of the Nazi-era concentration camp - it's ruins in 1955, then back to 1933 going through the whole process of how they were built, by whom and for what. Step by step, every detail from architecture, building methods, contractors, design - and then they populate them with already tormented souls - we try to imagine, if it had been us - who have endured those train journeys, with comrades dying in the suffocating cattle wagons. Once you're there, really there in your mind, we are hit with the full horror - the disease, cruelty and bizarre practice of recycling all of the women's hair for blankets, skin for writing on and body fat for soap. We see the horrors that were finally captured on film once the allies had discovered and liberated the camps. Bulldozers pushing masses of arms, legs, heads and bodies. More horror, and more. Images that defy description.

This film was the landmark first step, and since then the film world has tried to slowly come to grips with what happened during that era. Resnais wants to go further though, because he doesn't believe that the history of the concentration camp started, or finished, there. That the 'monster' of brutality he speaks of may be subdued, but not dead. We hear of them from time to time - for example, in China recently. They still spring up - and that's what he really wants to warn us of. We have a responsibility to fight any return to the practices enacted by the concentration camp. Night and Fog was the name given to a decree in Nazi Germany that would make Partisans and Resistance leaders disappear without anyone ever knowing what happened to them. We were never meant to know what happened in those camps I guess. The Germans thought they'd win the war and shrug their shoulders when people began to question what had happened to all those people.

Night and Fog shakes you up when you watch it. That's for sure. It so expertly encapsulates what it wants to say in those 32 minutes that it's a masterful piece of work. Those slow tracking shots of the overgrown remains of the camps, intermingled with the historical footage, give a bridge to everything that happened there that wouldn't otherwise exist with straight grainy black and white film - snippets of awful stuff, always somewhat removed. The poetic, emotionless narration is haunting. I'd seen this short before, but it got me all over again like I was watching it for the first time - especially the "hospital", "surgery" and "prison" inside a camp and what went on in those places. A landmark, and very important, documentary and short film.

5

Citizen Rules

05-31-22, 12:36 PM

Yahoo! I finally started this...but I have no idea about how to critique short films? So I guess I'll just be unastute and go by what I like.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fb3%2Fea%2F01%2Fb3ea0138810034edb8d5c13470488818.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Brats (1930)

I don't remember that scene in the screenshot...did anyone else see it? Maybe it's a promo still for the film?

Glad this was nominated, as I find it rewarding to explore very early cinema. This Laurel & Hardy short was well done too and the BIG sets were cool to see. On a personal note I'm more of a Keaton, Chaplin & Lloyd fan than I am of Laurel and Hardy though I do appreciate the chemistry they had together.

Citizen Rules

05-31-22, 12:43 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F43%2Fd7%2Fd0%2F43d7d00f9b6b7f3a5958971218086d2f.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
Hedgehog in the Fog (1975)

I'm not sure what Hedgehog's journey into the fog represents, maybe it represents nothing and what we see is how a little hedgehog would view a world different than his own as he journeys though the mysterious land called 'fog'.

I enjoyed this and really liked the animation style and the way we explore the fog along with the little hedgehog was satisfying.

Thief

05-31-22, 02:54 PM

I just finished my monthly challenge last night, so I'm sure I can tackle a couple of these today. We'll see.

Thief

06-01-22, 12:07 AM

O-key, I just started with Malice in Wonderland cause it's the shortest and that was, uhhh, that was quite something.

jiraffejustin

06-01-22, 12:14 PM

Maybe we could do two reviews each week. That should probably be feasible.

I like this. That would have the deadline around July 4th, but I'll be celebrating the shit out of America on that day, so everybody cool with July 9th as the deadline date?\

EDIT: If everybody votes before then, I will be more than happy to call it early btw

Captain Terror

06-01-22, 12:33 PM

All of the nominations combined probably add up to less than two hours, but agonizing over the rankings is going to take me weeks. :p

So July 9 is good with me

Torgo

06-01-22, 12:35 PM

https://i.imgur.com/NqR7Lwq.jpg

Sorry, couldn't resist.

But anyway, I interpreted this short as being about the consequences of living a life filled with regret and of not fully accepting your true self. From what I can tell, we are seeing the final thoughts of a man on his deathbed as he owns up to the consequences of doing what society expects of men, i.e., marry a woman, start a family, etc. instead of embracing his homosexuality. It provides food for thought for all of the above and there are techniques and direction that struck a chord with me. I especially like the use of mirrors for how they capture the duality of our true identities versus the ones we project to other people. What I'll remember the most about this movie, though, are the scenes with Mads and his wife and with his lover where they kiss, grab their faces, choke each other, etc., which I took as an attempt at using actions instead of words to express both the pleasures and frustrations of intimacy.

Despite its qualities, the short is a bit too cold and obtuse for me to fully embrace. While I expect a bit of iciness in Scandinavian art, it's perhaps too icy for my liking. Also - and despite what I like about its style - it often borders on parody of the stereotypical black and white European art movie and perfume commercials from the '80s and '90s. It's always nice to see Mads Mikkelsen and Erland Josephson in anything, and again, it does provide worthwhile food for thought, but it's a short I appreciate more than enjoy. Oh, and it also deserves credit for giving us an idea of what Lars Von Trier's version of Brokeback Mountain would look like.

