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The Man from Mo'Wax (2016)
Fantastic - truly warts-and-all
This is a film you have to see, it's honest, exhilarating and packed full of brilliant tracks. Even without being a die-hard Mo'Wax/UNKLE fan I could watch this film countless times, this is a profound story of dizzying success, crushing failure and everything in-between. Amazing home video from James Lavelle and DJ Shadow as well as some really insightful (and at times very funny) interviews with key people from from the worlds of music and art, Josh Homme, Futura, Ian Brown for example, make this film a must see.
Hawk (2011)
Beautifully Visual Short
Hawk is a mythical tale of a boy, Rowan, who is removed from the world of man and due to tragedy must make his way through life alone. The film attempts to tackle immense themes, ideas of morality and the human psyche, natural order and man's relationship with nature. Although there is certainly potential for these grand themes to be developed, the films length prohibits it from expressing all it clearly wants to.
Hawk is an extremely beautiful visual piece of cinema. The cinematography and location choices are outstanding. Stunning scenic shots and numerous visuals of the sky and the clouds, perfectly coloured, are what stand out after watching this short. The dream like sequence comprising of, blurred images of the forest, crisp depictions of Rowan's 'crime' and the dark silhouette of the ominous Antlered God result in a distressing but arresting scene. The use of wonderful use of cinematic techniques and colour – the vivid colour in close ups of the Hawk are resounding – as well as a the intricate set, prop and costume design are real triumphs.
Although the film is delivered through superb visuals, I did not feel I was drawn to Rowan as a character. Jumps in the narrative resulted in a lack of connection with the character; we miss Rowan and his Hawk fostering a relationship, and lack an understanding of the intensity of his relationship with the Antlered God who is integral to the films climax. However, these are elements of the film the audience can conjure up for themselves. Although I felt Rowan's grief and burden of being trapped between fantasy and reality, my lack of feeling for him took away from what could be an extremely emotive ending to the film.
Regardless, Hawk is an extremely good watch. The story told is engaging, steeped in mysticism with classic features of a cautionary tale that make it accessible to a diverse audience. Hawk's haunting score and magnificent visuals transcend this film from a Fantasy short, to something much more memorable.
Gin & Dry (2010)
Heart-Warming and Melancholy with a Good Dash of Comedy
Gin and Dry is a heart warming short, a successful combination of comedy, drama and tragedy set against what could be a rather depressing backdrop, a retirement home. The film presents a burst of life; a group of child like pensioners staging a heist to save Christmas, or at least to make sure the holiday is a boozy occasion. This short being only 15 minutes results in a series of concise shots and smart story telling. Opening with a sequence of beautifully shot close ups, the film maintains a warm tone, the pink and brown hues of Twin Willows, the soft lighting of Albie's room and out of focus Christmas lights. The simple soundtrack of Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You is perfectly suited. David de Keyser's performance as our protagonist Albie is outstanding. Although we are only given a brief insight into his life, the audience is drawn in to really care for him. Albie's war references and musing on life drawing to a close, bring a melancholy air to Gin and Dry, making it much more than a short about an elderly bunch stealing alcohol. Although the heist is not overly developed, development of this scene would likely have brought more comic value to the film, this short's progression into a sentimental piece feels quite natural. Steering clear of cheap laughs but providing comic relief Gin and Dry is an extremely moving piece, a poignant look at the last years of life. Dealing with memory and the emotions of a group who are often forgotten about, Gin and Dry should not be dismissed as just a sugary Christmas film, and is most certainly worth watching.