Reviews of Empathy 33

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  Feeling is everything; the (E)motion picture arts.
  A review of Empathy
  by MTaylor on 03/15/2012
  This film as a great quality: tone. The subtle use of imagery, creatively used framing and cinematics that are artistic as well a intelligently crafted, a smart use of ambient sound and music with the briefest effects, Empathy is captivating and enthralling. This reviewer particularly enjoyed, and was impressed by, the simple eye-line and ‘look’ acting, conveyed with genuine... This film as a great quality: tone.
  
  The subtle use of imagery, creatively used framing and cinematics that are artistic as well a intelligently crafted, a smart use of ambient sound and music with the briefest effects, Empathy is captivating and enthralling.
  
  This reviewer particularly enjoyed, and was impressed by, the simple eye-line and ‘look’ acting, conveyed with genuine emotion and skill that told what is a classic silent movie story.
  
  Also the complex use of frame-within-frame story-telling to complete the narrative is impressive.
  
  Unfortunately, though it matters little in the end and over-all experience of Empathy, one would have liked this excellent short to have been directed in a location or space that could have enhanced the story and character together. As it is, the banality of a opened space office of some sort tended to reduce the impact.
  
  Using a digital special effects to express another moment seemed a unnecessary, the film as a whole is highly creative and shows a lot of talent for those involved.
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  SAY IT WITH PICTURES
  A review of Empathy
  by brokenarrow on 11/24/2010
  Interesting story, but was not quite sure if the man shot was the ghost, or the ghost was giving his executioner a taste of how it felt to be him. You did well getting and keeping my interest in the story showing us pictures, although most was left to the imagination of why it was done -- Girl problem? Could not make out what was on the paper, if it was drugs, burnt edges...
  Interesting story, but was not quite sure if the man shot was the ghost, or the ghost was giving his executioner a taste of how it felt to be him. You did well getting and keeping my interest in the story showing us pictures, although most was left to the imagination of why it was done -- Girl problem? Could not make out what was on the paper, if it was drugs, burnt edges or ashes -- Oh for a big screen. The actors and music did a good job of keeping a solemn tone, well done there. I was a little surprised with no dialogue that your story held my interest, but the spoken word may have helped to clear up what the fight/murder was really about, or who is the victim, to me anyway. read
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  Pretty but confusing
  A review of Empathy
  by mje323 on 11/14/2010
  I only read the synopsis for Empathy after I had watched the film, up until then I thought they were a gay couple and one of them was having an affair with a woman. I thought that it was brilliantly shot and the bearded actor was very good, I was less convinced by the other actor. Cutting from the photo to the same shot in frame on film was a nice touch. I also liked that the... I only read the synopsis for Empathy after I had watched the film, up until then I thought they were a gay couple and one of them was having an affair with a woman. I thought that it was brilliantly shot and the bearded actor was very good, I was less convinced by the other actor. Cutting from the photo to the same shot in frame on film was a nice touch. I also liked that the visuals without narration or dialogue was used to tell the story.
  
  The downside for me was not really knowing what was going on, some might find obscurity a clever artistic choice but I'm not so keen on it. Overall though I would be interested in watching more from the same film makers. read
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  Review
  A review of Empathy
  by jdzone2001 on 11/13/2010
  I thought this was very creative and I enjoyed it. The music set the mood nicely. Actors did a good job. I thought the camera and lighting worked along with the editing. The thing I feel could have been done better, is a few more frames of the photos that influenced the man to shoot I believe was his friend. Good luck in the festival!
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  Feel the Burn
  A review of Empathy
  by jmdsbussrv on 11/05/2010
  Good title for this piece. Overall, I liked everything. I can see why you've won some awards. The only couple things I will mention: I know we all have limited resources, so this may not have been doable, but mention it in case ... The opening music went on a tad too long, in my opinion, neither right nor wrong. I think I might have changed it up some earlier. But, of... Good title for this piece.
  
  Overall, I liked everything. I can see why you've won some awards.
  
  The only couple things I will mention:
  
  I know we all have limited resources, so this may not have been doable, but mention it in case ...
  
  The opening music went on a tad too long, in my opinion, neither right nor wrong. I think I might have changed it up some earlier. But, of course, you may not have had anything to switch to, so take this for whatever it's worth.
  
  The other thing is I'm not quite sure what happened. I did see it a couple times, but I'm not sure what you were trying to say, except empathy.
  
  I like the mysterious photo thing though. I liked what you were trying to do, I just didn't quite catch on. But it was still well done cinematically.
  