Allaby

06-01-22, 12:58 PM

I like this. That would have the deadline around July 4th, but I'll be celebrating the shit out of America on that day, so everybody cool with July 9th as the deadline date?\

EDIT: If everybody votes before then, I will be more than happy to call it early btw

July 9th sounds like a good deadline. I'll probably finish up this week myself.

Citizen Rules

06-01-22, 01:39 PM

Does anybody have a link to Seven (2018)

Allaby

06-01-22, 01:44 PM

The House is Black (1963) is a documentary short directed by Forugh Farrokhzad focusing on a leper colony in Northern Iran. I had seen this once before and was very impressed with it, giving it a perfect rating at that time. I was equally impressed with it this time.

This is an absolute masterpiece, gripping, powerful, and moving. I really liked the poetic elements of the film and I thought it was done very effectively. The film is honest and real, but never exploitative. It feels compassionate, humane and empathetic, without coming across as manipulative or sappy. The House is Black is a beautiful film and one of the greatest short films I have ever seen. 5

Thief

06-01-22, 02:20 PM

Does anybody have a link to Seven (2018)

There is a Vimeo link a couple of pages back, but here it is anyway...

https://vimeo.com/386467614

Allaby

06-01-22, 02:23 PM

I watched Nu (2003). Directed by Simon Staho, the film stars Mads Mikkelsen,Elin Klinga and Mikael Persbrandt. It's about a man and woman who got married in the 60s. It seems like it is more out of a sense of duty and expectation than out of love. The husband falls in love with another man and starts an affair, having devastating consequences on his wife. I thought Mikkelsen was very good here and the other actors were fine too. It was somewhat interesting, but I feel they could have done more with the story. Some of the characters actions didn't completely work for me and didn't always fit with the story in a convincing way. There are enough good moments here though to make it worth watching. I'm glad I checked it out as it doesn't seem to be very well known. 3

Citizen Rules

06-01-22, 02:31 PM

There is a Vimeo link a couple of pages back, but here it is anyway...

I missed that link, so thanks for reposting it.

Allaby

06-01-22, 05:54 PM

I watched A Gun for George (2011). Written, directed by and starring Matthew Holness, it is about a frustrated novelist of a series of crime novels. He is struggling to get his books in stores or in libraries and often imagines himself as the character in the book. I enjoyed this. It had some fun moments and some nice humour. Holness is quite good as the main character, unhinged but still sympathetic. I also liked the look of the film, especially the retro 70s parts. This was entertaining and well paced. Good pick. 3.5

Allaby

06-01-22, 06:28 PM

I just finished watching Goodbye Mommy (2019). Directed by Jack Wedge, it is about a detective hired by a queen to locate her baby. The animation in this was unusual, but I think it worked for this short. The characters were interesting and the story was told in an odd and trippy sort of way. The voice acting was pretty good and it was well paced. Good pick as most of us wouldn't have seen this if it wasn't nominated. 3.5

Citizen Rules

06-01-22, 08:50 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F6d%2Fbf%2Fdc%2F6dbfdc42d96f1706b38384f5b51642a8.jpg&f=1&nofb=1The Heart of the World (2000)

I dug the music score! It was quite heroic and fitting for the style of film making. I'm not sure what this was about and that's OK I liked the way it looked and was edited, it put me in the mind set of Metropolis and I bet someone else has already made that comparison.

Allaby

06-01-22, 09:03 PM

Seven (2018) is directed by James Morgan and focus on a young woman who has has to make a life or death decision in seven seconds. The film takes plan in the Arctic Circle. I thought this was a well made and effective dramatic short. The cinematography is excellent. The film looks beautiful. Performances are good and the story was interesting. This was a good nomination. I'm glad I got to check it out. 4

Citizen Rules

06-01-22, 09:09 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.mubicdn.net%2Fimages%2Ffilm%2F31663%2Fimage-w448.jpg%3F1445877925&f=1&nofb=1

Malice in Wonderland (1982)

That character^ reminds me of the animation style of the Beatles Yellow Submarine. However the continuous animated transformations from one thing to another, many starting out as giant vulvas reminded me of animated sequences from Pink Floyd's The Wall (the movie, not the album). Interesting to watch, probably good or maybe bad for those with ADT, maybe perfect for those on an acid trip or just skip the acid and watch this.

Allaby

06-01-22, 09:47 PM

I just finished watching Night and Fog (1956). Wow, just wow. This was horrific, harrowing, and disturbing. Some films you truly can't unsee. It's so heartbreaking and disgusting the evils and atrocities that humanity has done to one another. This is an essential and important film, as difficult as it is to watch. Night and Fog is an incredibly powerful documentary short and undeniably a masterpiece. 5

Thief

06-02-22, 12:18 AM

Just finished The Heart of the World

Torgo

06-02-22, 12:38 PM

Hedgehog in the Fog

This adorable and atmospheric Russian short plays out like an adaptation of the best children's book you've never read. Speaking of, if it is an adaptation, I'd pay a lot for a copy. I love how fluid and nuanced the animation is and I credit it for not looking like any other animated short - or feature length animated movie, for that matter - I've ever seen. For the most part, it looks like Norstein used cardboard and/or paper cutouts, but in some shots, I have no clue how he pulled them off. To be specific, the rotating shot of the tree - taken from the hedgehog's perspective - and the animation of the water in the scene where our hero floats down the stream. They are so detailed and realistic that they might as well be real thing.

