7 short films from the Alpha-ville Film Festival 2011 reviewed!

"Pixels" (2010) - Patrick Jean

A city resembling New York City gets invaded by the 8-bit gaming world.



This short film truly appeals to the inner-retro-nerd in me. The graphics were amazing, the plot on the other hand was not. Well there actually wasn't a plot. Regardless, it is a lot of fun to see games like Galaga, Pac-Man, Pong, etc etc, literally using the gameplay of said game to change the landscape of the city. A definite must watch.

4 out of 5 stars



"Solar Sinter" (2011) - Markus Kayser

A very unique 3D printing experiment, held in the Sahara Desert, using green technology and highly advanced microelectronics.



The film itself is boring as all hell. I'd much rather read a paper on this, and see stills from the experiment, rather than watch it. The only thing worth while is his finished product(art?). As far as short films go, this documentary-style short, is one of my least favorites. As a side note, I think those solar panels are from the company I work for.

2 out of 5 stars



"Robots of Brixton" (2011) - Kibwe Tavares

A micro-adventure through Brixton, whilst following a robot, is juxtaposed with images of the 1981 Brixton Riot.



This really caught me by surprise. What started out as a world seemingly overrun by robots, with Metropia-esque graphics, and a feeling similar to that of a Sims video game trailer, transformed into a much deeper short. This almost feels like a demonstration of the graphic artists' abilities, but that coupled with the underlying story creates balance. After watching the short I googled "Brixton race riot"; What I found was disturbing. I'm glad someone brought this to light once again, through such a beautiful medium I might add! The music is superb as well, true dubstep backed by a reggae voice(not that skrillex shit). I would love for you to experience this for yourself so I will cut this review short. This is by far the most emotional of the shorts I have watch from the festival.

4 out of 5 stars



"Mediating Mediums: The Digital 3D" (2011) - Greg Tran

A graphic artist's imagining of a future where true digital 3D technology, combined with fully integrated digital architecture, creates multiple simultaneous realities.



Jargon jargon jargon. This is not a conventional short film, more like one of those trippy what-if YouTube specials. While the premise of unlimited digital realities is interesting, the way in which he approaches it is not. He does not once reference science as making this a possibility. This is probably just a way to get an A+ on his college final most likely. If you are into people taking a step to applying science-fiction, to a real world practice, through a film medium, in a shitty way, this is your film.

1 out of 5 star



"Allegory of Mrs. Triangle" (2011) - Noriko Okaku

A chaotic surreal adventure.



I don't know what the fuck happened, but I liked it nonetheless. I love surrealism, and this captures the uninterrupted subconscious at work (or lack thereof). The soundtrack is as chaotic as the flashing and ever-changing images. If you are a fan of surrealism, or dadaism, you will like this. Now whether or not you want to run through multiple viewings to find meaning, is a different question.

4 out of 5 stars


"Tecópolis" (2009) - Javier Mrad and Javier Salazar

The tale of man vs nature, using only recycled materials.



This is one of the best stop motion shorts I have ever seen. It is so much more than a demonstration of stop motion abilities. This is a love story, a tale of revenge, and a an allegory for the relationship between man and nature. Plus the use of recycled materials to metaphorically represent man, animals, oceans, and building is incredible. The frame rate is top notch, very fluid motions. The lighting: superb. I was captivated, nay, blown away by this short!

5 out of 5 stars


"Partitura 001" (2011) - Abstract Birds and Quayola

A rhythmic dance to glitchy downtempo music.



While I wouldn't go as far to call this a film per se, I was captivated. It's just like watching the iTunes visualizer, but a million times better. When the music is more calm and relaxed, so are the shapes. When the music get's a little glitchy and funky, so do the shapes. All I can say is that if this was a visualization software, I'd buy it asap.

3 out of 5 stars



All in all these films were hit and miss. I wouldn't even call them all short films. Still, it was a fun experience. To view all these films go to MUBI, sign up for a FREE account, click on festivals, then Alpha-ville and watch! I use MUBI for all my cinema pleasures. You should too. If you do decide to use MUBI follow me.

