Jacked In Reviews ‘Mean’ (2023)

mean
Photo: PH Productions

Director, Joshua Blewitt brings us chauvinistic, narcissist, movie lover and filmmaker, Chez Florentine (Joe Carmichael), amidst the release of his latest (very controversial) flick, Mean.

Opening on a talking heads/interview is the first entry we are given in a film with subject matter which is clearly an ode to films, filmmaking and the numerous techniques and artistic choices that come with it.

With varied styles, the cinematography ropes you in, keeping you engaged throughout. However, these multiple styles also leave this short struggling from a tonality point of view. Not to say the contrast doesn’t work but the script may have just been a tad heavy for lead, Carmichael, who doesn’t necessarily demonstrate the passion for film that his onscreen counterpart required, convincingly.

As an artist, there is a difference between the stories you want to tell and the stories you’ve been asked to tell.

Mean serves as more than just a title, not only doesn’t it hit on the downsides of the movie industry but it represents 21st-century filmmaking in the age where the internet has a voice and everyone is a critic. Although the ending falls a little flat, the finale does succeed in leaving you with a strong message: As an artist, there is a difference between the stories you want to tell and the stories you’ve been asked to tell.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Behind The Scenes of Sam Raimi’s ‘The Evil Dead’

Back in the early 80’s audiences were met with a truly terrifying film that is renowned in the world of horror, Sam […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Saltburn’ (2023)

Academy Award-winning, Emerald Fennell brings us her much-anticipated follow-up to Promising Young Woman. The […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Mortal Kombat’ (2021)

Video Game movies have a proven track record of not hitting the mark and can often be seen as a double-edged sword […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Wish I Were There’ (2023)

Directed, written and animated by Neil Baker, Wish I Were There is an ode to the English seaside.

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Mammoth’ (2023)

Đorđije Petrović’s Mammoth sees Nebojša (Vahid Džanković) pay a visit to the countryside with his wife and […]

Read more

Behind The Scenes of ‘Back to the Future Part II’

A sequel that a lot of fans argue to be their favourite in the time-travelling trilogy, we have Back to the Future […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Misdirection’ (2023)

Every now and again you’re given a film that doesn’t necessarily have a start, middle and end but still manages to […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Jackass Forever’ (2022)

Originally starting as a series about a group of buddies carrying out stunts and pranks on each other, Jackass went […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994’ (2024)

Writer/director, David A. Weiner and Creator Robin Block, the marvellous minds behind – arguably – one […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Fire At Will’ (2023)

Put in the line of fire, both physically and emotionally, the centre of our story is Will (James Whetstone) – […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Red Ocean Blues’ (2023)

We follow the story of, political candidate, Geoff (Chris Orton), as he pays a friendly visit to, potential voter, […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘The Flash’ (2023)

After an astonishingly long production period, audiences are finally given the “last” instalment in the […]

Read more