The Candidate

I see a lot of "sniffing" reviews. The kind that write this off as an episodic tv show flashback. The Twilight Zone might be the correct genre, but that is no reason to denigrate the piece. I am willing to bet that this one will hold up as well in 50 years too.

Ever hated somebody so much that you wanted them dead? It is the basic idea that makes "The Candidate" so undeniably interesting. This rich, multi-layered short film plays with the basic morality battles that we find ourselves dealing with every day. The hate that the main character feels is thick and delicious. We allow ourselves to like this man because we've been there too! We want him to succeed because he's worked hard and he deserves to win. And yet, shouldn't we feel bad?

This man represents those vices that we so ardently profess to abhor! He is greedy, sneaky, underhanded, conniving, vicious (just look at the slow motion shot of him scream as his cheeks become the fierce jowls of a voracious predator). We should see this man in action and care nothing for him, but then again, there but for the grace of God, go I.

This is one of those films which leaves you craving more, and I hope we get it one day. Director David Karlak gives us a delicious taste of a dark world. It just happens to be set in an office!

My advice? Go find it, watch it, savor it. It's good filmmaking.

Believe me. Once you've tasted it, you'll realize what you've been missing.

THE CANDIDATE seems to have garnered a lot of praise on this page being a dark exploration of human nature set against the background of corporate capitalism . I'm being extremely contrarian when I say wasn't all that impressed by it . It's by no means dreadful but as Bob said it's very much like one of those stories you might have seen in THE TWILIGHT ZONE or in an American version of TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

David Karlak uses an all too obvious directorial technique in order to tell the story , one of constant incidental music that is both intrusive and manipulative which outlasts its welcome . He also uses a bit too much close up in order try and get a sense of mounting tension . That said one thing that is impressive from a technical viewpoint is the editing especially at the end as the last scenes are cut with the titles .

The story itself revolves around the denouement where the rug is well and truly pulled out from the audiences feet and I wasn't able to second guess the twist at the end , but sadly the story only exists because of the twist . It's interesting that the audience will no doubt be on the side of Burton since most of us will be relatively low on the work ladder and hold grudges against those higher up . This is the problem Burton is shown to do nothing to make himself any enemies and the narrative suffers from a lack of show don't tell . As it stands THE CANDIDATE is okay but never really a candidate for classic short film

Dark, somber cello strings provide atmosphere as a brooding, resentful company man (Tom Gulager) voices an internal monologue about the inadequacy and impotency of a bumbling brown-noser of a coworker (Thomas F. Duffy). After casually ignoring a few written or electronic messages from the "secretary," Carl Tucker, of a mysterious "Society for United Action," Burton gets a visit at the office from Mr. Tucker himself.

I saw Robert Picardo listed in the cast and I was immediately invested in a viewing. He's an outstanding actor, and he portrays Tucker with such an amiable and casual yet purposeful delivery that his every word is like music. It's truly entrancing. And Gulager, as Burt, very relatably boils over with his impatience, skepticism, and malcontent.

Wait, Meghan Markle is in this, too? Well how about that?

If Picardo's involvement weren't enough, the twist at the end absolutely makes 'The candidate' worth watching. It's exquisitely executed, and Tucker's swift, seamless departure speaks to a seemingly unnatural power, though he is yet only human.

I do have a little bit of an issue with suspension of disbelief here, as the Society's mission is essentially predicated on wishful thinking and the rejection of coincidence as so much as a concept. Still, the short is otherwise so very well done that the credibility of the scenario is bolstered by its quality.

I was expecting a bit of fun, but I wasn't expecting this to carry with it a small sense of thrills. Well done! - and, I think , worth 20 minutes of your time.

A man. His frustrations about position in the firm. S.M.S.-s and a letter from an organisation representatif . The dialogue. And , after seductive terms, a cold, brutal conclusion.

A film reminding the portrait of Rodion Raskolnikoff . In general line, with an admirable cinematography and good performances. And a strong parable about the life. The life of the other, off course.

Short, a film like a cut of knife . Precise. And clear.