Is there more to this short than splendid animation and the thrills and chills in the hedgehog's adventure? I found it to be a tale about the importance of taking a leap of faith and the road less traveled every now and then. The fog, like any place outside our comfort zones, is full of dangers both real and imagined. It's a place where bad things can happen, but as evidenced by the kindly dog who returns the hedgehog's knapsack, that's not all that can happen. When the hedgehog finally meets the bear, he is justifiably silent because his experience has left him with a lot to think about. However, they're memories that will last a lifetime, and when he does speak, he'll likely blow the bear's mind!

SpelingError

06-02-22, 08:11 PM

The Heart of the World (2000) - 4

This is my second time watching this short and it's just as great as I remember it being. This time around, I appreciated the unique style of pacing of this short quite a bit more. The short moves at an incredibly fast clip and the story, editing, and music work in harmony at giving it this unique feel. In spite of the short only lasting 6 minutes, quite a lot happens story-wise which is squeezed into that timeframe. While doing this can often lead to the work in question suffering from a lack of breathing room though, I didn't feel that with this short since it remained easy to follow from beginning to end. The editing also contributes to this short's unique pacing (from what I read, the average shot in this film lasts for about two seconds). Finally, that the music moves at a fast clip as well further contributes to this feel. I also give this short credit for how it captures the feel of a silent film pretty well. I've seen a handful of films which simply put on a black and white filter, mute the sound, and consider that to be sufficient, but this short goes a couple steps further by adopting the unique framing and grainy/scratched film stock which is commonly found in silent films. The only thing Maddin might've forgotten about was the aspect ratio, but whatever. He still got more right than wrong. I wouldn't say I have any issues with this short, though while the ending is certainly surprising, I'm not sure how to interpret it. I may have responded better to a more grounded ending. Who knows. Regardless, this is still a great short film which I'm glad I rewatched.

Next Up: Hedgehog in the Fog

jiraffejustin

06-03-22, 11:04 AM

Just a quick update: I plan on getting the OP updated with all the reviews, writing up my first review (The House Is Black), and knocking out a few viewings myself this weekend. I can't keep up with y'all in real time.

SpelingError

06-04-22, 07:26 PM

Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) - 4.5

This is my 3rd or 4th time watching this short and it's just as great as I remember it being. While I like how atmospheric it is with the lighting and fog, what keeps me coming back to it is how the various characters the hedgehog encounters convey both horror and wonder at the same time. A few of the animals, like the owl, bats, and the dog, feel intimidating with the way they're introduced, but given how they interact with the hedgehog, it doesn't seem like the hedgehog is actually in any danger. It mostly just feels like the hedgehog is walking around in a harmless environment that looks more spooky than it really is. As with my prior viewings, two characters stuck out to me, in particular. The first is the mysterious sea creature the hedgehog encounters while floating down a river. The horror elements - the hedgehog being powerless to the sea creature, the horror of what's unseen, the mystery of what the shadow belongs to - are all there, yet the short undercuts these elements and portrays the sea creature as friendly. The second character is the horse. This is the most obvious example of a mysterious character in the short, but it's also one of the most memorable characters. I like how the horse can be briefly seen observing the hedgehog a couple times and how the mystery of it is alluded to at the end with the line "How is she there...in the fog?" In short, it's a truly charming film which is endlessly rewatchable.

Next Up: Malice in Wonderland

SpelingError

06-04-22, 07:27 PM

As an aside, if you guys enjoyed Hedgehog in the Fog, you should also watch Tale of Tales from the same director. It's also really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN1zimADh6Q

Thief

06-04-22, 11:44 PM

Anybody has a link for The House is Black? Thanks!

SpelingError

06-05-22, 12:49 AM

Anybody has a link for The House is Black? Thanks!

Sent!

Thief

06-06-22, 10:16 PM

Just finished The House is Black. Didn't know *anything* about it and I... was not prepared for that.

Citizen Rules

06-06-22, 10:18 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.GmEy4FoXPU6Pm09ukIGVkwAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1
Un obus partout (2015)

I'm no expert on animation styles so I won't try to describe the unique style used here. I'll just say the animation was something I've not seen before. What did strike me was the story, it's simple yet hits hard. In the war-torn city of Beirut circa 1982 two young guys want to cross a bridge and they know snipers are in action. The scene of youthful risk taking coupled with a sad awakening was the bridge crossing scene: the two guys speed in their car as bullets whizz by and yet they treat the danger like a game to be beat. Indeed they are elated when they make it to the other side beating the sniper...but then they see a person in the distance fall dead from the sniper fire. The look on their faces after they realize the deadliness of the situation was priceless and said more in a few seconds than many films do in 2 hours.

Citizen Rules

06-06-22, 10:42 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=87465
A Gun for George (2011)

If I was a big time movie producer looking to find a new movie project that would be guaranteed to make money, I'd get Matthew Holness to sell me the rights to his short film 'A Gun for George', then I'd see if the actor in the short film was available to make a feature length film and I'd get Holness to write and direct it. I bet I could make a pretty penny off the project too. So yes, I thought this was a top notch job and the story premise original with hilarious dialogue. I loved that George loved his car so much... So why isn't Matthew Holness in the big leagues? He should be, he's good.

