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Reviews
Shelter (2004)
Stylish and moving piece
I enjoyed this work quite a bit. Very PT Anderson-ish, but with a warmth not usually associated with Anderson's work. The visuals were slick and there was high production value not often seen in a student film. Great dialogue, especially in the bar scene between the two salesmen. Really moving performances that director and actors should be proud of.
This film really used the short form well. I'm not sure what was spent on the production of this piece, but it should be worth every penny. The key though is that the look of the film did not come at the expense of the story and performances. Very rich piece.
Overall there it was a very impressive work by a young filmmaker. I'll remember his name and look forward to his next project.
Sideways (2004)
Moving
I haven't always been a fan of Payne's work. I thought Election was wildly overrated and at times offensive but this was really a great little film.
It may be hurt by overpowering expectations brought on by Academy Award nominations but it really is a strong work if approached on its own fair terms.
The story itself is simple yet complex. Payne does a masterful job of creating a movie that feels like a novel (in a good way). It possesses an interesting richness and texture of character that doesn't often appear in American films.
The performances were excellent. Giamatti is a gem of an actor who will hopefully find projects that exploit his considerable talents rather than relegate him to sidekick status. Madsen was good, a sturdy performer who held her own with the lead. The most impressive combination of actor and role was Thomas Hayden Church. Kudos to Payne for casting him in a role that seems right on for the actor and kudos to Church for selflessly trusting Payne's judgement.
If you enjoy literature and savor performance and behavior, I recommend this film to you.
El gusano (2003)
Very good short. (Probably 8.5 to 9 out of 10)
I caught it at an LA film festival and was quite impressed. As someone who watches an abundance of them I'm prepared to see the particular maladies that often seem to accompany short films. So I was genuinely surprised to find this good little story told in an interesting way and in a film that I quite frankly hadn't heard of or seen making the big festival rounds.
The actors were very good especially the boxer and his coach. The story had depth (loved the speech by the trainer), the visual style was striking and the sound was one of the better-designed tracks I've heard on a short. If you can find this film somewhere I would recommend giving it a look.