“Noodling” [rating: 3/5]
Country charm, that’s what “Noodling” is full of. Too bad writer/director Rebecca Eskreis didn’t realize that it’s the folks that fascinate, not the fish. Little miss blonde, ponytailed 14-year-old Jenna Ramsey is not impressed with her dad’s noodling. No, noodling is not what he’s doing to the gal he’s about to marry; it’s a sport where people try to grab catfish with their bare hands. This unoriginal “dad’s getting married to someone that’s not my mom” idea doesn’t help and neither do the dead fish, or the living ones, which is what’s served the entire movie. If it weren’t for Jenna’s kinda-sorta love interest, Mikey, clumsily falling and floundering, then the charm would have faded away.
“Love Hackling” [rating: 2.5/5]
Love can’t make up for all the faulty findings here. Even if William Grayson Heath (Tim) really did fall in love with Sarita Heath online and get married the day after meeting, it does not make up for the bad cinematography. Maybe director/producer Jenni Nelson was going for “The Office” approach, switching from “confessional” facing the camera shots to actual scenes, or maybe the narrator’s voice just sounded annoyingly familiar. Either way, this awkward, nerdy fellow caught in computer wires, building flying robots, tells us that he’s awkward and nerdy. Because it wasn’t already obvious. The only enjoyable part of this flick is the ending.
“Legacy” [rating: 5/5]
This student film will fly right to you heart, and it doesn’t even need any words to do so. This animated flick about a teen’s fear to follow his dad’s footsteps in the air doesn’t flutter, it hovers. When a dying father hands his son his old leather flying helmet and goggles, heartstrings get tugged at. When he’s out on the ledge and a little boy grunts and stomps around, trying to get him to fly, you can’t help but smile. The music takes us on a flight with this character and it’s not one we will soon forget.
“Hatch” [rating: 5/5]
“Hatch” works. It thrusts seriousness in the air and makes you stop, but you will choose to breathe it in, even if the air is cold. It’s called “Hatch” because it’s about a baby hatch — an orphanage or nursery where people can give up unwanted babies. Writer/director Christoph Kuschnig shows just how hard it is for a young couple to live after having a baby: they have to steal diapers to provide for their baby boy. The film has a blue tint to it — not only is it winter, but there are fights and loss. This mood is lingering in every part of the film and the cinematography is somehow able to capture it. But it doesn’t matter how blue it is, you’ll want to watch it again.
“Not at Home” [rating: 2/5]
Don’t expect to go anywhere in this film. Gray-haired Gene may be on his way to California in an old RV, but he’s really just stuck and riding around in circles in his life. Unless you want to experience this with him, don’t hitchhike here. Apparently, some teenage girl is in the same position and catches a ride with this stranger. She’s an even worse turnoff. Gene must have picked her up in The Valley, because she chats too much and is too cheerful for her own good. If you like that stuff and the lack of a plot doesn’t bother you then jump on the wagon because you’ll get to see of plenty of shots of mountains.
“Chalk Talk” [rating: 4/5]
Chalk Talk goes on an adventure beyond the chalkboards of classrooms, an adventure filled with heartwarming highs and heart wrenching lows, and it’s all wonderful until you’re left dangling at the end. The story starts when a boy brings his veteran grandpa to school for show and tell, but the journey begins when his grandpa steps up to the chalkboard. The moment he taps that piece of chalk, you get it: Morse code. It’s a brilliant idea that writer, director and producer Christopher Durenberger came up with but it’s no excuse for the confusing ending. It’s not even clear who’s to blame. The actors set the bar high in the beginning but their expressionless ending is puzzling—or maybe the fault lies with the director for leaving it too open-ended.
“Enlighten Me” [rating: 2/5]
Sure, it’s a cute skit of a cartoon struggling with a light, but that’s it. It’s too short to amount to anything. The entire two minutes consists of a frustrated little doodle trying to get a lamp to work. This doodle just doesn’t go anywhere. It’s literally all black and white until the ending, when some colors get thrown in. Why? No one knows, but maybe that’s ok because no one really cares either.
“12:15 Sunday” [rating: 4/5]
There are plenty of World War II stories to toss around, but this one is worth holding onto. After ejecting from his plane, this US pilot landed in Nazi territory. It’s one of those unbelievable, jaw-dropping stories. Its documentary style, cutting from the interview to reenactments, hits the target. The reenactments are fantastic; everything from the bomber jacket the handsome actor is wearing to the army trucks and log cabins comes to life. It’s like you’re actually there and you still can’t believe you’re alive in the end.
“Caves: The Social Underground” [rating: 4/5]
Everyone’s knows what caves are, but what about caving? This short documentary explores every crevice to the sport, dangers included. Yes, it’s dangerous, just like rock climbing—in fact, that’s pretty much what it is, just in caves. But there’s more than just climbing, there’s crawling, swimming and hiking—caves offer it all. The interviews aren’t convincing but the footage is. The shots of stalactites show the beauty and watching those kids-at-heart will make you want to lace up your hiking boots and climb right in.
