People often say less is more, and in the art of film too subtle or too much can be the making or breaking. Perhaps director Lewis Underwood took this too literally in his upcoming short film "Cloudy Skies" with his plot line, somewhat falling short of sense. Regularly left wondering what it is you are watching the film struggles to portray its meaning to the audience. One major flaw in the film is that it doesn't accept that one major rule cant be broken, "all films must have a beginning, a middle and an end." As the film doesn't manage to establish a strong meaning in the early stages it's left struggling to pick up the pieces as it moves on at pace.
That said its plain to see the film has good intentions; with the easy to digest screenplay and a strong onscreen presence with actor Paul Scicluna, "Cloudy Skies" is a film to watch with an active mind. The short follows art student Paul as he attempts to get to grips with what it is that is happening to him. Think of a slightly skewered, darker influence from "Ghost Town" (Ricky Gervais 2008.) The fleetingly poignant camera work will allow viewers to absorb snippets of close emotional breakdowns as Paul comes to realisation that he might be unable to see the people he loves ever again.
When we spoke to Lewis (director/editor/producer) we realised that he himself was also unhappy with the final product, "I see myself as a perfectionist, and what Ive created isn't perfect - a lot of blood, sweat and frustration went into this project and although there are parts I love; the entirety of the piece is missing a few key elements." We recommended him to not beat himself up too much as he himself said their are masterful snips throughout, a constant mental relay race relating focused points throughout the film.
The velocity of pace is the definitively unique aspect, as CS attempts to divert from a traditional editing structure, with shots often cut seconds short and the pace always quickening. It definitely adds to the intensity of some scenes, which makes the film worthwhile as it showcases some of Underwood's finer film making qualities. These speedy increments allow the pace to peak alongside emotional feedback from Paul, to really come across quickly and effectively.
Verdict:
Its frustrating to see that this is a film that was undertaken without laying down the groundwork, however it excels in its editing sequences and thus doesn't cease to keep the viewer interested. We hope to see improvement and big things for Underwood in the future, however "Cloudy Skies" remains a sail short of a boat. ***
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