Today we review SAMARITAN, the short film by Eric Papa. This is a good 30 minute length High Definition film made in Cleveland, OH area. For those seeking the website, it's at www.samaritanfilm.com and there's a lot more about the filmmaker at www.epphd.com
Samaritan's setup consists of Michael Breeze playing a demoralized bad guy and Joe O'Brien playing a hero turned victim. Cali Miles plays O'Brien's lovely wife, and Patricia Valestin's role will make your heart bleed for more. Until you see this film, you will be forced to take what I just stated at face value and go awwwww, but this movie has some twists! Truth be told, everyone looks great, women beautiful, and the story by Ryan Connolly is very entertaining in and of itself.
The overall premise of the movie, without spoiling it too much, is that Breeze's character, Greg, has a problem with his wife and needs someone to solve it, while he is away. O'Brien's character, Adam, is blackmailed in a ransom type situation to fix Greg's problem and do the unthinkable....kill someone's wife. It's a lot more intricate than that and you don't know what's really going on, or you may think you do, but are probably wrong. That's one of the things I like about this short film that kind of makes it feel like a television episode on network TV. The sense of drama and intense yearning for relief for the victim is strong.
Before I get to some more things I like about it, there is a point I have to address that upset me in creation of an alibi, which this film rests upon. Perhaps it's nitpicking from a criminal life daydream perspective. If you were going to set up a crime, you would definitely want to seal up any loose ends and make things untraceable to yourself. This is not really the case in this story, although the credibility of our hero/ victim does get ruined to where hardly anyone would listen to him if he tried. This film stresses closure, but I believe taking it a step further to ensure there were no loose ends would have been a better way. Although, depending on where people live and how much criminal investigation is taken seriously within such a community, this can affect any debate on the subject and render my opinion exactly just that. Perhaps I watched too much CSI....bad Kenny.
Good things are a plenty in this production. First off, it was shot using a very good High Definition camera and obviously took a lot of work in setting up the shots. The lighting is pretty consistent and quite professional, in my opinion as a filmmaker. I believe some day-for-night methods were used to create night time shots that maintain set and subject integrity. The clarity of the image was very good, again by using well shot HD. Impressive for indie!
The sets, mostly 2 house settings and some outdoor locations, were very pleasant to watch and were perfect for the types of characters and their careers, which has a little something to do with the story if you pay attention to several matching props that two of the characters own. I could swear I saw some dolly shots around a vehicle and in different scenes, which was aesthetically pleasing to me. When you combine good movement with good footage...little can go wrong. I even liked the long shot overlooking a long winding road. I believe it was used as an establishing shot, but I'd have to go back and look at it to be sure.
I did notice some trivial minor things, such as focusing on character's emotional expression longer than needed to get empathy or to drive feelings about that character. I think the acting actually allowed for "less-is-more" in editing. Indie filmmakers usually push for more time on expression to drive a point home, as a way to convey things properly within typically limited production means. I don't know the budget, but I think Papa's got it covered and looking good. Possibly, director/ editor Eric Papa's past grassroots experience forced siding with caution to ensure vision. He did such a good job getting the shots along with solid acting that he could have cut faster, without any regret. However, to make things clear....everything still flows fine.
While it sounds like I've overall been sucking up to this production, I'm not. and have no affiliation. I am simply stating my views based on what I saw and know from making my films within the limits of independent production. I've seen Eric Papa's very early work and he's proven his skills, especially with this latest creation. So, all in all, this short film hold it's own, looks good, and rides the edge between independent and studio fare. Considering short films aren't typically something larger studios tend to deal in, that automatically places Samaritan at the top of short films locally made, recently seen. I know some other good shorts, but that's for another set of reviews, along with some feature films. I give it a smile!
Best Regards, Kenny
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