Change Your Image
thecameraguy99
Reviews
Strum (2005)
Wickedly Funny!!!
Sometimes less is more and this was the case in this wickedly funny little film that came from of all places Canada! - proving that our northern neighbors still can make comedy of the highest order. Recently screening in LA, this was one of the highlights of the festival. In a plastic, neon, day-glow world, STRUM is the story of a dysfunctional employee in a most dysfunctional hamburger restaurant. The dysfunctional employee is a bumbling fool and her co-workers don't take too kindly to her inept attempts to fit in. Mocking corporate conformity, McDonalds and every place that has ever had a "team cheer", STRUM is a hilarious romp at life in the modern fast-food restaurant. While I'd never eat at Strum, I'd certainly love to see more stories set in this weird little truck stop restaurant. And who says the short film is dead? STRUM is a compelling story about four misfits and proves that less is more. Probably no more than eight minutes, this is a relentless story that unfolds in various "acts" that are showcased through the various shift changes in the restaurant. Visually vibrant with a relentless moving camera, the director really found a creative way to make a single set come to life. While there wasn't a lot of money it seems to make this restaurant world it does seem to be something we haven't seen in a film before. Its been a while since I've seen a short film that really made me laugh. Most short films are angst-ridden or autobiographical. Fortunately, this film never takes itself or its characters too seriously and just has fun at everyone's joyous expense. The performances were all top notch. Hopefully we'll see more of them and the creative team that made this fantastic film. One gets the feeling that so much more could happen in this bizarre little restaurant if given the chance. Could a feature film of STRUM be far behind? Let's hope so. But again, I'd never eat at a place like STRUM (if it actually existed) and if you've seen the film, you'll know why!
Childstar (2004)
embarrassing
I loved McKeller's other film "Last Night". Unfortunately, this lame effort is uninspired. We've seen it all before and better. The film doesn't know what it wants to be - is it a comedy, a morality play about fame and the young, is it about parents living through their children, is it about manipulation? The result is a film that doesn't know what it wants to be and in turn, cannot find an audience. Like so many Canadian films, it's just not audience friendly and there is nothing in this film to get anyone but McKeller fans out to watch it. The film just unraveled (badly) and never went anywhere and then needed a long speech at the end to explain a plot we all stop caring about a long way back. The cinematography was excellent but it was wasted in this effort. McKeller can do better and has. Hopefully he can put this failure behind him.