Hole in the Paper Sky

Whenever I see someone write that this is the first time they've reviewed a film, I always wonder wonder what film would make me take that step. This is it.

I just finished watching it. I set my DVR to program a bunch of the "Stars in Shorts" films the other day, and this was the first one. I knew nothing about it in advance. As I watched it, I knew I recognized the leads, but couldn't think of their names, and figured I'd check out the credits at the end. My DVR cut it off! After I finished sobbing (from the film not my DVR) I wanted to recommend it to my friends, but I didn't know the title because my DVR started it a little late as well. I had no idea how I was going to be able to find out anything about it. I went to the "Stars in Shorts" website and couldn't see it listed. Luckily I remembered that Garry Marshall and Stephen Collins were in it as well so I was able to find it that way on IMDb.

I was about to link it to my friends, but I read the description and I feel there's no way the film can really be appreciated if you read that first. If I had read it I wouldn't have watched it. Math genius? Wounded animal? No thank you. Then I read the storyline further down the page, and that's pretty much the movie. Talk about spoilers! Why watch it if you're just going to describe it right there?

I was already a Jason Clark fan (even if I couldn't remember his name) from Brothers, but I think his performance in this was flawless. I can't believe a story this powerful can be expressed so fully in so short a time. Everyone associated with this film deserves an award...even the dog :) I think it's remarkable how Howard's struggle in the days after seeing the dog are as clear as day without him having said a word about it.

I don't know how to end this, but I want to tell the "powers that be" that something should be done about the description and storyline. Maybe something simple like, "An unexpected encounter changes a man's life forever." I don't think ANYTHING should be given away.

I came to this film in kind of a background manner. In the iTunes store, I was directed to the soundtrack based on another purchase I'd made. I love a good movie soundtrack, so I sampled the one for this film. The score was so beautiful, I had to know about the movie. I looked into it, bought it and here we are!

I loved this film. Everything about it is sheer perfection. The look of it, if that makes sense, is beautiful. Every sound seems to play a role, from the placing of a chess piece to the sounds of a crying baby in the apartment building hallway. The acting is incredible as well. I loved every performance, but the characters of Howard, Warren, and Karen were particularly terrific. It appeared to be a labor of love on the part of all who participated. The story and the writing were phenomenal. And then there's the score, the masterpiece that led me to this jewel in the first place. If you can see this, you really need to! You won't be sorry!