Reviews of One Up 199

• 
  love at the store
  A review of One Up
  by chessaol on 07/16/2009
  The plot involves a boy and a girl who meet, argue and then . . . My life is made up of girls who just like to argue, I hope our hero does better. Mechanics: lighting: store lights. Staging: a store set up to give a last treat to be fought over. The actors were casually dressed which fit the scene. Special effects: good. The use of split screen I panned heavily on the last... The plot involves a boy and a girl who meet, argue and then . . .
  
  My life is made up of girls who just like to argue, I hope our hero does better.
  
  Mechanics:
  lighting: store lights.
  Staging: a store set up to give a last treat to be fought over. The actors were casually dressed which fit the scene.
  
  Special effects: good.
  The use of split screen I panned heavily on the last film I reviewed.
  
  The split screen was heavily used in this film. It moved the plot along and wasn't a special effect it was a planned part of the film. good!
  
  Graphics: Good
  I especially enjoyed the rooftop annimated graphics. The entire graphics department deserves a pat on the back. Good.
  
  Film quality: good.
  The film was able to give clear pictures in all lighting conditions present.
  
  Sound. Good.
  The sound man did himself proud. The background music was subdued and nonthreatening. It blended with the film and was appropreate to the scene.
  
  The actors were clear and the sound volume was even and consistant across edits. It was also clear where the actors were seperated from the camera and talking low. This was especially well done!
  
  Acting: very good.
  The actors were well rehearsed. They moved in tandom and made the scenes flow. Their dialogue in the fight over a twinkie was difficult for me to imagine doing. They pulled it off in a seamless and flowing manner. Well done.
  
  Dialogue: good.
  The dialogue was delivered in a natural and flowing way. The sound was clear and the words were clearly enunciated.
  
  Directing quality. Excellent.
  The director is responsible for everything quality related that goes into the film. All parts were of a consistant high quality and the attention was evident.
  
  Art: Did I like it? yes to ho-hum
  It isn't my kind of film. I hate people who get heavily involved in life and death struggles over nothing. This film has that flaw. The crew pulled it off well and deserve compliments. read
• 
  LOVED IT
  A review of One Up
  by Charleswagner28 on 03/17/2009
  I am telling you this is the best that I have ever watched.... Really, It was so romantic and it warmed my heart, I wish I could meet a guy like that. You did a really good job, it was awesome, and the ending just warmed my heart and mad me smile. You did a really good job, I am looking forward to watching more of your work. CONGRATS IT WAS GREAT!... I am telling you this is the best that I have ever watched.... Really, It was so romantic and it warmed my heart, I wish I could meet a guy like that.
  
  You did a really good job, it was awesome, and the ending just warmed my heart and mad me smile. You did a really good job, I am looking forward to watching more of your work.
  
  CONGRATS
  
  IT WAS GREAT! read
• 
  Noice
  A review of One Up
  by ShotgunFever on 12/04/2008
  Overall I thought this was a pretty good effort. I think that the idea was strong and the story played out pretty well. Where this went a little south was the technical areas. The dead silence during the paper scissors rock was a problem. The girl had a big smile on her face as she was grabbing the cake. Why was she smiling so big? There was also some choppy editing... Overall I thought this was a pretty good effort. I think that the idea was strong and the story played out pretty well. Where this went a little south was the technical areas.
  
  The dead silence during the paper scissors rock was a problem.
  
  The girl had a big smile on her face as she was grabbing the cake. Why was she smiling so big?
  
  There was also some choppy editing and when they were one-upping each other you kept switching back and forth instead of a medium shot showing them both at the same time. This was a lot of camera switching that gave the editor a tough job I think.
  
  The acting was not bad but I think it may have been a lack of direction or lack of clarity in the script.
  
  I think that this felt like a musical without the music. I could just see them singing their complaints.
  
  It was a solid overall effort but I think to compete it needs to be polished a bit more.
  
