EFF's Shorts Spotlight - Vol.3

Every Monday here on EFF's blogspot we are looking at short films from around the web and here we are in our third week! This week we have got Action from Intelligent Artists, Comedy from Back2Back Productions and a classic drama from Argos Films that was an inspiration for one of Terry Gilliam's Blockbusters.

If you would like us to watch and consider including your short film then leave a link in the comments below or alternatively hit us up on our twitter page +eightyfivefilms. I would recommend that you watch each of the shorts before reading the review as there may be spoilers. All films may include bad language, violence etc. so be prepared and watch at your own discretion.

I'm not going to go to deep into reviewing this week due to lack of time but hopefully you will still get the jist of my thoughts.

First Impressions (2013)
Directed by: Leo Kei Angelos
Written by: George Ruiz and Leo Kei Angelos
Starring: Hailey Bright, Chester See and Doug Jones
View on YouTube

A great superhero fan film, First Impressions impresses. The fighting is very well choreographed and look great, the acting performances are fantastic and it's well directed. I defy anyone with even the remotest interest in the superhero universe to not get a shiver down their spine when the camera gives a glance of the crown of Wonder Woman in her bag.

As first dates go this was pretty good! 4/5.

Off Road (2010)
Directed and written by: Martijn Smits, Erwin van der Eshof
Starring: Barbara Klaaysen and Kenan Raven
View on YouTube

Off Road is a Dutch comedy/drama (in English) about a a man being talked out of doing something possibly bad by his SatNav. It's very well shot, has great performances from its two human actors and is very funny. I really like the small twist at the end and enjoyed watching.

Off road but on route. 4/5

La Jetée (1962)
Directed and Written by: Chris Marker
Starring: Jean Négroni, Étienne Becker and Hélène Chatelain
View on Vimeo

"La jetée" by Chris Marker from Steele on Vimeo.

I tried in vain to find the French spoken version with English subtitles but did manage to find the English narration version; not as great as the original language track but still pretty good. Anyway, La Jetee is simply a classic, it's outstanding. It's amazing how a series of still photos can still work as a film and credit has to go to the sound design for really making that happen. I found it almost hypnotic listening along with the images and I almost forgot I wasn't watching a 'motion picture'.

As you may or may not have noticed La Jetee was a major inspiration for Terry Gilliam's 1995 film 'Twelve Monkeys' and itself drew inspiration from 'Vertigo'.

Incredible and timeless - 5/5.

What did you think of this weeks shorts? Let us know in the comment section below.