Short Cuts DVD

Advantages: Everything about this DVD is an advantage!!!!
Disadvantages: Only if you don't like foreign cinema, and even then you should find something to like in these shorts!

...For those of you that love film, and European film in particular, this DVD is a must have. It consists of 16 short films by some of Europe’s best and brightest directors. Most of them were made before the Directors hit the big time (as far as I can tell but I cannot guarantee that as some of them I haven’t heard of), even including film school graduation shorts. This DVD consists of 16 funny, innovative and experimental shorts, all with commentaries recorded mainly by the directors themselves. The short film is incredibly difficult to pull off, economy of script, direction and an ability to convey as much as possible is of vital importance when you need to tell a complete story within a compacted time period. Many a short filmmaker does not pull this off, I’ve seen way too many that are okay or just not entertaining at all... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of content spread over two disks.
Disadvantages: It's not the COMPLETE Masterworks.

...'t one. They cut out the whole solo, and skipped forward to him throwing insults at Kyle. It's cleverly done to the point where you may believe that IS the solo, but it isn't, and little things like that being cut out are a little disheartening. Also 'Jesus Ranch' wasn't on the DVD, and just going from memory I'm pretty sure that was played. It seems so short on the disk, so it's very possible more songs were excluded. Also, a large part of their live shows are the intervals. I know that probably sounds a little weird, but just as their building towards the interval, they'll tell a story about going to the desert to find something, or whatever the case may be. They'll then leave the stage and a screen will lower into place and show a short film featuring Tenacious D (keep in mind, they are actors also) which aren't too long, about five... Read review

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Advantages: A great performance from Laura Linney.
Disadvantages: Story is secondary to mood.

...'s decision is illustrated clearly and precisely. His estrangement from his wife becomes evermore evident as her fervour to atone grows and the reprisals from the murdered woman's family are simple but effective. Lawrence clearly cares for his characters, spending a great deal of time introducing them and establishing their personalities and relationships. However this attention to detail makes for a slow-moving film as each subplot is painstakingly introduced. In conjunction with an inconclusive ending, it makes the whole production feel meandering (clocking in at a hundred-and-twenty-four minutes) and ultimately pointless. The screenplay by Beatrix Christian is based on a short story by Raymond Carver. The same story formed the basis of the Huey Lewis story strand in Robert Altman's "Short Cuts". Despite the serial killer set-up, the film... Read review

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