This short rocks. It has quality acting, film-making, production, and it kept me entertained from start to finish. Even though it was made a few years ago, obviously pre Sept. 11th (my birthday, alas) the theme of terrorists hijacking a bus is poignant and gripping. Ending is a little down, but that's probably what the director intended. The score and editing keep things moving, and the DP is really talented. I don't know how they filmed some of those shots inside a bus, unless it wasn't a real bus. It's probably not easy working with kid actors but the director gets top performances, especially from the lead, Jameson Baltes. Looking on IMDb I see he's not been doing much lately. Shame because he's really talented. Anyhow, I give THE BUS STOP 9 out of 10 stars and recommend it to anyone who is interested. You won't be disappointed.
9 Reviews
One of the coolest shorts I have ever seen.
jsdiamond20038 February 2003
The Bus Stop is one of the coolest shorts I have ever seen. High marks for story, plot twists and production quality. The director has a great feel for the details and nuance of everyday kid life. Check it out on AtomFilms website.
Will Hartman's "The Bus Stop" is an exercise in classic filmmaking.
Nteetee24 June 1999
Will Hartman's "The Bus Stop" is an exercise in classic filmmaking. The script is a solid, appropriately sentimental expose of the tribulations of a young boy. The script is not laden with dialogue, but rather uses a very pointed sense of action to tell the story, along with a clever bit of Ambrose Bierce-like irony.
The cinematography is quite good. The images are brilliant, and the shot coverage is rock-solid, with several striking crane shots balancing out numerous revealing close-ups. All of this is structured with some very intelligent editing. Quite simply, it achieves what any director strives for: it is a film which can be fully understood with the sound turned off.
But that's not to say the sound in this film can be overlooked. One of the more striking components to the piece is the score. It has all the intensity, and furthermore subtlety, of a much more expensive action film. The score really gives the film a distinguished quality.
The acting is strong, which is a particular testament to Hartman's directorial skill, considering most of the actors are children. Hartman manages to keep the intensity high, without allowing his performers to go over the top.
In short, "The Bus Stop" is a very enjoyable short, professionally shot, and technically sound. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of Will Hartman in the near future.
The cinematography is quite good. The images are brilliant, and the shot coverage is rock-solid, with several striking crane shots balancing out numerous revealing close-ups. All of this is structured with some very intelligent editing. Quite simply, it achieves what any director strives for: it is a film which can be fully understood with the sound turned off.
But that's not to say the sound in this film can be overlooked. One of the more striking components to the piece is the score. It has all the intensity, and furthermore subtlety, of a much more expensive action film. The score really gives the film a distinguished quality.
The acting is strong, which is a particular testament to Hartman's directorial skill, considering most of the actors are children. Hartman manages to keep the intensity high, without allowing his performers to go over the top.
In short, "The Bus Stop" is a very enjoyable short, professionally shot, and technically sound. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of Will Hartman in the near future.
Now for a REAL review.
BrettErikJohnson25 January 2005
I don't know who they think they're fooling but the other comments on this page are HIGHLY suspect. The second and third comments are by the SAME person and the second time they actually used the name Tyler (the name of both the production company and lead character!!) when making their comments. That doesn't sound too objective.
Anyway, this is one of those dime-a-dozen fantasies where some kid is shy and awkward and imagines being popular and brave. To make things worse, the set-up of this short involves a group of Arab terrorists hijacking a school bus with a dozen or so kids on it. Of course, it's up to our hero and his chemistry kit (which is HUGE and he apparently carries it around with him...HA!) to save the day. To be honest, I don't really find the whole idea of armed terrorists threatening to kill elementary school kids to be rich fodder for adventure or humor. Maybe it's just me.
The "Arab" terrorists are obviously played by people who have no idea how to act or speak with a convincing accent. The kids act like, well, kids and their dialogue is too sparse. The "action" sequences on the bus are totally lame and there is at least one glaring goof. The sole bright spot was the music. One part of the score in particular was quite impressive. I can only hope that this experience helped Mr. Hartman become a better director because as entertainment "The Bus Stop" receives a failing grade. 2/10
Anyway, this is one of those dime-a-dozen fantasies where some kid is shy and awkward and imagines being popular and brave. To make things worse, the set-up of this short involves a group of Arab terrorists hijacking a school bus with a dozen or so kids on it. Of course, it's up to our hero and his chemistry kit (which is HUGE and he apparently carries it around with him...HA!) to save the day. To be honest, I don't really find the whole idea of armed terrorists threatening to kill elementary school kids to be rich fodder for adventure or humor. Maybe it's just me.
