‘Navi Boys’ is a beautiful, and efficient, utilization of resources, performances and writing to portray a single moment, a conflict, and the confrontation, struggle and the eventual resolution that constitute it. Mike and Elon present to us a day in their lives where they conduct a podcast, the eponymous Avatar-fan podcast, that leaves no stone unturned in committing to the authenticity of the said universe. 

With absolute dedication to the fandom, makeup and linguistic requirements, the two friends share their love for the film, and its sequel, with their listeners. However, Elon has an important announcement to make as well on this particular day, one that would leave the future of the podcast, and in many ways, of the relationship that he shares with Mike, deeply uncertain. 

The true triumph of the film lies in the manner in which the myriad elements are united into a seamless whole. Drama, intimacy, and humor become part of the entire spectrum of emotions delineated within the narrative. From hurt, disappointment, a sense of betrayal, to acceptance, forgiveness, and of course, friendship - all of these are engaged with remarkably, taking the film home with ease and sincerity.

Navi Boys  | Short Film of the Month

What would happen if Victor Frankenstein were to bring a monster to life in contemporary times, with access to modern technology, his research being part of an online course titled Cadaver Reanimation? The two would be called Frankie and Benny, to begin with. 

Our modern-day version is marked by a bonhomie, or at least the desire for it, instead of the cold repulsion of a creator from his monster. When Frankie brings his dead friend Benny to life, he realizes he has on his hands something very different from his dreams of a rekindled friendship. Instead, he now finds himself with an 'abomination', as he calls Benny himself, who is here to stay for life, and not simply for Christmas. 

The resultant narrative is marked by humor, but also, by the brutal aspects of existence and the human body that creep up on the viewer in the most unexpected ways. They make you flinch, but at the same time, also ensure that you cannot look away from this story of grief, guilt, friendship, loss, and the eventual circuitous path back to hope and companionship. The chemistry of actors, and the other crucial components of the film’s world - make-up, sound design, writing, visual grammar - all supplement the endeavor to ensure ‘Frankie and Benny’ becomes an endearing, entertaining narrative about the experiences of a shared bond between two friends.

Frankie and Benny  | Short Film of the Month

Jack and Vince have the most unexpected encounter, and the film presents a colorfully entertaining portrayal of the same. Jack’s life revolves around cryptocurrency. He has a loyal following online which hangs on to his every word. He reciprocates their sincerity, but only at first glance until the virtual interaction ends. The reality that thus follows is far from that, though never without humor, a characteristic absurdity, and eccentric details that define the circumstance. The film presents a moment, a brief window into Jack’s life, keeping itself taut and entertaining in its brevity. The visual progression and construction fully support the endeavor, as well as the screenplay. The actors are sharply synchronized and bolster the result. It is definitely a welcome prospect to engage with a longer project or subsequent parts that take us deeper into the world of the characters thus presented.

Give It Up | Spotlight

The film is an amusing exchange between two men located on opposite ends of a spectrum, the spectrum of love for pickleball. The conversation is between a therapist and a client, a devout lover of the sport, and a passionate hater, respectively.
It develops much like a match, from one opponent to another, all along defined by the film’s consistent lightheartedness. The narrative does not bog itself down with forced layers or complexities. The consequent straightforward approach to the story and screenplay works in the film’s favor, supported with ease by the back-and-forth banter of the two actors. 
Perhaps there could be more episodic snippets giving glimpses into their lives in the future, exploring more of this buddy-film-esque chemistry.

Picklelove | Spotlight

Private investigators Mark Johnson and John Markson have long held dreams of becoming police officers solving crimes and helping those in need. Their reality, however, is far from that as they execute one inane task after another. From looking for dogs that are already dead to helping teenaged boys ascertain the birthday presents their father will get for them, Mark and John's life is not as adventurous as they would have preferred. Consequently, they have very little awareness of how quickly all of this is going to change. 

 As Mark gets abducted, John is forced to break out of his drunken stupor to go on a wild goose chase to save his partner and friend. The narrative develops to rope in elements of a buddy film, draw punches (albeit a little too graphic sometimes for those with a weak stomach) that achieve their target, all along generating laughs at the expense of our hapless characters. 

 John is a man on a mission who will leave (almost) no stone unturned in saving Mark, barring a small episode of forgetfulness. Now that he is set on his goal, could it be thus that the abductors are more in peril than Mark himself? The answer, and all its unexpected ramifications, lie in the film's conclusion.

Case Closed | Short Film Nominee

The first glance into the world of 'Good Intentions' might lead one to expect the humor and banter of a buddy film, and the initial moments might perhaps only serve to strengthen this expectation. However, the narrative has very different plans up its sleeve, as it soon progresses to reveal. 

 After breaking into a house, Charlie and David are in a rush to complete the task at hand and head out, and yet, something stops them in their tracks. When they stumble across an unlikely inhabitant, found under the most strange circumstances, they know they are now embroiled in a scenario beyond the point of no return. As events unfold, the plot covers an entire spectrum of emotional states - from humor, and moral dilemmas to stress, thrill and suspense. 

 All of them are eventually building to the final reveal, and when it finally arrives, it does indeed tie all the aspects of the plot together, but would it also carry forth an equally neat conclusion for the characters as well? The question is raised and answered, while the film condenses several falling pieces into a few minutes of high tension, attempting to engage the viewer throughout as it presents to them the misadventures of the duo.

Good Intentions | Short Film Nominee

You Killed Spencer! presents to the viewer a bizarre, comedic tale of the misadventures of two friends. Borrowing elements from a buddy film, and tying them together with the narrative's experiments with style, music and overall progression, the story takes us into a single moment in the lives of three friends. 

 While two of them discuss the validity of atoms and their role in our existence, the third friend remains detached and aloof, completely preoccupied with his phone. As his friends race each other to their home, he casually saunters behind, unaware of the fate that awaits him, one that involves a fragile, mottled egg. 

 Through the portrayal of these events, the short narrative endeavors a plot marked by its strangeness, comedic moments conjured at the expense of the characters, along with a general sense of ease and bantering that they share. The attempt comes across as a first step towards a journey of what can potentially be fun and effervescent storytelling.

You Killed Spencer! | Short Film Nominee

Two men oscillate between different activities; while one of them busies himself with his feeble and unsuccessful attempts at writing, the other is preoccupied with watching films and lighting up different smoking-related paraphernalia. Within its short duration, the film attempts to pack a complete punch that includes elements of the buddy film, comedy and action. The endeavor to achieve all of this is thus presented in the form of the final product to the viewer, almost attempting a narrative located inside a narrative, using the grammar of the film itself to show how another film is made by our two characters. It is at this juncture that comedy is overpowered by action. The treatment and approach of the narrative exhibits a freshness of thought. However, the subsequent result could have gained from a more organic pace, allowing the development of events before you more coherence, aiding the viewer's comprehension. On the whole, however, the film remains a fun ride to venture on, as our characters progress from one misadventure to another.

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