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.
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Whale’ (2022)
After a long hiatus, audiences at Tyneside Cinema welcome the beautiful soul that is Brendan Fraser back to the big […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Legend’ (1985)
No, not the Kray twin biopic starring Tom Hardy. Ridley Scott’s Shakespearean, operatic tale Legend sees our hero […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
Okay, let’s get down to it, boppers. As you settle into your IMAX cinema seat – all nice and cosy – the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Eighth Grade’ (2018)
We follow the life of Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a social pariah who is in the process of completing Eighth Grade. A […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Tinder Swindler’ (2022)
Swipe left, swipe right, left, right, left, left, right- IT’S A MATCH!.. Sound familiar? Tinder is one of the most […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)
Bone Tomahawk takes place in the small western town of Bright Hope and locals are shuck up after an outlaw wanders […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)
With the same premise as the previous movie (and obviously its literary inspiration) The Suicide Squad follows a […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Da Block’ (2023)
Written by Jay Anthony Connor, director Velton J Lishke brings us the story of Mikey (Lladel Bryant) and Sully […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘All My Friends Hate Me’ (2021)
All My Friends Hate Me is set over the course of a weekend, following the story of Pete (Tom Stourton), who is […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)
We open with a particularly, classic, demonic POV as it gives us a tour of what seems to be a familiar woodland […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Die Hard’ (1988)
To solve the ongoing debate for whether or not Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie, Jacked In’s Jack, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Surfer’ (2025)
As a yellow title contrasts against a gorgeous turquoise, Australian backdrop, it sets the colour palette for […]