  -ShotgunFever read
• 
  it made my day
  A review of One Up
  by florian on 11/30/2008
  Sometime I just like a movie and the review would be that "I like it". When a movie touches me it is hard to explain the causes. Much easier to explain why something doesn't work! There are minor things in this short that could maybe be corrected, like the paper scissor game, or the over acting salesman. But besides those really minor things, I really enjoyed the movie. The... Sometime I just like a movie and the review would be that "I like it". When a movie touches me it is hard to explain the causes. Much easier to explain why something doesn't work! There are minor things in this short that could maybe be corrected, like the paper scissor game, or the over acting salesman. But besides those really minor things, I really enjoyed the movie. The 2 main characters really work well together, they do act very well. The music is perfectly appropriate, the editing is almost perfect (and I am usually not a big fan of split screens!). As I wrote at the begining, it is hard to explain why I liked it. What I know is that I watched it with interest, had a smile on my face at the end, and a warmer heart.
  I hope you'll make a feature length one. read
• 
  quirky fun
  A review of One Up
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 09/04/2008
  I think the script/concept for this was fun - i laughed out loud at 'strict dress code, no colors'. Visually in the beginning it was very nice - the split screen shots flowed well and the coloring was beautiful. However I had a hard time really believing the flow in the store partially because of the sound - i think you should have put the tone of the cooler closest to the... I think the script/concept for this was fun - i laughed out loud at 'strict dress code, no colors'. Visually in the beginning it was very nice - the split screen shots flowed well and the coloring was beautiful. However I had a hard time really believing the flow in the store partially because of the sound - i think you should have put the tone of the cooler closest to the girl over the whole scene in the store, and the same with the tone outside. I was interested in the characters once they started rolling, and thought they were unique - i really started to believe them when their conversation started getting quicker and more elevated. Early on it felt a little disconnected to me. The differences in atmosphere and lighting in the close-ups at the end were a little extreme and lacked continuity, but over all i would be interested in seeing more work from you and enjoyed the quirky nature of this piece. read
• 
  Defying Nitpicking
  A review of One Up
  by zackfu on 04/29/2008
  This goes down like a nice, comfortably hot cup of cocoa and a bad fruit pie. Sure, there's a few sound issues outside the store, an inconsistant look inside the store, and there's something a few clicks off with our male lead...but this fine short is just too damn loveable to nitpick apart with any sincerity. I loved it. We know how things are going to end right out of the... This goes down like a nice, comfortably hot cup of cocoa and a bad fruit pie.
  Sure, there's a few sound issues outside the store, an inconsistant look inside the store, and there's something a few clicks off with our male lead...but this fine short is just too damn loveable to nitpick apart with any sincerity. I loved it.
  We know how things are going to end right out of the gate, but the journey there is a pleasant suprise. And the clever dialogue takes what could have been an inane premise and manages to make it strangely heartfelt and believable.
  Well shot, reasonably acted, complementary music, and great writing.
  Kudos! read
• 
  Excellent
  A review of One Up
  by iliketurtles on 02/22/2008
  One up is a story of a man and woman, who meet in a convenience store, and they have more in common than they think. I think this was a well-done short film. They caught my attention at the beginning, and made it more interesting as the film progressed. The opening shot of the film was very unique. I like how they use a split screen to show that both characters are doing the... One up is a story of a man and woman, who meet in a convenience store, and they have more in common than they think. I think this was a well-done short film. They caught my attention at the beginning, and made it more interesting as the film progressed. The opening shot of the film was very unique. I like how they use a split screen to show that both characters are doing the exact same thing, and every angle is the same for each character, and the split screen shot continues until they formally meet each other in front of the fruit pie.
  
