This Modern Man Is Beat

This Modern Man is Beat is a dramatic short film featuring professional cinematography and visuals. The narrative was intriguing, with a shocking plot twist at the end. I did anticipate the plot twist correctly within the first few minutes of the film, but was satisfied with the narrative, nonetheless. I do feel as if some of the dialogue and pauses between scenes were a tad awkward or artificial - the main character, Habib bin Habin al Fulan, often spoke too little or too long. Upon exiting the motel in the first half of the movie, the camerawork showed several angles to view Habib and his surroundings with, including a dog laying on the other side of the road. The lengthy shots suggested something significant or dramatic would occur, perhaps with the dog or the area Habib was in, but nothing of note happened besides the transition to the next location. The story itself was compelling, though it lacked the backstory that I felt was necessary to truly appreciate the film. Overall, I would rate this as a quality film with a lot of room for an expanded story. Much potential for a longer, more intricate adaptation.

This 17-minute-long film is enough to see the devastation that the main character, a foreigner called Habid, suffers due to lack of money to pay for the rent of the motel where he lives with his wife. The contrast between their tender happy moments of the past and the present tough ones that they go through comes to the foreground by a very good use of light. The loneliness and emptiness that the quiet desert portraits work as a backdrop of this man's lack of multiples resources to bring their lives back to normalcy. Unable to control his wife in one of her hysterical outbursts of anger and rage, he goes to the extreme of taking her life. He is too blind and desperate to see that there is always hope and a way out for people's helplessness. He returns to the pawn shop ready to accept whatever is offered for his guitar. To his surprise, the owner of the shop tells him that at that moment he is in luck because now his guitar is worth more money. Moreover, he is also given a job vacancy form to fill in. However, now it is too late. A police officer opens the door and aims his gun at him. With very little action involved, this short film highlights a bunch of feelings and emotions that ultimately convey what human beings are subjected to when torn by extreme situations.

This Modern Man is Beat is in many respects a fantastic short film. Though many of the characters are understandably somewhat one-note given its short length, both its central protagonist Habib and his wife receive a significant amount of development, and the dismal and desperate mental state of the former throughout comes across very well in the writing and acting.

The sets are also of sterling quality, with strong contrasts of light and dark dividing the past and the present. The film's foreshadowing is top-notch, as small, intermittently introduced details combine to form a grander picture, subtle enough to clue one in without giving away its true premise until the end.

That said, for all its high points the film does have its share of foibles, as the cold open in the pawn shop leaves little time to establish the gravity of Habib selling his guitar, and Habib himself is a little too eager to spill his whole life's story at the drop of a hat. The film is also prone to shots that occasionally come off as awkward and even slightly comical, which can undercuts the tension somewhat.

The film's cold open combined with its short length are generally what hurt the film the most though, as the extremely dramatic, dolorous music, the slow pace of dialogue and perhaps overly impassioned delivery of the main actor can appear almost to be self-parody at moments given the emotional attachment they expect the viewer to have for a character they've known only fifteen or so minutes.

Overall, the film is very competent and moving but occasionally considers itself more emotional than it is, and undermines itself in the process.

This Modern Man Beat is a powerful short film that explores themes of modern masculinity, identity, and emotional isolation. Through minimalist storytelling and stunning cinematography, it creates a raw portrait of a man struggling to find his place in an increasingly disconnected world. The lead performance is powerful and captures the character's inner turmoil in just a few words, and the film's visuals effectively reinforce the themes of loneliness and internal conflict. Although the pacing feels slow at times, the film's emotional impact lingers long after viewing. This is an interesting and thought-provoking piece to reflect on the pressures of modern life. Film fans are treated to a thought provoking and visual experience.

The short film "This Modern Man Is Beat," directed by Alex Merkin, takes audiences on a journey that explores the complex layers of modern identity. The main character, goes on an unforeseen adventure while visiting a strip club, where he meets people from various walks of life. Merkin explores cultural themes and uses self-aware visuals to look into issues of heritage, masculinity, and personal introspection in the vibrant setting of Los Angeles. The film's aesthetic/ imagery contribute to its raw and quiet atmosphere, creating a sense of introspection and reflection."This Modern Man Is Beat" provides a thought-provoking examination of identity in a society that is struggling with its own disagreements and brief moments of understanding.