HollyShorts 1 "Action Packed"

HollyShorts, now in its 16th year, is an Oscar-Qualifying festival. Even better, it's a festival that's specifically devoted to short films so it's quite the showcase for its official selections. Team Experience thought we'd look at some of the films for you. Perhaps they'll pop up later in Oscar longslists or even as nominees!?

by Ben Miller

When it comes to action films, short form might be an ideal medium to take it all in.  The 16th annual HollyShorts Film Festival showcased their action block this week and proved that to be the case. A quick disclaimer, though: the term “action” is pretty broadly deployed here.  Of the eight films showcased, I would classify three as actual action movies, but we’ll go with it.

The reviews are presented alphabetically...

Aio Zitelli (dir. Jean-Marie Antonini)
A true story from 1915 World War I, a French soldier is called to interpret for a court martial of a Corsican friend. 
Francois Truffaut once said, “Every film about war ends up being pro-war.”  Well, Antonini figured out a great way to make an anti-war film.  You never see an enemy and no one is killed by one, but the byproduct of war is senseless pain that didn’t exist minutes before.   Powerful work with fine performances and a memorable message. A- 

Cleaning House (dir. Shahaub Roudbari)
While a cleaning lady dances to Whitney Houston, a covert agent wreaks havoc in the background.
While I was taking notes, I wrote down the word fun five separate times.  The definition of a lively action comedy short.  The action was cleanly executed, fun, and brightly lit, like John Wick meeting Charlie Chaplin. Extra points for the end credits where the cast and crew sing “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. B+

Hung Up (dir. Damon O’Steen)
Following a serious injury, a female bull rider tries to recover her life. 
I can’t say for sure what the filmmaker was thinking, but I'll take a strong guess that they watched Chloe Zhao's The Rider and wanted a piece of the pie.  Unfortunately, all the subtlety is gone and is replaced with cliché and stock characters.  To O'Steen's credit, the bull riding scenes are dynamic. C

Interlude (dir. Eli Snyder)
After being thrust into a liquor store robbery, a young man escapes the only way he knows how. 
The big advantage of the short form is how little you have to actually explain.  90% of the runtime appears directionless, until the final minutes come in and punches you in the stomach.  An unforgettable portrait of unfortunate circumstances.  Poetic and beautifully shot, like an inner-city Terrance Malick without the voiceover. A

Officer Down (dir. Simon Pearce)
A young UK police officer gets stuck in a building with the criminals he was sent to arrest. 
Sometimes, you can tell a filmmaker is auditioning more than making a film of their own.  This felt like a test film to show a studio you can trust this director with a budget.  Almost pornographically referential to The Raid films, but still enjoyable.  Clean, well-choreographed action and editing move everything along at a nice pace.  Bonus points for a great villain performance from Ben Turner. B

Twin Turbo (dir. Caity Lotz)
When a pair of friends get abducted at a desert gas station, they try to turn the tables on their captors.
At only eight minutes, the most efficient of all the action films and one of the most fun.  This is a female action flick that works well with its limitations and doesn't shy away from a woman taking a punch to the face.  It also helps when the heroines are as likeable as the pair in this film.  Breezy and fun, if slight. B

US|MX (dir. Joseph Hooten)
Attempting to make it to the US/Mexico border, a group of immigrants traverse no-man’s land.
Everything about this film seemed pretty straightforward until landmines showed up and American voices started to come out of the actors.  Given the Shamalyan-esqe twist, it’s almost insulting I didn’t see it coming earlier.  I didn’t mind the twist ending, but the almost complete lack of tension made me care as little as possible once we got there.  Conceptually great, but the execution is lacking. C+

Wingmen (dir. Nicole Emanuele)
Three friends celebrate with a bachelorette party as two of them weigh out their options as fighter pilots.
The only film of the bunch that I found actively dull.  Female fighter pilots (featuring a scene where they are actually in a fighter jet) should be more interesting than this.  Fighter pilots, bachelorette parties, military base ins and outs, sense of purpose/duty, friendship – all the themes could have made a great film but don't add up to much.  A disappointment. C

Oscar chances
I would like to think Interlude stands a chance of scoring a nomination with the politics at play, but that might be wishful thinking on my part.  More realistically, Aio Zitelli hits a lot of the Academy’s checkmarks.