Here are brief thoughts on the short films made by last year's IndieGrant winners. While my enthusiasm for them varies, there's no question this is a thoroughly talented group of filmmakers that Memphis is lucky to have. I look forward to seeing more work from each of them in the future! To learn more about IndieGrants, click HERE.
Death$ in a $mall Town dir. Mark Jones
A savagely funny look at how a new mayor decides to generate revenue in his town. Corey Parker (ahem) slays the lead role as he convinces the townspeople that sometimes, death is the answer.
Returns dir. Joseph Carr
An offbeat portrait of employees suffering through the slow demise of the bookstore where they work. While it is overlong and a bit too on the nose in spots, this is a subject that is very dear to me, so its often frank disgust certainly resonated. Cynical without being off putting.
On the Sufferings of the World dir. JEBA
Voiceover poetry by Arthur Schopenhauer collides with overlapping images of two women falling in and destructively out of love. The pretty faces are unable to mask the headache inducing effect of the style, which may be the point, but it all feels artsy for artsy sake.
Broke Dick Dog dir. GB Shannon
Three African American men, each with different mothers, track down the man they all believe to be their father at the radio station where he works. A potentially poignant story is marred by an uneven tone, with the early almost farcical moments not mixing fluidly with the dramatic arc that follows. Beautifully shot, though.
Silver Elves dir. Morgan Jon Fox
Visually haunting journey of a young man's disappearance loses its power by deciding to show news footage of his parent's grief. Think this would have been much more effective had it stuck to the setting; taking us out of the main character's environment breaks the spell.
Dirty Money dir. Jonas Schubach
Highly amusing in how it shows the various fantasies a mall janitor has after finding a bag full of money stashed in a bathroom stall. This newfound fortune might too good to be true, as he learns once someone else enters the bathroom. The somewhat sloppy style is saved by the ingenuity of the premise and the decision for the movie to be dialogue free.
How To Skin a Cat dir. Laura Jean Hocking and C Scott McCoy
A wacky road trip headed for disaster takes an unexpected detour. Highlighted by a flat hilarious performance by Billie Worley and some clever writing. While I might not have enjoyed the payoff nearly as much as the setup, the sheer energy of the cast more than makes up for it.
Carbike dir. Sarah Fleming
An Asian couple visiting Memphis tour various parts of the city via a "carbike." The enjoyment here comes from seeing these newbies experience areas of Memphis that most outsiders do not. Cute and flattering, if not wholly memorable.
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(c) Hell and Beyond, 2016.
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