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confinement dvd

What Confinement lacks in pacing throughout the first half of the film, it more than makes up for in technique. The directing, photographic direction and, especially, editing (not to mention the finely choreographed fight scenes) are standout, particularly for a picture of this budgetary level.
This doesn't mean you should go inexpecting the next overwrought Michael Bay epic (which I happen to like) or any other mainstream summer blockbusterism. This is the world of microbudget cinema, and we approach our material with this in mind. If you're watching the marvelous world of micro, it's a safe (I think) assumption that you're into it for the very unique things it has to offer.
Here, in Confinement, we have the example of a director that has what it takes to progress beyond the micro arena if (a) he is discovered, and (b) he so desires. (Face it, some underground artists cling to their indie aesthetics, for what it's worth.)
The folks behind this (I'm not going to name names because I don't remember the names of all the important folk and have no intention of rattling off a handful of names to the insult of those left behind) were ambitious and actually managed to reach as far as they could with the budget at hand and do the best with it.
Speaking of the budget and the editing, I was very impressed with how the extremelty competent (I'm telling you, there's a cornucopia of talent involved here) editing worked miracles with the budget. There's a couple of cases where the actors willing to take mild abuse seemed to contribute, but you know ...
(I suppose I should mention the plot, which is a modern variation of "The Most Dangerous Game": Our main character wakes up in the woods wearing generic blue clothing and quickly discovers he is among the hunted - all of whom wear the same garb. He is amazed to find thatthe woods in which he is trapped are surrounded by a force field of sorts and that a ship flies in [where'd they get the technology???] hunters and food drops from time to time. The food drops are sort of like populating a fish pond. You need live prey to hunt.)
One of the highlights is that, while the film is often informed by a serious tone, it isn't afraid to deal in over-the-top humor. And I dare say, comparing the comic relief (which happens to be part of the action/fight entertainment, as well, in the form of a fond-of-blades, too cool fighter) to some of the serious proceedings, I think the goof element is intentional, and the juxtaposition in this case works.
There's also a nice twist of betrayal in the film, but I'll let you watch to see where that happens.
All in all, a nice job. These people are filmmakers to keep an eye on, I can promise you. Someone give these folks a budget, please!
Visit www.davidstewartproductions.com.

article written by: Upchuck Undergrind