Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"The Silent City" is a 7-minute science fiction short film from Ireland written and directed by Oscar nominee Ruairi Robinson. Interestingly enough, he switched from animation (that's what his Oscar nomination was for) to live action, but still stayed in the short film genre. I personally wasn't impressed by what I have seen from him so far, this one here probably even less than his Oscar-nominated short. It is really all style over substance acting as if this was something heroic, something significant, but this movie here has nothing to offer beyond decent special effects and costumes. A really forgettable watch that does not make me one bit more curious about Robinson's works. I do not recommend checking it out, especially unimpressive as he had been in film for a long time already when he shot this movie 10 years ago.
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
With an effective opening, we find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with soldiers alert for any hint of the enemy. What is the actual conflict, what countries are they from, and is that really Cillian Murphy? In the end, the answers do not make a difference(albeit with that last one, you can find out), because we're so drawn in, and there's no sense of sides taken.With a running time of 6 and a half minutes(or 7 if you include end credits), it's impressive that this gets so far, and doesn't feel like it's rushing to get there. The atmosphere is rich, effectively built and maintained. Aiding it are great FX, distant shots that increase the scope, and impressive production design.Everything in this feels real, worn. The acting is convincing. Character development is smooth - with subtle hints, we realize who these people are, and it pays off so quickly that you don't even have time to consciously note that something was setup. This feels like part of a bigger story, leaving us wanting more - without us finding it incomplete.There is a lot of disturbing content and some brutal bloody violence in this. I recommend this to any fan of sci-fi and anti-war fiction. 7/10
themonkey-4
The short doesn't say much but it would have been a grate trailer for a movie based on the comic "Gone with the Blastwave".The movie in itself is very beautifully done, and while it doesn't do anything new or unexpected it is still worth looking at. The movie does resemble Enemy at the Gates a fair bit only in a future setting.It's hard to say what overall point of the movie is it seams to joust throw together some different scenes to make something happen and while successful it fails to make you attached in any way to the characters.The costuming in this movie is also very well done, the suits do actually look like futuristic combats suits if you are not to picky but i am surprised why Cillian Murphy was not given a larger role thou he is rly good and yet does not like say a single word. =(
tony bailey
I just loved this short film. The only thing I could say bad about this is... I WANT MORE!!!!!!!The feeling of being a soldier in a place that you could die in at any second was really well brought over. It reminded me of one of my favorite characters from 2000 AD, Rogue Trooper. I expected him to show up at any second :)The acting is also powerful. What a powerful statement for the troops now facing death in foreign lands.Brilliant - Please make this a full length film.Tony
AD
