Bicycle Messengers

This short film is a homage to the lowly big city messengers. While this is generally seen as a low-skill and unrewarding job, this film manages to elevate this job in stature by using a deadly serious style of narration--much like someone narrating an army recruitment advertisement. Some of this seemed reasonable--after all, while not getting much glory or appreciation, they do a valuable job. However, at times I felt that although the serious tone wasn't intended to be funny, it was in a way because it was it was done with such sincerity and solemnity. I'm sure messengers will love this--others might not.

Now as for the artwork and style of the cinematography, that was the greatest strength of the film. While everyone else appeared normal, the messenger was digitized and appeared in cell-shaded graphics like a PS2 character! This was very striking and gave the film some style.

All in all, not a great documentary, but for what it was it was effective and got my attention. I do think a more casual narration style that didn't make the job sound like it was always a matter of life and death might have helped make it a slightly better film.