Now get prepared for a jolt. With all my amazement and admiration for the skill of the film maker, the subject matter made me think of the recent events of the Texas school shooting. No matter how fun and well made this film is, IMO it glorifies guns and revenge killing. If Terry our dehinged hero was real, he'd be most likely take his vigilantism and his love of the Colt Python .38 to a nearby neighborhood and unleash his anger at being an outsider on those who he believes 'wronged' him.

I've heard people say the same sort thing about Joker (2019), but I didn't get the same, killing those who wronged you vibe, as being cool from Joker, like I did from A Gun From George. To me this might turn out to be the most disturbing film in this HoF.

SpelingError

06-07-22, 12:22 AM

Just finished The House is Black. Didn't know *anything* about it and I... was not prepared for that.

Good luck with Night and Fog then. ;)

In all sincerity though, sorry if it caused any issues of any kind. I nominated it mainly because it's really underseen and is among my favorites.

Citizen Rules

06-07-22, 03:09 AM

Good luck with Night and Fog then. ;)

In all sincerity though, sorry if it caused any issues of any kind. I nominated it mainly because it's really underseen and is among my favorites.
I just watched The House is Black, I thought it was informative and I felt like I learned about something that I had heard of but not really ever seen. I'll write more in my review tomorrow.

jiraffejustin

06-07-22, 05:22 AM

The House Is Black

I've been trying to write something about The House Is Black for over a week now. It's not like it's the first time I've seen it and it has blindsided me or anything, but even after multiple viewings, the film is so powerful that I feel like my inability to express my feelings towards it is doing it a disservice so I scrap everything I have written about it. I think I am going to just have to bite down on my proverbial mouthpiece and just throw out whatever word salad I come out with to the world. Or just write something like "Damn, that's powerful, poetic, human, and other buzzwords others have probably already used." It very easily could have felt like a piece of exploitation, which I guess all films, especially documentaries kind of are, as you have a person creating a piece of art that they want to represent themselves by filming others. Regardless of the end result or even the end goal, there is always that reality of the film's attachment to the creator, but that thought never crosses my mind while I am watching The House Is Black. There is the ugliness of the ailment on screen, yet the film is beautiful at all times, some how. I don't know why it is so powerful to see people praying and giving thanks for the eyes and vision they are slowly losing, but it is. This film also does the impossible by letting us compassionately look at folks that it would otherwise be rude to look at for this long, if that makes any sense. I mean, I would definitely feel awkward just watching people like this in real life, especially people with this ailment as I would get nervous, making them think I was negatively judging them.

Anyway, that's probably more word soup than word salad, but I did my worst.

SpelingError

06-07-22, 11:03 AM

I just watched The House is Black, I thought it was informative and I felt like I learned about something that I had heard of but not really ever seen. I'll write more in my review tomorrow.

Glad you enjoyed it! I've seen the doc a few times and found it to be a powerful experience every viewing. It's a shame that Farrokhzad died fairly early though. Who knows what else she could've directed?

Captain Terror

06-07-22, 11:20 AM

No matter how fun and well made this film is, IMO it glorifies guns and revenge killing.

I've heard people say the same sort thing about Joker (2019), but I didn't get the same, killing those who wronged you vibe, as being cool from Joker, like I did from A Gun From George.

I didn't see it this way. Terry might think he looks cool in his fantasy segments but what makes them funny to us is his ultimate impotence. All he can do with his anger in real life is to give people the finger and write terrible books that nobody reads. "The Reprisalizer" is a dumb nickname. His character punishes people for dumb reasons, like overcharging him for auto repairs. His car is lame. And so on.

It's when he gains access to a weapon that the tone changes to "OK, this isn't funny any more." So I think you're right in finding the end disturbing, but I disagree that you're supposed to think he's cool at any point.

As for Holness, check out his horror film Possum. There's a couple of moments that genuinely creeped me out, which doesn't happen to me very often any more.

Torgo

06-07-22, 11:32 AM

Brats

This is the first Laurel and Hardy short film I've watched, and I found it very funny. First, kudos goes to the production designer for their oversized furniture and fixtures that make Laurel and Hardy Jr. convincing as children. My brain adjusted almost immediately to these sets, which let me focus on the performances first and foremost. As for the pint-sized counterparts, I approve of the duo's decision to play them pretty much as their adult selves in child's clothing instead of making moves like affecting high-pitched voices, making significant changes to their personalities, etc. If they had done so, they wouldn't have been Laurel and Hardy anymore, obviously, and besides, it's funny enough for adults to behave like children without also pretending to be like them. Speaking of, that describes their grown equivalents - at least while they're playing games together - and speaks to the point of the movie pretty well, doesn't it? In addition to the deluge of a finale, I laughed hardest when Hardy Sr. sings the boys to sleep - especially because of Laurel Sr.'s less than helpful contribution - and when Laurel Jr. forgot to remove one of his boxing gloves. It's not perfect: while it has its moments, especially the conclusion, the billiards scene reeks of filler and went on a little too long for my liking. The short still proves that good old-fashioned slapstick, and again, seeing grownups behave like children, will never not be funny. Oh, and it makes me thankful that as bad as things are right now, at least we live in an era where we can use white noise machines to help children go to sleep.

Thief

06-07-22, 12:10 PM

Good luck with Night and Fog then. ;)

In all sincerity though, sorry if it caused any issues of any kind. I nominated it mainly because it's really underseen and is among my favorites.

At least I know what Night and Fog is about :D I walked into The House is Black literally knowing nothing about what it is about. But I have no issue with that, so no need to apologize. Just stating how much it caught me off guard. Good nom.

