Craig Parkes
36 Reviews
Reviews
Tea is for Teleport
Giving out high ratings in reviews is tricky, and I am tempted to go a little higher for this one as it was a great sci fi premise with some solid gags and an enjoyable lead performance. Just not quite technically polished enough or tightly written enough to be a knockout, and one particularly hammy performance by a military commander keeps this film from a higher rating. I'd love to see these guys try to get a bit more narrative into their script in future years because concept, gags and visuals all felt like they had genuine chops behind them dealing as best as we all do with getting a film done in under 48HOURS.
The Final Battle
This one room movie that explores the relationship between super heroes and villains when things don't go quite how they happen in the comic books took the genre of One-Room Movie and spiced it up well with the super hero genre. A great example of shooting within limitations, this movie was also credited as to being shot entirely on an iPhone4 - which worked very well for the concept (in fact full body camcorder with a narrower field of view would have probably impeded this team.) Apart from straying into the one territory I really dislike in NZ films (our short films seemingly inadvertently turn into road safety commercials far too often) this hit all the right spots. A solid four and definite contender for best of Auckland heat 2.
La Coquille
Top notch production values is a given with this team, but should never be under rated in terms of achieving on a deadlinr when trying something new - and the ULTRA all animal main cast decision was certainly that. Wrangling snails effectively and editing the resulting footage with voice acting into what amounted to more seemingly convincing and nuanced performances than many human competitors provide is no mean feat. Clever reveal which I enjoyed, especially as I should of seen it coming but didn't. Disclosure: These guys are mates, but if they didn't deliver they'd expect me to say so. They definitely delivered.
Obscurity
Style over substance all the way here - perhaps taking the show don't tell mantra a bit too far. A bit more of a clear narrative or audience pay off and I'd have been an absolute cheerleader. Clearly metaphorical - but some greater clarity was needed or an even more heightened sense of inexplicable fear, loathing and dread. But none the less the visually the film delivered - and I felt thats what really mattered to your team. Theres probably lots of technical quibbles I could make re the visuals - but none of them would change my assessment that someone in the team definitely has a great eye and wanted to exercise that skill.
The Final Battle
This one room movie that explores the relationship between super heroes and villains when things don't go quite how they happen in the comic books took the genre of One-Room Movie and spiced it up well with the super hero genre. A great example of shooting within limitations, this movie was also credited as to being shot entirely on an iPhone4 - which worked very well for the concept (in fact full body camcorder with a narrower field of view would have probably impeded this team.) Apart from straying into the one territory I really dislike in NZ films (our short films seemingly inadvertently turn into road safety commercials far too often) this hit all the right spots. A solid four and definite contender for best of Auckland heat 2.
Santa's Smoko
Brothers in Crime are a notoriously excellent 48HOURS team with a patchy record in terms of getting films in on time from memory and 2017 is, sadly, no exception. This darkly Kiwi story of a slacker NZ Santa with an aversion for The City of the Future will play gangbusters everywhere except maybe Hamilton. Heat 2 throwing up a definite candidate for best disqualified film, one has to wonder what could have been if they had been able to deliver this macabre and manic Christmas present on time.
Recess(es)
Technically and artistically this animated short displays incredible skills given the time involved. Clearly the work of a collection of visualists with talent and techniques to burn, if you want to be wowed by talent, time management and technique this is one to watch. Gross out humour and speaking to a sort of nightmarish world of the worst imaginable high school fears, fates and insecurities - the films climax (or perhaps multiple climaxes...) are visual representation of everything as powerful and puerile as a puberty stricken psyche itself. As an exploration of genre, as a trial of talents the work is a triumph. It's not a story that fully satisfies an audience, but as a lurid mix betweem artful exploration and flat out visual gags it absolutely does.
Stand Up
Definitely one of the stand out films of Heat 1 this survival story of a couple under pressure was slick, had a great female lead and plenty of gags. While it's sharp switch to comedy betrays the nature of 48HOURS films eschewing their genre for a crowd pleasing watch when it all comes together this slickly and entertainingly it deserves to be recognized with a high star review. Sometimes saying 'a great 48HOURS film' is damning with faint praise in a competition where occassionally there are also simply great films made in 48HOURS. This film is more the former than the latter, but it's enough of a mix of both to definitely be worth checking out for yourself.
The Colour Green
If you are going to try and take inspiration from famous film makers (clear Wes Anderson nods as this film opens) you need the balls to not abandon that one minute in and also the balls to deliver on the setup that you create for the audience. This film chickens out, multiple times, when it should have been brave. If you want people to respect your work and respect you cribbing from better filmmakers then you at least need to match the bravery of those you copy even if you can't match their skill
One More Time
A tale of a two friends who used to run a stag party company growing up and growing apart as one is about to get married. Well shot and well acted, the only issue I had with the film was that the ending didn't quite elevate the film the way it could have. I was expecting a big twist or gag at the end. Could have been a contender if it stuck a great ending - 2 days of stuff have the skills to deliver a great short in 48 Hours, just need to work on the writing side and they may be a future contender.
RODE
This purposefully lowfi road entry has a pretty clever twist. All in all a bit esoteric for my tastes, but certainly one worth checking out. Don't want to spoil it but, other than to say this gritty man alone road movie is not quite what it seems - and it's execution of the low budget video nasty look is excellent. A solid 3.5 stars
Happy Birthday
Fantastic lead performance, great cinematography and well put together non linear narrative that engages throughout puts this film as a highlight of the Heat 2 films I saw verging on a maximum score. Some very minor quibbles about the ending are the only thing keeping me from proclaiming it as a definite Auckland city finalist, but I would be very surprised if some award noms aren't in this films future. If you like your alien conspiracies with a touch of the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits this film is for you.
RODE
This purposefully lowfi road entry has a pretty clever twist. All in all a bit esoteric for my tastes, but certainly one worth checking out. Don't want to spoil it but, other than to say this gritty man alone road movie is not quite what it seems - and it's execution of the low budget video nasty look is excellent. A solid 3.5 stars
SIN-THETIC
Another style over substance film here. Watch for nailing the look of the genre and drawing upon some great production values. However don't expect anything in the way of story that satisfies or is heightened via the clear skills on display.
DECEPTION
This film had some amazing stunt work in the flash back sequences of it's young protagonist being bullied, which really was the highlight of the film. The quest story was a bit all over the place, and made the fatal mistake of pandering to the sponsors product in substitute of having an actual plot. Worth checking out though for the awesome dedication that the young actor in the flash back took to getting beaten up and falling down stairs - cementing this films Bobby Young as one of the ex bullies for the ages.
Daddy's Little Angel
A top three film of the heat for me - the execution of this grand guignol comedy of errors was pretty top notch, and it had a killer (pun intended) final ending that definitely got the sort of audience reaction you would hope for. I could see this being many peoples favourite of the night, and it's really only my personal taste around narrative versus genre execution that has made me rank it not as highly as my other top two from this heat. If you like a bit of gore, some very black comedy and some farce this will be right up your alley. Not for the squeemish or easily triggered by violence though.