Review of Cinema 16: American Short Films

Introduction

How`s this for an idea; take sixteen diverse yet equally compelling short films by US Directors, showing different aspects of the American psyche and way of life, and put them onto one DVD. That`s right - sounds BRILLIANT doesn`t it? In fact, it ranks up there in the all-time top ten `Greatest Strokes of Genius … ever`, sandwiched somewhere between the wheel and pasteurised milk. Anyone in disagreement had better read this review sharpish, and be prepared to eat some humble pie.

As the Sex Pistols nearly once said, Nevermind the hyperbole - here`s the facts. The Shorts picked cover over 60 years of innovation and exploration into the world of cinema, with running times ranging from three to 41 minutes. It pits the heavyweight `names` of George Lucas, Andy Warhol, Tim Burton and Gus Van Sant against brave new talent going by such monikers of Adam Parrish King and Peter Sollett (which are very probably their real names), and - crucially - presents them side by side, without fanfare or prejudice.

From the running order alone, the immediate highlights are Adam Davidson`s first effort `The Lunch Date`, which won an Oscar in 1991 for `Best Short Film`, Tim Burton`s seminal `Vincent`, voiced by Vincent Price, and Lucas` `Freiheit`. However, on watching the wealth of material on offer, it is soon evident that the `bum notes` are indeed in the minority, making this collection as vital and imaginative as it first appears.

Video

Being as this is a compilation of different films by different Directors, you can`t have a simple answer as to the quality of the visual display. The older, and generally Black & White work, looks much worse than the newer examples. Yet you get the impression that these are errors that could not be fixed with any amount of re-mastering or tweaking. Remember - these are not the classics whose original reels have been stored in a Hollywood safe for fifty years; they are forgotten examples of how cameras can capture inventiveness.

That said, several of the older shorts still look remarkably good. D.A. Pennebaker`s `Daybreaker Express` from 1953 looks twenty years younger than it is (possibly because of its employment of colour as opposed to shades of grey), and Maya Deren`s `Meshes of the Afternoon` still looks pretty good, although it is weathered.

In terms of exciting visuals, then there`s certainly plenty on offer. There are animated tales of a existential maniac (`Vincent`) and an Inner-City petty thief (`The Wrath of Cobble Hill`), modern documentaries (`Paperboys` and the sublime `Terminal Bar`), Social commentaries (`The Lunch Date` and `Five Feet High and Rising`), and silliness (`George Lucas in Love` and `Terry Tate: Office Linebacker`) - all on one Digital Versatile Disc. Yum

Audio

Yet again, this depends very much on the short in question. A big fat thumbs-up (like those ones they have at American Sporting events) goes to `Paperboys` for including Elliott Smith`s `Happiness` on the soundtrack, `Terminal Bar` for invoking such a fascinating mood, and to `Carmen` for utilising select parts of the Carmen Opera soundtrack so cleverly in its 18 minutes duration.

It is, in fact, fair to say that only one of the shorts has a poor Audio element (`Meshes of the Afternoon` sounding like it was recorded on a dictaphone shoved up someone`s rectum), although some do tread water. `Freiheit` and `Feelings` could sound better, but the compilation element of this DVD is what makes it so good, and to blame it for certain minute inadequacies would be pointless.

Features

All we get are commentaries, but as there are twelve of them, by different important people, then this makes them superior to most `two hour bore-a-thon` efforts that usually pass for `Special Features` on most DVDs.

Only four of the films don`t have any commentaries; `Vincent`, `The Discipline of DE`, `Meshes of the afternoon` and `Screen Test`, making the mainly Director-lead wealth of information very impressive in a project this varied. The Producers have obviously worked hard to get all these people on board to talk about what, in some cases, is 50 year old work.

I`d be giving away a few too many secrets if I were to dissect these features THAT much, but listen out for Standish Lawder`s commentary `on `Necrology`. Man, he got a funny voice!

Conclusion

Easily subtitled as `A Hidden history of American Cinema`, `Cinema 16: American Short Films` is quite simply as good a DVD as it is an idea. The sheer depth and variation on offer ensures that there will be - not only something, but a great deal - for everyone. I know its summer, but you really should be buying copies for every member of the family in time for the Christmas rush, just in case it sells out.

Let`s get the misses out of the way first though. Lucas` `Freiheit` is an early mess, Todd Solondz`s `Feelings` wont have you pressing the Repeat button in a hurry, and Warhol`s `Screen Test` is - well - `classic Warhol`. If you need help with the translation, the rough English for that is `Overrated and pretentious claptrap`.

The rest, whilst occasionally flawed, is interesting, complex, unhinged, entertaining, and demands your attention even more than a small child on their birthday after indiscreetly urinating all over your brand new £3000 Turkish rug. Martha! Get the Stain Devil!

Gus Van Sant hands us `The Dicipline of DE` - a fake infomercial explaining an entirely new way of living, whilst Alexander Payne`s college outing `Carmen` is the classic Opera, but set at a Gas Station in the Desert, and is every bit as contradictory and beautiful as the synopsis demands.

Wait! There`s more! `Necrology - Roll call of the dead` is awful until the credits roll, when it miraculously transforms into a work of genius. `Five Feet High and Rising` examines inner city life in New York through the lens of a few street wise, but similarly very naïve kids, and if you haven`t seen `Vincent` - well - suffice to say that `The Corpse Bride` and `The Nightmare Before Christmas` are merely protracted come downs.

Quite truly an essential DVD for anyone who appreciates the subversive, the sly, the spectacular and the Cool (note capital `C`), `Cinema 16: American Short Films` showcases a vast amount of material you are unlikely to see, and fits it nicely onto one disc, making it not only a great watch, but also a perfect use of the DVD format. God Bless (crazy) America.