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 Recommends ‘End of Days’ (1999)
It’s 1999 and the citizens of New York City are getting ready for the turn of the millennium. Unfortunately, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
As well as the trailer for Everything Everywhere All at Once being packed with variety, the tagline for this movie […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Candyman’ (2021)
Warning this review has SPOILERS regarding Candyman (2021), so if you wish to keep the element of surprise intact, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Area OL51’ (2023)
Area OL51 follows a freelance film crew after they get wind of Lucius (Mark Hindman-Smith) – a conspiracy […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Thir13en Ghosts’ (2001)
After losing his wife in a tragic house fire, Arthur Kriticos (Tony Shalhoub) struggles to make ends meet for him […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
A movie responsible for a generation of adults spelling Santa Claus wrong, we have The Santa Clause. The story […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Afterlife Photo’ (2023)
Director and writer, Tatsuaki Mizoi brings us an individual (Mitsuki Moriyama) who hires a photography studio to […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Iron Giant’ (1999)
The Iron Giant follows the story of Hogarth, a young boy who befriends a giant robot from outer space. Not knowing […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Willow’ (1988)
Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) is a Nelwyn, born into the simple life of farming, with aspirations of one day, […]
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 ‘The One’ (2001)
Yulaw (Jet Li), former police of the multiverse gone rogue, travels to other dimensions offing alternate versions […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Red Fox’ (2023)
Red Fox tells a powerful tale of blurred “justice” and despair, as a bunch of deluded folk of faith hunt a homeless […]