"Rashomon" - (1950) Review

"Rashomon" (1950) - Akira Kurosawa

Retelling of a trial on the murder of a samurai, and rape of his wife, from 4 different points of view.



The camera techniques in this film are amazing. Rashomon is full of deep focus shots, and long takes. So not only do we get to see everything on screen in perfect clairvoyance, we get to watch the actors in a natural state. Another thing that is unique to this film is the use of flashbacks.

The entire movie is about two religious men and one traveler, trying to stay out of the rain, and recollecting the stories of which they heard earlier that day. Those of the murder and rape. So flashbacks are necessary to show said events. There are multiple layers to these as well. The first layer is of the trial, the second of the events in the individual POV of the ones on trial.

As the film progresses we find that every story is different. But all stories are self incriminating. We then get confused on why everyone would lie in order to get punished for something they may, or may not have done. This film truly makes you think about why people lie, even yourself.



While each does mark themselves as guilty, for some crime, with their story; Each is telling the truth too. This paradox is true of reality too. "Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing." Even if we must lie, we have to make ourselves look good and honorable while doing so.

This film is something everyone must see, if not own. With my parting words, I must say my favorite part is the acting by Toshiro Mifune. His mocking laugh, is drunken movements, everything that is does in Rashomon is acting at it's best. It's no wonder why Akira Kurosawa had him appear in so many of his films.



4 out of 5 samurai swords




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"Dr. No" - (1962) Review

"Dr. No" (1962) - Terence Young

The man, the legend, the Casanova with a license to kill. Off to save the world, again.



You know how he says his name, you know his drink, the car he drives, his favorite gun, and it all started here. A very low budget MGM film that delivered. From the credit sequence the bar has been set, for the next 50+ years to come, for how to open a 007 movie. It's rather simple. The famous "scope view" shot, the silhouetted girls, and the music.



The first scene after the intro gives us the greatest one liner of all time. "Bond, James Bond". When Sean Connerry delivers the intro, and the famous guitar riff hits we all get shivers. That combination of Bond and the riff are imperative to every 007 film. Not too much later we also learn more things always true to James Bond. For one, he is the ultimate ladies man. Secondly, he likes his vodka dry, shaken not stirred.

From a technical stand point, the film isn't too impressive. If the film resonates with me on any level, it's a nostalgic one at best (maybe envious). I'd like to touch on two scenes in particular, to point out well used techniques in film during the time period.

When censorship laws were still in effect with major studios, filmmakers had to find a way to get across mainly one thing without showing it directly. Sex. Yes that's right, out favorite pastime, wasn't allowed on the silver screen. A way that it was represented in film was indirection of continuity. Basically showing things heating up, maybe they undress off camera and clothes fall into our view, then we see them laying in bed after said activity. They never once mentioned sex, or showed it, but we all knew it happened.

Now in "Dr. No" there is one shot I really like. The aftermath section of indirection of continuity. The reason I like this shot so much is that we can infer a lot from one still shot of the take. First that you can trust no one (stay with me). Immediately after sex the woman starts putting on her makeup to cover her true self. I believe this is a metaphor of her trying to hide things from James, which we later learn she was. While James, stays laying in bed. Possibly a metaphor for his nonchalant behavior throughout the film. Secondly, it just looks good. It's not the typical shot where they're both in bed. The director took a unique approach to it, by keeping the camera stuck on the woman, with James' reflection in the background.



The second scene I would like to address is a montage. It's simple but dramatic. It switches between showing a search party looking for James and others, and James and others hiding rapidly. We get the feeling that they will be found, but they don't. But the simple use of the montage added a feeling that no other shot could.

All in all, the film is decent. Sean Connery is the ultimate James Bond, he makes the film. Although my thoughts are a little murky from the clout of 007 and his impact on pop culture, I believe I did this film justice. This won't be the first we hear from "Bond, James Bond".



3.5 out of 5 Aston Martin DB7's


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