Hall of Mirrors

Great story line. crude body special effects, but understandable on a No budget film. I love how the film maker, Marc Pilvinsky, plays the "repent" homeless man. His sign, "The End Is Near" may just be telling us literally that the film will end soon, or figuratively, that for the main character, his demise is preeminent.

As a part of his emergence as a young gun film maker, Marc Pilvinsky and crew are beginning to explore much of human behavior. With enough time and money, conflict can be see as more than Man versus another Man, and Man versus Himself.

This is a good movie to whet one's appetite for Piulvinsky films.

He'll be a big time director in no time...

Sizing up a micro-budget feature film is a tricky thing, especially when the movie in question is a directorial debut. Such is the case with "Hall of Mirrors", director Brad Osborne's first film. Obviously you ask "Is the movie worth a damn/good?" The answer: YES.

Honestly, I find most micro-budget films painful to sit through. I'm not trying to paint myself as a "snob", because the truth is whether it cost $100 or $1,000,000 to make, it still cost me $8.50. In regards to micro-budget films, I find it hard to sacrifice two hours of my time to a movie where the cast and crew has already thrown in the towel. Either they're "Zapruder film" looking pieces of trash (complete with date and time in the lower right hand corner), they're public access/community college looking turds, or they spent all of their time/focus worrying about the wrong components of the film. Most extremely low budget films seem to shoot themselves in the foot before they even get out of the gate. It's as if the writers/directors of these pictures realize that they are handcuffed financially (although creatively is more like it), embrace the concept of "underachievement", and spend way too much time figuring out how to make "really cool gore".

What I found refreshing with "Hall of Mirrors" is that Mr. Osborne (PAY ATTENTION KIDDIES!) CONCENTRATED ON MAKING A COMPELLING STORY! That's EXACTLY what us aspiring filmmakers should be doing! THE STORY IS THE FREE PART!! The writing is rock solid! I was just as hooked reading the script as I was watching the movie. Brad understands that story, lighting, and acting are the most important elements, and it shows because those are the things that stick out most in this film.

The lighting/look of the film: Interesting. Filmed with a $900 consumer grade digital, the film has a "not quite video/not quite digital" look to it. There were times that I loved the soft, almost fuzzy look of it, and there were times that it looked a bit too grainy. While I wish that it was a bit more consistent, it looks "interesting" to say the least. Some nice uses of shadow, lighting, and of the color blue in this film.

Music: The opening score reminds me of James Newton Howard's work in M. Night Shyamalan's films. Also, I wonder if Brad is a fan of radio theater...There are some musical cues that are VERY reminiscent to radio soap operas.

Acting: At it's finest - REALLY GOOD! At it's worst - SERVICEABLE. I don't mean that as a back-handed compliment, either.

Another measure of a low-budget debut is "Do I want to see another film directed by this person?" In this case, yes I do. Since HOM, Osborne has gone on to do two short films. While I haven't seen them yet, I have a feeling that his work gets better with each effort. (Another sign of a good director) As far as debuts go, Brad should be very proud of his achievements. While the film isn't flawless, it serves as a fine template of "how to approach a no-budget film". In fact, I would put this movie above "El Mariachi" in that department. It's a shame that this movie isn't available at most video stores. It's also a shame that Brad only had about five grand to spend on this picture, because I would have liked to have seen what he could have done with a bit more money. But the real shame would be if Mr. Osborne doesn't make at least 10 more films before it's all said and done. Keep your eye on this guy! He's going places! Score: 8/10

Good suspense films can often be like compliments. They're not that frequent, but you really savor them when they surface. That said, the only thing harder to make than a good suspense movie may be a good low-budget, independent suspense movie. Somehow, against the odds, Brad Osborne has managed to pull it off with his debut picture, `Hall of Mirrors."

My preface for the rest of this article is this: I will probably often refer to this as a `film' even though it's not shot on film. In today's world of digital `filmmaking' this hardly bares worth mentioning. Then why do I mention it? Because Osborne and his crew have managed to shoot this project with a `film look' that lets you forget you're watching something that originated on videotape. In fact, the quality of the whole production is such that you're able to concentrate on the content of the story instead of the production value. If you've seen many low budget or independent films, you can appreciate how this enhances your chances of enjoying the movie.

There are many homages to the more popular filmmakers of the suspense genre in the film. Polanski, Mamet, even a Hitchcock cameo by the director. It follows the usual formula of the multiple-plot-twists-and-games-of-viewer-deception to the tee. What makes the movie good, though, is that the pacing, while brisk, is just herky-jerky and non-conventional enough to keep you guessing a little. Even if you figure out who you can trust, and who's conning who, you're never quite sure exactly when or in what scene it will become apparent to the characters. This and some clever dialogue in some scenes is what will hold you when you watch this picture.

The main character of the movie, `Dillon," is a life long loser with a serious gambling problem. In his attempts to wipe out his debt, he manages to dig a deeper and more dangerous hole for himself to climb out of. He's very much an anti-hero. While you don't necessarily empathize with his problems, you can certainly grasp the scope of them. Watching his spiral into a state of desperate measures, the audience will find itself wrapped up in his struggle to get control of his situation, and his life. It's hard to say too much about the story without giving away any of the more crucial plot points, but the ending of the film is where it makes its stake for being a very `non-formula' script.

A peppy script and tight editing are what ultimately sell this movie to the audience as something far more enjoyable than the average independent spare.

The production, while good, obviously took a back seat to the characters and plot development of this picture. A lesson that Hollywood could do itself a big favor to learn.

The best thing about this film is Rebecca Sanabria. Her performance is captivating and real. She mesmorizes and brings the film above low budget. The perfect casting choice. I'd see her in anything. I'm absolutely sure she will be the next big thing on the independent scene. Look out for this one.

This movie rocks! Low-budget, unconventional, gritty.and totally satisfying! In the realm of independent suspense thrillers, `Hall of Mirrors' is a welcome addition with its clever writing and edge-of-your-seat pacing.

You can't help but be swept up in the plight of Dylan Hewitt, a compulsive gambler who can't seem to get a break. The quintessential anti-hero, Hewitt's misjudgment gets him involved with a gang of `counterfeiters' and a devious femme fatale who seize upon his predicament and manipulate him into doing their bidding. Then, in the pit of desperation, Hewitt discovers a secret that unravels a complex con game and brings the film to its gripping climax.

Fans of the `surprise' movie, this one's for you. Nothing more can be said without spoiling the plot, but `Hall of Mirrors' will definitely take you for a ride. Hats off to the filmmakers for making an ultra low-budget thriller that really delivers, right down to the very last shot!