Citizen Rules

06-07-22, 12:34 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cageyfilms.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F03%2Fhouse-is-black.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
The House is Black (1963)

There's lots of great composition shots in this film. Whenever you have the juxtaposition of something visually uncomfortable, such as the distorted faces of the lepers, coupled with a touchingly human moment of everyday interaction...it then makes for an impactful image with an emotional payoff.

I'm glad that The House is Black showed the lepers upclose and personal. By that I mean we not only see the ravages of the disease on their bodies but equally import we see their personal lives as they partake in the same kind of daily activities that we all do. That personal look at the colony makes the lepers not seem like freaks in a carnival show but like the fellow human beings that they are.

MovieGal

06-07-22, 04:14 PM

As for Holness, check out his horror film Possum. There's a couple of moments that genuinely creeped me out, which doesn't happen to me very often any more.

I may have to find this.

Captain Terror

06-07-22, 04:45 PM

I may have to find this.

It's a weird one.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/6560f6dfbec87b1c833b15de2836eef6/6836d290e9544c68-43/s540x810/48d6f40860ecb72d09df6bf138c461c6b11762ab.gifv

MovieGal

06-07-22, 05:33 PM

It's a weird one.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/6560f6dfbec87b1c833b15de2836eef6/6836d290e9544c68-43/s540x810/48d6f40860ecb72d09df6bf138c461c6b11762ab.gifv

Lol Captain, you don't know me very well. The weirder the better is fine with me.

Ppl here who know me, either cute and adorable or gory and strange, I have no in-between.

SpelingError

06-07-22, 08:32 PM

Malice in Wonderland (1982) - 4

Overall, I enjoyed this short quite a bit. I'm generally not a fan of films/shows/etc. which turn kids' shows into adult films since the concept been done to death, but I think this short managed to find a unique voice in tackling the subject due to how bizarre it is. A lot of the imagery in the film is memorable, with my favorite bits being those which play with dimension and scale, those which utilize the recursion effect (the woman somersaulting and the tea cup), and some of the phallic imagery. In spite of how much sexual imagery is crammed into this short, nothing feels out of place since the entire thing feels like a nightmare. Really, this is the kind of stuff that animation is made for since I can't see a live action short accurately recreating what this short does. Plus, the film is long enough so that it doesn't end too soon and short enough so that it doesn't overstay its welcome. While it doesn't break any new ground, it does manage to breathe some new ideas into a rather tired concept. I'm not sure if I would want to watch more animated shorts akin to it, but I'm glad I watched this one.

Next Up: Night and Fog

CosmicRunaway

06-08-22, 11:21 AM

As for Holness, check out his horror film Possum. There's a couple of moments that genuinely creeped me out, which doesn't happen to me very often any more.
I've had that on my watchlist for awhile now. Hearing it's genuinely creepy has made me even more keen to check it out. :up:

MovieGal

06-08-22, 01:09 PM

There are some short films that should never be allowed because it is considered a bit too shocking and in bad taste?! I guess how that would be described lol

Takoma11

06-08-22, 09:19 PM

I didn't see it this way. Terry might think he looks cool in his fantasy segments but what makes them funny to us is his ultimate impotence. All he can do with his anger in real life is to give people the finger and write terrible books that nobody reads. "The Reprisalizer" is a dumb nickname. His character punishes people for dumb reasons, like overcharging him for auto repairs. His car is lame. And so on.

It's when he gains access to a weapon that the tone changes to "OK, this isn't funny any more." So I think you're right in finding the end disturbing, but I disagree that you're supposed to think he's cool at any point.

Agreed. I think that it's a critique of the way that guns can become a "when you have a hammer . . . " kind of thing. And we've just witnessed a whole series of slights that could become a reason for a "reprisal".

As for Holness, check out his horror film Possum. There's a couple of moments that genuinely creeped me out, which doesn't happen to me very often any more.

I just rewatched the last 20 minutes or so of that one a few nights ago. Disturbing stuff, and a great performance from Sean Harris.

Captain Terror

06-08-22, 11:00 PM

a great performance from Sean Harris.

Indeed

Citizen Rules

06-08-22, 11:26 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FM%2FMV5BYmI4NDc3YTctZmVmNi00NDMyLTgxMDMtMWJiNGU4YjUyODk2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTQ0Mj gwMjQ%40._V1_FMjpg_UX600_.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Goodbye Mommy (2019)

I feel I should have some 3D font that changes shape and color as you read it and words that change from one thing to another in a fluid ever-changing sentence. So that when you get done reading it, it says something completely different than what you perceived. Gosh that would be cool!

So yeah, I liked Goodbye Mommy. I thought the animation style was aces, it was like the ever changing-ness created it's own underlying story. I liked the story too, sure it's weird with a giant queen and a strange baby that's been stolen by her king husband or maybe it was never hers in the first place.

But what I liked the most was the detective, he was properly angst ridden over his wife leaving him and I got this emotional insight from the story that they would get back together...or maybe it's just him wishing hard for what will never be again. I actually got a lot out of this short, which surprised me! Good nom.

Captain Terror

06-09-22, 10:31 AM

HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG

I've seen this one a few times in the past. Brother Popcorn can always be counted on to contribute it to my Halloween Cartoon threads that have existed on various forums (fora?) over the years.

