Homeland Insecurity (Bill Brown
Film Shorts/Microcosm DVD/MVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Shorts: C+
Bill Brown made some short films on film and though the set is dubbed Homeland Insecurity, it thankfully is
not just another documentary about the second Bush Administration. It is not even a documentary, but the
subjects are always interesting.
Hub City is a simple meditation on living
and how strange weather and human happenstance have much in common in this
lightly humorous, existential piece about his hometown and what is left behind
of us and living. Not bad for 15
minutes.
Kustom Kamera Kommandos is a 3-minutes-long celebration
of filmmaking and the film camera set to a sly cover version of Bobby Darin’s
1959 classic Dream Lover. From 2005, it reminds us what a joke video
can be and has become.
The Other Side covers the unfortunate problems
with the U.S./Mexican border where Brown lives, is not overtly political, but
asks some serious questions beyond any debate on illegal immigration or what
putting up walls really mean. It is one
of the most honest and impressive looks at the situation to date, running 43
minutes and also made in 2005.
The 1.33
X 1 image on all three films are pretty good, shot in 16mm and have a visual
mood to them you might not expect. It is
so compelling that you forget you are watching video by the simple fact that
there are no flaws typical of video or HD at this point. The use of block style is very good too. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is in good shape
and despite showing some age, is better than many films we have heard lately,
not to mention endlessly bad video productions.
There are no extras, but this is a solid set overall filmmakers and film
lovers will want to see. Hope Brown has
more.
- Nicholas Sheffo
