I felt the need to quickly apologize to those who may have seen the recent posts and have been confused by them. I have more than one blog I write for and as my computer was automatically logging me into Blogger, the posts for a different blog were appearing here.
I've since fixed the issue and it won't happen again! Sorry for the mixup! :)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Rules of The Road
The Road
Written and Directed by Owen Thomas
Theoretical Films
Bob Marley said, "Life is one big road with lots of signs." Robert Frost told us about a day he came upon two roads diverging in a wood; he took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Owen Thomas tells us of similar everyday roads in life in his short film, The Road. For a film barely five (yes, you read that correctly, FIVE) minutes long, The Road leaves an impact so dramatic and shocking, you are left stunned and maybe even feeling a little guilty. Maybe you'll re-evaluate how you live your life. Maybe you'll just have a private chuckle about a similar situation you've found yourself in. How could so short a film have that much of an effect? Good things come in small packages, as another well-known saying goes...one that I've used before, but it's well-warranted again with this film.
It has taken me far too long to share my enjoyment of this film, and I find it hard to give a summary of a five-minute masterpiece, but I'll do what I can, and with my apologies for keeping it from you for so long. The Road follows a number of people in their everyday lives doing everyday things: running, shopping, trying to catch that traffic cop from writing out a ticket. It also examines the world through a Pay It Forward kind of lens. Forgive the comparison, as The Road isn't a takeoff on that novel/film, but it does carry the same sort of feeling. It reveals the signs of life through the smile given to a man who helps a woman pick up her purse, or through the relief of a man who doesn't have to worry so much about running down the sidewalk anymore. We greet so many people in our lives and The Road masterfully acknowledges what changes we make in others simply through our presence.
The characters in The Road seem very simple, but they have many layers and you grow to love each one as their stories unfold. You laugh with them, hold your breath with them, and think to yourself, "Yeah, I'd do that, too." I asked Owen Thomas, the clever writer and director of this short film, where his inspiration came from. As I already stated, I thought of Pay It Forward and the Liberty Mutual commercials. "You nailed it," he told me. "[The idea came from] that commercial, along with an innocent interaction with a friend." This friend had waved someone ahead into traffic and Thomas thought of karma and how his friend had assisted this other driver in her travels on the road of life. Have you ever wondered where that person is heading after you pause to let him go ahead? Have you ever taken a moment to think about what a smile from you could do for a sad woman's day? Thomas's inspiration has developed into a film that answers some of those questions, and in a stunning way.
The charm of The Road is apparent throughout, but is truly revealed in the ending. Obviously, I can't tell you what it is, but I will tell you it's brilliantly clever and laugh-out-loud funny. I have long since lamented the loss of what I feel is decent comedy in theaters today (I really hate slapstick and gross-out comedies), and Thomas's film brings back the quick wit I've missed for so long. The intelligence and humor behind this film are sharp and refreshing. It was a genuine pleasure to watch The Road and I smile even now remembering my immediate reaction to it. Thomas's pleasure comes from his audience's reaction to the ending, as any director's would, but he revels in the thrill of watching his audience grapple with their thoughts - five minutes of your time makes a world of difference in Thomas's film.
The tagline for the film is "Karma...condensed." and I can't think of a better way to describe the overall feeling of the film. It's currently making the rounds in a number of film festivals and will be playing in California, Ohio, and even Japan in the next few months. If you live in the area, you must travel down your road to see Owen Thomas's The Road. Yes, it's so clever, it makes up for that cheesy wrap-up line of mine. Bob Marley's road has a lot of signs on it, and Owen Thomas's Road is no different...you just have to know how to interpret them, and how you affect the direction in which they send others.
For more information, you can visit The Road's official myspace page:
(http://www.myspace.com/theroadmovie )
Written and Directed by Owen Thomas
Theoretical Films
Bob Marley said, "Life is one big road with lots of signs." Robert Frost told us about a day he came upon two roads diverging in a wood; he took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Owen Thomas tells us of similar everyday roads in life in his short film, The Road. For a film barely five (yes, you read that correctly, FIVE) minutes long, The Road leaves an impact so dramatic and shocking, you are left stunned and maybe even feeling a little guilty. Maybe you'll re-evaluate how you live your life. Maybe you'll just have a private chuckle about a similar situation you've found yourself in. How could so short a film have that much of an effect? Good things come in small packages, as another well-known saying goes...one that I've used before, but it's well-warranted again with this film.
It has taken me far too long to share my enjoyment of this film, and I find it hard to give a summary of a five-minute masterpiece, but I'll do what I can, and with my apologies for keeping it from you for so long. The Road follows a number of people in their everyday lives doing everyday things: running, shopping, trying to catch that traffic cop from writing out a ticket. It also examines the world through a Pay It Forward kind of lens. Forgive the comparison, as The Road isn't a takeoff on that novel/film, but it does carry the same sort of feeling. It reveals the signs of life through the smile given to a man who helps a woman pick up her purse, or through the relief of a man who doesn't have to worry so much about running down the sidewalk anymore. We greet so many people in our lives and The Road masterfully acknowledges what changes we make in others simply through our presence.
The characters in The Road seem very simple, but they have many layers and you grow to love each one as their stories unfold. You laugh with them, hold your breath with them, and think to yourself, "Yeah, I'd do that, too." I asked Owen Thomas, the clever writer and director of this short film, where his inspiration came from. As I already stated, I thought of Pay It Forward and the Liberty Mutual commercials. "You nailed it," he told me. "[The idea came from] that commercial, along with an innocent interaction with a friend." This friend had waved someone ahead into traffic and Thomas thought of karma and how his friend had assisted this other driver in her travels on the road of life. Have you ever wondered where that person is heading after you pause to let him go ahead? Have you ever taken a moment to think about what a smile from you could do for a sad woman's day? Thomas's inspiration has developed into a film that answers some of those questions, and in a stunning way.
The charm of The Road is apparent throughout, but is truly revealed in the ending. Obviously, I can't tell you what it is, but I will tell you it's brilliantly clever and laugh-out-loud funny. I have long since lamented the loss of what I feel is decent comedy in theaters today (I really hate slapstick and gross-out comedies), and Thomas's film brings back the quick wit I've missed for so long. The intelligence and humor behind this film are sharp and refreshing. It was a genuine pleasure to watch The Road and I smile even now remembering my immediate reaction to it. Thomas's pleasure comes from his audience's reaction to the ending, as any director's would, but he revels in the thrill of watching his audience grapple with their thoughts - five minutes of your time makes a world of difference in Thomas's film.
The tagline for the film is "Karma...condensed." and I can't think of a better way to describe the overall feeling of the film. It's currently making the rounds in a number of film festivals and will be playing in California, Ohio, and even Japan in the next few months. If you live in the area, you must travel down your road to see Owen Thomas's The Road. Yes, it's so clever, it makes up for that cheesy wrap-up line of mine. Bob Marley's road has a lot of signs on it, and Owen Thomas's Road is no different...you just have to know how to interpret them, and how you affect the direction in which they send others.
For more information, you can visit The Road's official myspace page:
(http://www.myspace.com/theroadmovie )
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