Review and critique at least one short film production

PITCH BLACK HEIST
(UK 2011)
★★★★✰

Pitch Black Heist , written and directed by John Maclean, is a short 13 minute crime/drama film which combines subtle generic conventions of comedy with a overall tense narrative and powerful black and white film to create a simple, engaging yet suspenseful film.

The two significant roles are played by Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender who both provide a strong performances as Liam and Michael – two professional safebreakers, hired to rob a safe in a pitch black office where light triggers the alarm .
Maclean, in just 13 minutes, achieves supplying the audience with just enough information through visuals, dialogue and sound to give the short context and reason.

The opening shot perfectly pairs a fluid, longitudinal pan down towards a set of boxes with gentle orchestral audio, softly commencing the film.
This is followed by meeting the two protagonists and audiences within seconds have the ability to form their own assumption as to who has the upperhand of the two . Maclean successfully displays Levi Strauss’ Theory of binary oppositions within both protagonists using events as simple as Cunningham making tea.

In addition to the characters firm performances. The cinematography throughout aids the success of the end film. Black and white visuals and gentle vignetting subconsciously forces more focus to the central objects of the frame – the characters. The use of setting restricted to rooms and narrow streets also direct attention towards the men.  Minor details also become more significant as the plot rolls on, picked up upon through angles of filming and use of lighting.

As the plot progresses, so does the ever building tension between the two men. However this is cleverly segmented by the director, choosing to include a lip sync scene where it appears both characters are singing in duet with a soft, female voice. This not only makes up for the lack of female presence in the narrative but also produces softer tones against the harsh monochrome visuals.

In addition to the backbone of the film, the narrative also indirectly addresses British masculinity with the inclusion of an arm wrestle between the two and a pool game in an empty pub on a Sunday morning.

Whilst film nears the final events, the plot of the narrative exponentially rises which unusually all takes place in complete darkness. Visuals do not play a part in revealing to the audience the twist. Sound and dialogue is entirely relied on. Ultimately , this sets Pitch Black Heist away from its competitors and consequently results in a unique, crisp film that is most certainly deserving of its BAFTA win of Best Short Film.

https://www.film4productions.com/shorts/2011/pitch-black-heist