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Use of Audio
The music in this film was really great. It captured the mood very well, and also set the tone for the entire movie. There was one point, however, where it would’ve been nice to hear some music. In the scene in which Sean and Adam are in the bar, there is no music in the background, and all we can hear are people’s whispered conversations, which actually sounds a bit creepy. In this case, it would be better to at least have audio from the tv or radio playing in low volume in the background, especially since bars tend to be rather noisy places anyway.
The dialogue is mostly clear and easy to understand, except for a couple points where the characters whisper or speak quietly, but this can easily be tweaked in an editing program in post-production. Also, in the scene where Sean and Adam are standing outside the bar, the sound of traffic is very loud in the background, sometimes almost drowning out their voices. In this case, it might be a good idea to ADR this scene – re-recording the dialogue with the actors, and recording traffic sounds for the background that could be added in at a lower volume. ADR takes a lot of work and dedication, but the scene will definitely be stronger for it.
Use of Budget
I was quite surprised – and impressed – to learn that this movie was director Aaron Gentzler’s first film, plus the fact that it only cost $2,500 to make. I was also impressed with the philosophy of the director and producer, as they stated that a lot of the money went to taking care of the cast, in hopes that they would give a good performance. Though this style of strategy can sometimes backfire, in this case I think it defiantly paid off.
However, acting isn’t the only element of a film, and this movie is a little lacking in the camerawork department. It would have been a good idea to put some of that budget toward purchasing – or at least renting – a tripod, as it would have taken away the shake in a lot of the still shots, and made the moving shots a lot smoother.
Lasting Appeal
As a first film, The Passing is a very good one. The director clearly has technical knowledge, as well as how to tell a story. My one complaint remains with the camerawork, and I’d encourage a little more practice in this area (or at least the purchasing of a tripod.) However, this still is quite an impressive first product, and I’ll be interested to see what else this director comes up with.
Overall Comment
Anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a spouse will be able to feel a real connection to this film, though it may also be difficult for them to watch. The acting is incredible, and, perhaps this film’s strongest point, it doesn’t try to tie anything up at the end. Grief is, and always will be, something with no explanation and quick fixes. It is something that must be worked through over time, and even then it may never go away.
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Content |
8.8 |
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Visual
Look |
8.9 |
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Use
of Audio |
8.8 |
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Use
of Budget |
7.5 |
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Lasting
Appeal |
8.6 |
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Overall
Score |
8.5
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The
author of half a dozen screen plays, two novels, and a proficient
camera-woman in her own right, Monika
DeLeeuw-Taylor is Microfilmmaker's lead writing analyst and
one of our top film reviewers. When she's not writing a critique for
Microfilmmaker, she's writing screenplays for Viking Productions.
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