As They Continue to Fall (2016)

Pretty Good

Boring

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

"As They Continue to Fall" is an American 6.5-minute live action short film from 2016 and the main reason this is known is not director Nikhil Bhagat, but writer C. Robert Cargill because he is also one of the writers who came up with the recent Marvel film Doctor Strange. So it is somewhat fitting that in this very brief film here we also have a main character who is a bit of an outsider, namely a man hunting fallen angels, so I assume he is the good guy? Sadly I must say that while the visual side is as convincing as is John Henry Whitaker for the main part I felt on way too many occasions that the running time really hurts the film overall because it needs so much more in terms introduction, presentation and elaboration when it comes to the (apocalyptic?) this takes place in and all the characters really. As a consequence the part with the boys felt so irrelevant that it perhaps should have been left out completely. Like I wrote in the title of my review: It could be a pretty decent film of 100 minutes, but as a short film it simply isn't working out at all, at least not at this minimal runtime. Don't watch.

From the opening scene to the last words uttered, this short film captivates and excels. The cinematography sets up a bleak portrait of a lonesome survivor, fighting tirelessly in a future dystopia. Rather than bombard you with unnecessary backstory, the writers of this film instead invite you to create your own scenarios that could have led to such a dark future. The one flashback sequence brings up images of a boy possessed with a power he can't understand, leading others to call him crazy. This was enough backstory to have me running through possible situations and explanations for everything else I saw in the film.What stands out most to me in this film is how well the effects resonate with the overall tone of the film. Normally seen as guardian figures, the angels in this are dark and downright scary. That, along with a very convincing lead role, set up an entirely believable and immersive world. I can only hope that this becomes a full length production, as there are many questions and ideas that come to mind when the six minutes are over. All in all, one of the best short films I've seen and I will be keeping an eye out for more!

As They Continue to Fall does everything a short film should do. It gets across the story in under ten minutes and provides a deeper meaning behind what is presented. There is obviously some real talent at work here, both in the direction and the writing. There is very little I can see was wrong about the short. Aside from the sub-par angel costumes, everything looks very professional, from the lighting to the colour grading, and could easily have been part of a high-budget feature film. There are some great shots in here, and I especially loved the colour choices in the child scene. The director clearly knows what he is doing, and there is strong talent behind him.I am aware the director is trying to turn this in to a feature film, and I really think he should. There is some great potential here for a fantastic film.

With their gritty take on a vagabond warrior confronting supernatural forces on the moonlit rooftops and filthy alleyways of the city, relative newcomer Nikhil Bhagat and "Sinister" scribe C. Robert Cargill have come together (along with John Henry "How-the-hell-isn't-this-guy-in-everything?" Whitaker) to bring to life a character and universe begging for a feature adaptation. With the film's combination of "The Book of Eli", "Dark City" and "Léon: The Professional", it's easy to see how such a project could have tremendous potential.It's a compelling portrait of the glamourless life of God's assassin that uses religious imagery without an overt political agenda. The film tells the tale of a weary soldier nobly resigned to his fate, getting by on what he can find in the trash and carrying out his assignments with a rifle that, much like him, is held together by rags. Though things move quickly, Bhagat lets his scenes breathe. He allows the audience to absorb the film's dingy atmosphere and Whitaker's imposing yet sympathetic presence.One particularly effective moment features an unbroken take that traps the viewer in the alley as Whitaker's Walker comes to collect his trophy. Though the camera stays firmly planted at a distance, it keeps the audience as a captive throughout the whole process. Bhagat's choice to use minimal audio enhancement instead of a score for the entire ordeal only adds to the impact of the moment. Whitaker's cold efficiency suggests that the brutality we've witnessed is common and familiar to our hero, though the act's questionable necessity makes you wonder how much of this is duty and how and much is revenge.Though just six and a half minutes, the film raises a lot of questions about the complicated motivations of our gruff-but-engaging protagonist and many concerns about the consequences of his actions. With Cargill's recent successes providing potential opportunity, let's hope he has the desire to go back and give this story the time it deserves. With any luck, this is just an introduction.