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skatanic_23
Reviews
Consumed (2005)
Dark comedy portrays a dark future... 12 minutes of excellent oddity
Once again, Bagdasarian has managed to pack a lot of movie-making know-how into a short film format. 'Consumed' makes no attempts to hide its intent or to mask its message. The short lampoons a not-so-far away Orwellian future where corporate consumerism literally invades a man's life.
The story itself isn't what grabs you here, it's the feel. This film as all bout bringing out odd emotions and mixing them together.
To start, the musical scoring has that synth-future keyboard tone normally reserved for Dr. Who or creepy 1980's sci-fi. It's cheesy, it's creepy, and somehow, it plays perfectly into this tale.
Markham does an excellent job portraying an 'everyman' kind of lead. Although the part has no lines, the actor's body language and facial expressions are enough to convey the story. I kept waiting for him to speak, which kept my interest.
The script pokes fun at every form of modern consumerism and does it well. After watching this short, I knew I wasn't depressed, but somehow felt I should start taking drugs "just in case".
In the span of this short film's 12 minutes, I managed to laugh, get creeped out, get grossed out, and then laugh some more. Nice roller-coaster.
So, if you're looking for a well written, well made short film that has a quirky appeal, check out 'Consumed' -skatanic_23
The Great Gabble (2003)
Fine work in the short film genre
It's tough to accomplish a lot in a short film, but "the Great Gabble" does just that. In only a few seconds the mood is set and the eyes are filled with smooth images that flow seamlessly from one shot to the next. As a study in how to make a film, this is an excellent piece of work. Excellent images, shot properly, assembled perfectly.
To add to the technical achievements of the film, there's the aspect of the script. It's brave. More often these days, directors choose sci-fi or comedy (or both) for their short films. Why? Because that's easy. A cheap laugh or a special effect can cover anything. Instead, "The Great Gabble" boldly goes for the heart. In a short film, there isn't time for much character development, yet somehow "Gabble" is a complete character. You care about him and in the end, you feel for him. A short drama that can make you care about a character is nothing to sneeze at. If you get a chance, check out "The Great Gabble", it's pretty good stuff.
-SH Buffalo, NY