Funny that such a harrowing night for Mr Hedgehog can be such a cozy warm-blanket of a movie for Capt. Terror. The design is gorgeous (love that upward shot of the tree), Hedgehog's little whisper of a voice is adorable, the friendship with the bear is adorable, etc.
There's not much of a narrative, so there's not much for me to "review". You either vibe with this or you don't I guess, and I very much vibe with it. :up:

I have also used it with my elementary students in a lesson about mood.
You couldn't have picked a better film for it. How do they generally respond? They're roughly tween-age, correct?

Takoma11

06-09-22, 10:49 AM

You couldn't have picked a better film for it. How do they generally respond? They're roughly tween-age, correct?

The kids I use it with are like 9-12 years old.

The biggest hurdle is the fact that it's subtitled, as I always have a few students who can' decode at the speed or difficulty required. I usually read the subtitles to them in a low voice as the short plays.

They tend to respond positively. They find the part with the unseen creature thrilling. They always laugh at the part with the owl following the hedgehog.

They are usually able to get to an understanding about how the use of the hedgehog's point of view makes things seem scary (like the leaves falling) that wouldn't normally be scary.

Takoma11

06-09-22, 10:50 AM

Am I supposed to send my rankings privately or is it ok to post them? I was doing it this way to help me keep track but if it's against the rules I'll find another way.

Too late. We've already taken a vote and disqualified you. :(

SpelingError

06-09-22, 11:35 AM

You generally keep your rankings private and dm them to the host (jiraffejustin) after you finish reviewing all the nominations.

SpelingError

06-09-22, 12:34 PM

Night and Fog (1956) - 4.5

I've watched this a few times and each viewing cements it as one of the best documentaries and short films I've ever seen. It's hard to watch, but I find the imagery in it highly important given that so much holocaust denial and antisemitism still exists in the world.

While most war films/documentaries hold back on showing the full extent of what was inflicted on people during those times, Resnais shows the worst of what went on in the concentration camps and it makes for a truly powerful and unforgettable experience. This documentary confronts you with so much suffering and misery to the point that some of the images, like mountains of hair and landscapes of dead bodies being bulldozed into pits, take on an otherworldly and alien feel. As I said, a lot of holocaust denial and antisemitism still exists in the world today and, if seeing buckets filled with severed heads, soap made from human skin, or charred remains and skulls don't mean anything to those people, I'm not sure that anything exists on film that can can convince them, as far as I'm concerned.

With that being said, what prevents me from giving this documentary a perfect rating is that it's a fairly straight-ahead experience. As with all works which detail atrocities, they'll likely move you the first time, but after you watch them a couple more times, you'll start to grow accustomed to them. When I first watched this, I found it to be among the most harrowing films I had ever seen. When I rewatched it this time though, its impact was more diluted. To compare it to The House is Black, the beauty of that film never loses its impact for me (and I'm pretty sure I've seen The House is Black more times than Night and Fog), so I prefer that film by a pretty decent margin.

Regardless, as you can see from my rating, I don't mean to imply that Night and Fog isn't memorable by any means. It still is. Very much so for the reasons I listed above. The impact it had on me when I first watched it is truly unparalleled. Given this, it's essential viewing for all cinephiles, even though I've grown accustomed to it over time.

Next Up: Nu

Thief

06-09-22, 05:52 PM

MALICE IN WONDERLAND
(1982, Collins)

https://i.imgur.com/v3YwUlD.jpg

"Alice tasted it, and finding it very nice ... she very soon finished it off."

That is a direct quote from Lewis Carroll's iconic novel Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Alice goes down the rabbit hole, ends up in a hall with a small door, drinks the potion and shrinks so he can fit through the door. But this is not Carroll's "wonderland", but rather something... stranger.

Malice in Wonderland is a short film directed by Vince Collins *loosely* inspired on Carroll's novel. It takes ideas from its narrative and presents them through a series of bizarre, trippy, and sexually charged visuals and sounds that include fluids, appendages, vulvas, screams, and laser sounds.

The animation style is extremely aggressive and in-your-face with a non-stop flow. Even though it borders "closely" to sensory overload, there is still a hypnotizing quality to it all. It is also nice to recognize how Collins and graphic designer Miwako interpret the different elements from Carroll's story, like the Cheshire Cat, the Queen, the Rabbit, etc. in their own way.

There's really not much to say about it. If you're into a visually arresting, dizzying, yet mesmerizing experience, then taste it, and if you find it very nice, maybe you'll finish it off.

Grade: 3

Captain Terror

06-09-22, 06:19 PM

A GUN FOR GEORGE

This is the third and final short that I'd already seen prior to this challenge. (And it's also my nomination)

The comedy here is very much my thing. (The "disquieting ball fixation" line never fails to crack me up, mostly due to the actor's delivery.) And the aping of 70s grindhouse trailers is near flawless. But the reason I deemed this worthy of a HoF nomination is the underlying unease that's always there. This becomes less underlying and more "overlying" at the end, but it's even there in the early going. When Terry calls the male librarian a "slag" it's with way more intensity than the banal situation would seem to merit. We've discussed the ending elsewhere in this thread, but that twist in tone is the cherry on top for me. I like when comedies give me a little bit more to chew on besides just the laughs.

Like others have said, this is good enough to make me wish that Holness was more prolific. I've seen two short films (The Snipist is also a good one) and his one feature, Possum and liked them all. Looking forward to his next project.

