The New Tenants

"Peter" (Jamie Harrold) and "Frank" (David Rakoff) are having one of those love/hate conversations in their new apartment when an elderly neighbour arrives asking for some flour. They've barely unpacked, but "Peter" finds some in the apartment that belonged to the previous occupant - whom we learn came to a sticky end! Settling down to some of the deceased man's potato chips, another visitor descends on them. He's "Jan" (Vincent D'Onofrio) who reckons that someone has been having it away with his wife! Maybe he's not the most deductively astute man? Anyway, he stays for a fairly surreal chat before the arrival of their third visitor. "Zelko" (Kevin Corrigan) introduces an whole new level of comedy menace to the proceedings and by now, maybe the guys had wished they'd set up home in Folsom Prison! I didn't love the tightly photographed (eyes only) monologue at the start, but as this builds up an head of steam it turns into quite an amusing black comedy that's just a little suitably brutal at the end. It even teaches us how to make cinnamon buns, too!

Joachim Back directed this Oscar winner for Best Live Action Short Film, a 20-minute foray into seething urban chaos, verbally laced with angry diatribes against the ills of modern society. A gay couple (David Rakoff--outfitted to look unhealthy, though this is not explained--and Jamie Harrold) have just moved into their new apartment, only to learn the residence had a horribly violent past--history which soon repeats itself. Working from a rather pretentious script by writer Anders Thomas Jensen (whose work was then 'adapted' by Rakoff), Back isn't able to get around the inherent 'writer's folly' of the set-up (which is, there's no peace anywhere, so you may as well dance to the music). The unhappy gays in question do not convince as a couple--even before the drop-ins begin arriving--which may be one reason why the finale fails to provide the impact, the dreamy-lunatic capper, Back probably intended. There's a boldly romantic song playing over the end-credits ("To Night is the Last" sung by Sam Bisbee, himself one of the film's many producers) which gives the audience far more of a lift than Back or any of his actors can ultimately bring to the fore.

Of all the films which were awarded and nominated for an 2010 Oscar, none were more deserving than this.

The plot is very very simple: Two guys moves into a new apartment and get to know their neighbors. And that's all that's going on.

Yet clever writing, great acting and beautiful shots turn the movie into a 20 minute journey of pure enjoyment. The rather dark humor wont give you belly laughs, but will draw an evil grin upon your lips. If you are angry Avatar didn't win the award for best film this year, you probably wont understand why The New Tenants won the award for best short. But if you thought No Country for Old Men was right to win last year, you'll certainly appreciate this as well.

First off, this film is for me one of the best live action short films i've ever seen. This is probably because it doesn't really feel like a short film, more like a piece of a feature film. Not only Story wise but also the quality is more than great, thanks to Pawel Edelman (the pianist, Ray) the images are gritty in a beautiful way.

The Story is quite simple, A gay couple moves into a new apartment and gets to know their weird neighbors. But the Plot offers more with some crazy twists, so i don't want to spoil anything here. The casting and acting is superb, and fits the comical characters which seem a little absurd at times (hence the missing star).

Its in my opinion in the ranks with films like Snatch (2000), In Bruges (2008) or Requiem for a Dream (2000) the only problem... its a lot shorter. A must see and totally worth the 20 minutes, if you can find it somewhere.

In its way it's quite funny. I liked it. A quirky and extreme, but horrifyingly believable little tale. What seems like a bland day turns in to something very full of excitement.

A clever story and great cast.