  Thanks for reading and I wish you well.
  
  JIM read
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  Empathy Review
  A review of Empathy
  by doonae on 11/04/2010
  Nice cinematic movement of the camera. Colouring was good. I felt the edits could have been a bit tighter in places - but I get that you may have been going for the dreamy feel. Music fitted the piece well. Story wise it was slightly opaque - but that's a good thing in my opinion. Those credits at the end went too quick! Overall, nice work. I enjoyed it.
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  Nice music
  A review of Empathy
  by williamjwestaway on 10/17/2010
  Really nice music. There were some good shots in this, no dialogue - you did well because you didnt need any - which is always a challenge. Good pace to it. For me however there wasnt a great deal of storyline, there wasnt a lot going on at all. It was a nice looking short and I think in the future I would be much more interested in seeing this team take on something a little... Really nice music. There were some good shots in this, no dialogue - you did well because you didnt need any - which is always a challenge. Good pace to it.
  
  For me however there wasnt a great deal of storyline, there wasnt a lot going on at all. It was a nice looking short and I think in the future I would be much more interested in seeing this team take on something a little more meaty -something to get your teeth into. With this I feel like you just skimmed the surface.
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  Smoking Actors
  A review of Empathy
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 10/12/2010
  Bad acting and directing, I honestly was expecting them to kiss or blow up, the scene was really slowly going nowhere. I saw the actors seriously straining to act to the point of smoking, with no results. They were just bad. It was obvious the actors had no more of grasp of the emotional content or purpose of the scene than the audience. I guess your idea is for you alone to... Bad acting and directing, I honestly was expecting them to kiss or blow up, the scene was really slowly going nowhere. I saw the actors seriously straining to act to the point of smoking, with no results. They were just bad. It was obvious the actors had no more of grasp of the emotional content or purpose of the scene than the audience. I guess your idea is for you alone to know what was going on. I immediately saw ahead and was thinking Fight Club, the minute the guy with the beard and big eyes began to act/show a hint of emotion as he sat down at the table. Mainly because the other guy at the table was completely stone faced without any hint of emotional context, and therefore could not possibly be the main character. You also had a bad choice of setting; it looked like any boring room in any boring house. Congratulations on a nice try on a difficult concept, but try something more simple next time. First build up your experience on making simple concepts done very well, and then try something complex like this. Try and find better actors as well, or spend more time developing the actors you have. I would suggest taking an acting or directing class, or both. If you already have, take one by another instructor. read
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  empathy
  A review of Empathy
  by moviecre8r on 10/04/2010
  visually pleasing and edited well. the camera was fluid and moved when it was necessary, but not predicably. some of the special effects (ie - the glow on the friend in the doorway at the end) was a bit cheesy, but i forgave it. the acting was simple enough, without words, which was interesting. I like the tie in with the photo and how it fits together with the ending... visually pleasing and edited well. the camera was fluid and moved when it was necessary, but not predicably. some of the special effects (ie - the glow on the friend in the doorway at the end) was a bit cheesy, but i forgave it. the acting was simple enough, without words, which was interesting. I like the tie in with the photo and how it fits together with the ending. It's a very thought provoking, artsy piece, and in a very short amount of time, we are able to get a glimpse into what's between the lines. Not on the nose. I appreciate that. read
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  I didn't get it.
  A review of Empathy
  by dj152 on 10/04/2010
  I didn't really get what was going on here. I mean, I assumed that one friend had portrayed the other, and it had something to do with a girl in the pictures-- but other than that, it's murky. Part of me wants to just say "okay, It's just me, I didn't get it." But then, for me to not get it, I feel others might not as well; so I should voice that feeling. I think part of... I didn't really get what was going on here. I mean, I assumed that one friend had portrayed the other, and it had something to do with a girl in the pictures-- but other than that, it's murky.
  
  Part of me wants to just say "okay, It's just me, I didn't get it." But then, for me to not get it, I feel others might not as well; so I should voice that feeling.
  
  I think part of the problem was the lead actor - who had a kind of gormless, acting-student look to him; which made his emotions imperceiveable. On the one hand, I like that - I like subtlety in acting; but with these actors it didn't feel like subtlety, just blankness.
  
  I think you're courageous for trying to do a film like this, with no dialogue - and it had a tension and emotion to it that you achieved through the editing and directing. But I felt that something was missing; that your meaning and part of your story wasn't delivered to the audience.
  
  Good luck in the festival! read