Another recent online contest winner to share with you. Stella Artois, responsible for the crappy short films you get to see instead of trailers when you go to the movies, decided enough was enough and let others try and make short films for them. Trigger Street co-sponsored, and this film was picked best of the bunch by a reputable panel of Sacha Baron-Cohen, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench and James Blunt (pick which one doesn’t fit).

The film, directed by Jason Musante Klein, an NYU kid, weighs in at 10 min. Alone in his basement an inventor slaves away to perfect a machine which will allow him to live within his favorite memory. The gritty lo-fi aesthetic recalls such previous gems as Primer, and the Super-8 nostalgic flashbacks reminded me of similar scenes in 12 Monkeys.

Both those are superior films though. With a decent look and confident shot selection, The Perfect Time has at times the making of a superior short film itself, but shortcomings in certain aspects of the art direction and in the story prevent it from rising to such status. A huge hole: why does our main character want to forsake the present to live in his memory? Without that knowledge it is hard to feel any compassion for the character. Instead of sympathy, one is inclined to say to our tortured protagonist, “yeah, the world sucks. Grow up.”

All in all a tepid recommendation. I like these types of films and did not regret watching this one, but decide according to your own taste.

Watch The Perfect Time at:  EW