The "Arab" terrorists are obviously played by people who have no idea how to act or speak with a convincing accent. The kids act like, well, kids and their dialogue is too sparse. The "action" sequences on the bus are totally lame and there is at least one glaring goof. The sole bright spot was the music. One part of the score in particular was quite impressive. I can only hope that this experience helped Mr. Hartman become a better director because as entertainment "The Bus Stop" receives a failing grade. 2/10
A really cool, fun short film - one of the better shorts you'll see!
filmsbyfiona14 June 2002
With the look and feel of a studio movie, Hartman has created a gorgeous short film. Interesting camera angles and unpredictable plot twists make this a wonderful film to watch.
Hartman gets great performances from a mostly child-based cast to tell a story that is not only dark but funny. It has a Tim Burton / Robert Zemeckis feel. I highly recommend this film and look forward greatly to what else this director creates.
Hartman gets great performances from a mostly child-based cast to tell a story that is not only dark but funny. It has a Tim Burton / Robert Zemeckis feel. I highly recommend this film and look forward greatly to what else this director creates.
A really excellent film.
Tyler-2421 July 1999
"THE BUS STOP" is a dynamite short film in the vein of Robert Zemeckis or John Hughes. Centered around a little boy trying to find the courage to stand up to bullies, it's a wonderful film full of twists and turns that keeps the audience guessing all the way to a touchingly delightful surprise ending.
I was really impressed with the overall production value of this film. It's beautifully shot, the editing is quick and fun, the score is sublime and the actors all turn in compelling performances--especially noteworthy considering most of the dozen or so actors in the film are young children, and most of the action takes place on a moving school bus.
In summary, this is a dynamic, accomplished work, one of the best short films out there. Kudos to the director, cast and crew.
I was really impressed with the overall production value of this film. It's beautifully shot, the editing is quick and fun, the score is sublime and the actors all turn in compelling performances--especially noteworthy considering most of the dozen or so actors in the film are young children, and most of the action takes place on a moving school bus.
In summary, this is a dynamic, accomplished work, one of the best short films out there. Kudos to the director, cast and crew.
An astonishing short film.
Tyler-246 February 2002
Congrats to the cast and crew for making a film they should be really proud of. Especially noteworthy is the performance of the young lead actor, Jameson Baltes, who conveys an astonishing range of emotion without uttering even a single word of dialogue!
Also to be commended are the cinematographer, Christopher Tufty, and the composer, Michael Verta, who, respectively, do a sublime job of shooting and scoring this film. "The Bus Stop" is an excellent short film.
Also to be commended are the cinematographer, Christopher Tufty, and the composer, Michael Verta, who, respectively, do a sublime job of shooting and scoring this film. "The Bus Stop" is an excellent short film.
I love this film!
Kikla13 June 2002
"The Bus Stop" is great! I saw it recently in LA, and it's probabl the best short film I've ever seen. Fun, funny, with a great twist at the end, I would seriously recommend it to any film student thinking about doing a short that will get them attention in Hollywood, because the production quality is outstanding, from the acting to the camera work to the music.
The Bus Stop pays homage to earlier film
castolon23 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Prince-13 commented 'along with a clever bit of Ambrose Bierce-like irony'.
It actually is more than that, it is directly linked to the Ambrose Bierce story 'La Rivière du hibou', otherwise known in the US as 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'(1962).
---spoiler below---
Not only is the daydreaming plot the same (what is going on in the principal character's mind is not what actually is happening) but a pointed connection to the above film occurs at the very end when the camera pulls back and reveals the school bus is stopped at the intersection of Owl Creek and Bridge streets. Very effective homage to another outstanding short film.
It actually is more than that, it is directly linked to the Ambrose Bierce story 'La Rivière du hibou', otherwise known in the US as 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'(1962).
---spoiler below---
Not only is the daydreaming plot the same (what is going on in the principal character's mind is not what actually is happening) but a pointed connection to the above film occurs at the very end when the camera pulls back and reveals the school bus is stopped at the intersection of Owl Creek and Bridge streets. Very effective homage to another outstanding short film.
See also
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