  The script in “One Up” is well done. It’s an interesting script, where both characters explain to each other how miserable their lives are. The only thing I can say about this short film, beside the fact it is very well done, is that it was a little predictable. I could see the ending coming from a kilometre away. (Km because I’m Canadian) Guy and girl meet. Both see that they’re meant for each other. Then end up together at the end of the film. The acting in this film is excellent. The characters are very convincing, and they are able to add emphasis to each character. The music in the beginning and at the end fits the film very well. Overall, this is an excellent film. I wouldn’t be surprised if it
  won at many film festivals. read
• 
  good writing, natural
  A review of One Up
  by holster6 on 10/27/2007
  ONE UP is a great concept and was executed well for the budget. I really like the use of the split screen in the begining. The dialouge was clever with the quick back and forth, BUT the actors should have had more time with the material. most shorts do not have the time or the budget for such things. Audio was a big problem. Not much thought was given to audio on location by... ONE UP is a great concept and was executed well
  for the budget. I really like the use of the split screen
  in the begining. The dialouge was clever with the quick back and forth, BUT the actors should have had more time with the material. most shorts do not have the time or the budget for such things.
  Audio was a big problem. Not much thought was given to audio on location by the producer or director.
  Audio is sometimes an afterthought till post, when you need it. need wild sound to cover the holes.
  great story, well acted and timed, read
• 
  characters not believeable but consistent
  A review of One Up
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 06/25/2007
  The audio mix makes this one difficult to watch, but once you get past it, the acting keeps you into it. The writer deserves the lion's share of the credit for making these losers appealing in a way, but their mono-dimensionality makes it a little flat. My favorite part is probably the split screen exits from their respective homes.
• 
  Sweet-ish
  A review of One Up
  by Hal Jordan on 06/21/2007
  Pretty nifty concept and solid execution for the most part. But editing (re: pacing) and sub-par performances mar the short. The opening hooks the audience in. Split-screen is gimmicky but when it's done well (e.g. Gondry) it's fascinating. The split-screen at the beginning of the piece was intriguing and set up the parallels between the two characters pretty nicely. But... Pretty nifty concept and solid execution for the most part. But editing (re: pacing) and sub-par performances mar the short.
  
  The opening hooks the audience in. Split-screen is gimmicky but when it's done well (e.g. Gondry) it's fascinating. The split-screen at the beginning of the piece was intriguing and set up the parallels between the two characters pretty nicely. But it's just used for the opening and nothing really innovative materializes from the use of the split-screen. It hooks people, so I guess it served its purpose, but when it (split-screen) is over, it feels like the non-split-screen sequences are from a different movie. Using such a dramatic technique for so long a duration at the head of the film makes the film feel slightly unbalanced.
  
  Once the film says "good-bye" to split screen for good, it gets to the heart of the story (btw, the transition cut between the split-screen sequence and the non-split-screen sequence is awkward, particularly when compared to the excellent handling of the split-screen shots earlier). The premise is humorous enough but is held back by a combination of two things. The sequence of the two leads comparing woes goes on for too long. The audience "gets it" pretty quickly (probably having seen versions of this before) and is left watching the clock until the film decides to move on. Secondly, the performances by the two leads feels strained. The audience feels a little like they are watching actors delivering lines instead of watching two characters interacting. This may be due to the acting/direction or the way some of the lines are written. The acting and the pacing combine to make the middle sequence drag.
  
  The ending is predictable, but maybe that's what people who watch (and make?) romantic comedies prefer. Certainly I can't think of a romantic comedy that WASN'T predictable so I'm not sure this can be listed as a negative. I wouldn't blast a Western for having six-shooters...
  
  Technically the film felt a little north of middle of the road. The production value of securing a convenience store for shooting elevates things as does the handling of the split-screen sequence intro. The lighting wasn't where it could/should be, but it's probably too much to ask to shoot in a store AND light it. The output of the image felt a little low-contrasty (might be due to the compression), but it's a little milky and feels like it could have benefitted from a pass of color correction.
  
  Overall a decent execution of a story in the romantic comedy genre. The premise was well-thought out enough, but there are flaws around the edges that keep this from being fresh. read