:up:

Torgo

06-10-22, 02:08 PM

A Gun for George

This is a sometimes funny and sometimes sad short film with a "be careful what you wish for" story that wouldn't be out of place in a Twilight Zone episode. Matthew Holness nails his portrayal of his creation Terry Finch, a man who is carrying around a big pile of rage that for the life of him, he cannot unload. His Z-grade vigilante novels nobody is interested in (besides Ron, the one guy who should have been the last person he read them to) and the daydreams that inspired them - their music and period details pleasantly recalling "The Bishop" sketches from Monty Python - are a hoot, of course, but I also approve of the more subtle examples of Terry's impotence. Highlights are him inconveniencing the local librarians to flipping off his tormenting gang members.

While I label Terry as an "angry white guy," I like that Holness makes him more David Brent from The Office than Michael Douglas's character from Falling Down, i.e., more sympathetic than pathetic. Besides giving him a justifiable reason for seeking justice in the murder of his brother George and the trashing of his prized automobile of the same name, I held out hope until the very end that Terry would take what Ron left him as an opportunity to turn things around. Alas, in true Twilight Zone fashion, he gets what (he thinks he) needs, but what we know he really should not have. The tone at the end captures this perfectly, which substitutes the up-tempo jazz you'd likely hear when the hero gets his gun in the movies Holness lampoons with mournful organ music as well as a bang with a whimper. It ends up being a short I'll likely think about for days for how well it captures that feeling of having a sob story that no one wants to hear. It doesn't provide a solution for dealing with this feeling, but it certainly calls out a non-solution, doesn't it? Oh, and that it does all of this while geeking out on the style of '60s and '70s vigilante movies is icing on the cake.

Torgo

06-10-22, 08:22 PM

I've seen two short films (The Snipist is also a good one) and his one feature, Possum and liked them all. Looking forward to his next project.

:up:Have you watched any Darkplace yet?

SpelingError

06-10-22, 09:39 PM

Just finished Nu and does anyone know have a translation for the dialogue at the end? I can't find a subtitled version of the short. Not a huge deal, but I'm still curious.

Citizen Rules

06-10-22, 09:43 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.BsheyB3WFzLThuuXpC11hwHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1

Night and Fog (1956)

At the end of Night and Fog the narrator ask the question, 'Who is responsible?' Some might think the responsibility was the German Nazis who killed helpless millions of Jews. And yes the holocaust is specifically about a time and place where unthinkable things were done to millions who weren't part of the majority in control. But ultimately the lesson here is fascism is part of the human condition and can show its ugly specter at any given time and place. Fascism is born out of fear and mistrust, it's a paranoid delusion that drives people to violence. It's usually not called by it's name and it doesn't wear a swastika, but it happens and will happen as long as people are on the planet.

jiraffejustin

06-10-22, 10:42 PM

Quick update: I plan on getting everything updated on the OP and get through more of my own viewings ASAP. My real life has been more hectic than I anticipated when we started, and I already anticipated being moderately busy. Without getting into too much detail, I'll be moving soon as I accepted a promotion. I should have a brief reprieve from business after Monday and until I move, during which time I should be able to finish up my viewing obligations and try to keep the OP updated semi-regularly. I'm not sure on whether or not I'll have to push the reveal back as it is possible that that could be the week of my move. But I'll keep y'all updated on that based on how much effect it has on this.

Captain Terror

06-11-22, 11:42 AM

Have you watched any Darkplace yet?

Yes! I watched the first episode last week. I felt personally attacked, though, because "Darkplace" is a show I would 100% watch if it was real. Good stuff.

Captain Terror

06-11-22, 07:32 PM

MALICE IN WONDERLAND

Wacky 70s/80s animation is very much my thing, so this was a nice discovery. Reminded me a bit of Belladonna of Sadness, but also reminiscent of Bruce Bickford's work, with the ever-changing figures.

I'd have to watch it a few times in order to discern any kind of story/theme/message, but I definitely enjoyed the ride. I was not familiar with Vince Collins before now, but he seems to have a lot of stuff online so it looks I'll be going down that rabbit hole soon. (<-- unintentional Alice joke there. :))
:up:

Torgo

06-13-22, 12:28 PM

Seven

While his directorial debut, Alien 3, was a disappointment to many, David Fincher totally redeemed himself with this classic neo-noir...

Sorry about that... <checks notes>

This is a tense little short film that's at the other end of the spectrum of movies about oil company and fishing village conflicts like Local Hero. Aside from being a lot less funny, obviously, this one focuses on the traditions of such communities, some of which might be too ancient. Johnsen gives a memorable performance as Yohana for the way she conveys the burden on her shoulders, as does Teigen for acknowledging her burden (and being grateful it's not his). As for the pivotal scene on the boat, I like how director Morgan puts you in Yohana's shoes for how her decisions about what to do with that last minute complication and in those seven seconds felt like my own. I also give him credit for capturing the Arctic's natural beauty and for some cool shots, especially the match cut between the coffin boat and Yohana's boat. While thrills and chills are not what the short is all about, I wish the short spent more time on the boat because a little more suspense wouldn't have hurt. I still think the short succeeds as one about the importance of letting the young and/or least indoctrinated take the reins, or in the very least, have a turn on the soapbox every once in a while.

