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 ‘Beau Is Afraid’ (2023)
Ari Aster’s (Hereditary & Midsommar) no two movies have been the same and although Beau Is Afraid has Aster […]
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 Recommends ‘Klaus’ (2019)
After being labelled as the postal academy’s worst employee, Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) is reassigned to a frozen […]
Jacked in Reviews ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ (2024)
Tim Burton’s sequel to the 1988 cult classic once again follows the Deetz’s, with Lydia (Winona Ryder) […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Nope’ (2022)
Similar to Jordan Peele’s last feature (Us), Nope opens with a subplot – the aftermath of a series of brutal […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Flash’ (2023)
After an astonishingly long production period, audiences are finally given the “last” instalment in the […]
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 ‘The Butterfly Effect’ (2004)
Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) has reached his adult years being a constant sufferer of blackouts which have caused […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Hellraiser’ (2022)
After a 4 year hiatus, a new Hellraiser dawns on the big (well, depending on the size of your television) screen […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Mickey 17’ (2025)
We open on a partially frozen individual, Mickey (Robert Pattinson) – who has unfortunately fallen into a […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Highlander’ (1986)
Highlander follows the life of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), an immortal Scotsman (although, his accent has […]
The Most Memorable Movie Santas
Over the years there have been many Christmas movies, telling their own festive tales, however, there is one […]