Torgo

06-13-22, 01:33 PM

Yes! I watched the first episode last week. I felt personally attacked, though, because "Darkplace" is a show I would 100% watch if it was real. Good stuff.Glad you like it. While I like the framing device with the cast interviews, I would also watch the show unironically. It makes me think of Lars Von Trier's TV series The Kingdom (which I also recommend if you haven't seen it already). That reminds me: I've only watched 3 episodes of Darkplace. I oughta finish it some day.

Speaking of, whoever edits Matthew Holness' Wikipedia page has a good sense of humor:

https://i.imgur.com/G08BLvU.jpg

jiraffejustin

06-13-22, 06:31 PM

Goodbye Mommy

My nomination of Malice in Wonderland was directed by Vince Collins who would later make weird 3D animations using a computer running Windows 98 (I'm guessing here), and while this film is more technologically advanced than Collins' 3D work, there is some similar weirdness in the models and animations. This film has a more coherent plot than anything I've seen from Collins, but it's still Lynchian (to use a phrase that is probably overused by myself and others), but also there is some later era Hertzfeldt and some film noir. Animation is great because it allows us to peel a layer of sanity away from a film and not have to worry about the bounds of reality to help us get there. This film peels away multiple layers, and I'm here for all of it. I may have overrated it on first viewing, but I loved this weirdo animation piece.

SpelingError

06-13-22, 08:13 PM

Nu (2003) - 3.5

Storywise, this short is somewhat barebones. The wife probably had the best scenes since she's the one who's affected the most by Jakob and Adam, but overall, it's a fairly straightforward and simple story which doesn't bring much of anything new to the table. Fortunately though, there's enough to the film's style which makes up for this. Given the somewhat unconventional ways certain characters enter the frame of certain shots, how Mikkelsen's character casually walks through the areas surrounding his house as he goes between lovers, and the absence of dialogue, the film feels caught between reality and memory and I always appreciate these kinds of aesthetics which warp reality. This short also does a good job at representing the confusion of loveless marriages as the scenes which stuck with me the most showed Mikkelsen and his wife awkwardly touching each other's faces. These scenes do a great job at capturing their confusion as to how to interact with each other. Finally, the frame narrative was a nice touch. So yeah, nothing too special, but it's still pretty good.

Next Up: Seven

Thief

06-13-22, 10:37 PM

I need to work on my reviews, but I'm almost halfway through. Just finished A Gun for George.

ueno_station54

06-14-22, 12:26 AM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmepiDBXgAEtFiI.jpg
Seven (James Morgan, 2018)

So generally speaking this looks alright and has some cool things. The funeral pyre is the most interesting moment visually but it feels pretty standard otherwise and I'm personally getting tired of soft focus close up shots, just please do anything else lol. The highlight for me was definitely the score, which isn't anything crazy, its just really good stringy movie score shit. Its perfectly fine and will exit my brain instantly.
3

SpelingError

06-15-22, 10:38 PM

Seven (2018) - 3

Even though this short left me asking for more, I enjoyed what it had to offer. My favorite aspect is how it explores two points of view. The first point of view is on the villagers who want to kill the oil worker. This is to set an example for the oil industry about interfering with their land. The second viewpoint comes from the perspective of Yohana, who's somewhat reluctant to follow through with the plan. Though you understand why the villagers are upset, it's also apparent that the oil worker they captured isn't solely responsible for the impact the oil industry has on their village, nor will killing the man put a stop to the oil industry. The short also comes with some lovely cinematography, with the standout being the bird's eye shot of the funeral pyre. Lastly, the ending makes for a nice slice of suspense. As stated above though, I was ultimately left asking for more. For instance, I would've liked to know more about why the villagers and the oil workers were hostile towards each other. If the reason is because of pollutants released from the oil rigs, I would've liked to see how this was affecting the villagers as the pristine landscape shots we saw in the film didn't convey any such thing. It also would've been nice to see conversations with some other villagers and the oil worker himself to provide more viewpoints to Yohana's moral dilemma. As it stood, it's a fine short, but I imagine I'll forget about it pretty soon.

Last Up: Un Obus Partout

Captain Terror

06-16-22, 09:46 PM

The Heart of the World

This is very dense so I've watched it twice now. Still not enough for me to 100% know what's happening. The one guy is a mortician (Science?) and the other guy is an actor (Art?). But he's also playing the role of Christ, so.....(Religion?). They're both passed over in favor of the rich dude (Commerce?) but then HE gets kicked to the metaphorical curb. Learning, afterward, that this was commissioned by a Film Festival (thanks Torgo) makes the intent a little clearer. The ultimate message seems to be Yay Cinema!

But what an exhilarating ride. Has anyone counted the edits in this thing? Holy Jeez. This is my first Maddin film and it has definitely bumped him up several notches on my "directors I need to watch" list. His name has certainly been on my radar in the past but I was somehow completely in the dark as to what his "thing" was. Turns out his thing very much aligns with my thing. Definitely going to check out more from him, before the year is out.

Captain Terror

06-16-22, 09:48 PM

Ranking these things is going to give me headaches. I've watched 5 so far and liked them all.

Takoma11

06-16-22, 09:52 PM

Ranking these things is going to give me headaches. I've watched 5 so far and liked them all.

Yeah, the last place on my list is still going to be something I enjoyed.

On the Maddin front, Brand Upon the Brain or Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary are both fun places to start that lean in the horror direction.