Broken (I) (2000) User Reviews

Powerful, intense, well-acted, well-directed.

[joanmsiegel · 10/10 · 2 February 2000]

This film is powerful, intense, well directed and well acted. The director is able to generate compassion and concern for the characters in a short amount of time. It gets right to the point and drives it home. I believe it's a testament to how desensitized we can become under the right (or wrong) circumstances. What I still can't believe is that this is a true story! Again, a powerful film and one I definitely recommend.

POWERFUL

[RDavideo · 10/10 · 14 January 2003]

The acting was great! The Directing was spot on and kept my interest the whole way through. I was DRAWN into the story! I was scared, feeling as though I, myself, was in a Mexican prison. The story was NOT predictable! The cinematography was excellent, clean and moody. My suggestion: see this film!

Cast of young performers are 'Diamonds In The Rough' with genuine potential for Oscar-caliber performances

[IrenePax60 · 10/10 · 13 August 2002]

Nolan North leads a cast of young performers, all of whom display genuine depth and maturity in a script dealing with real and serious issues, of interest to many thoughtful world citizens. North and the rest of the cast are 'Diamonds In The Rough,' who have amazing potential to reach true greatness in their profession. While many of them would not be considered 'great actors', I see most of them - especially North - as highly credible and consistently bankable performers along the lines of Fred MacMurray, James Garner and Dean Jones. It is a delight to see performers who do not have the stuffy pretentiousness of actors who are TRYING to be 'great actors,' but who are consistently credible in displaying genuine emotions. This movie was obviously a 'Labor of Love' for the entire cast and crew and I look forward to seeing the efforts of this talented group in many more movies and television programs. Sincerely, Heather, Sandre de Cristo, CO, USA

Cast of charismatic young performers are 'Diamonds In the Rough' delivering solid, electrifying performances

[IrenePax60 · 10/10 · 13 August 2002]

Nolan North leads a cast of young performers, all of whom display genuine depth and maturity in a script dealing with real and serious issues, of interest to many thoughtful world citizens. North and the rest of the cast are 'Diamonds In The Rough,' who have amazing potential to reach true greatness in their profession. While many of them would not be considered 'great actors', I see most of them - especially North - as highly credible and consistently bankable performers along the lines of Fred MacMurray, James Garner and Dean Jones. It is a delight to see performers who do not have the stuffy pretentiousness of actors who are TRYING to be 'great actors,' but who are consistently credible in displaying genuine emotions and delivering solid, electrifying performances. This movie was obviously a 'Labor of Love' for the entire cast and crew and I look forward to seeing the efforts of this talented group in many more movies and television programs. Sincerely, Heather, Sangre de Cristo, CO, USA

Broken was brilliant.

[prairieland2 · 10/10 · 10 January 2003]

I thought Broken was brilliant. It was an in your face short. It did not feel like a short. The story was great. The film looked good, and I thought the directing was right on.

I look foward to seeing more of this director's work. The actors were great especially, the ambulance driver, Zapata???. Good work.

Evocative film that is hard to nail...

[pshiao · 10/10 · 9 February 2000]

I enjoyed watching Broken and come up short with the proper words to describe this rather genre defying endeavor. Firstly, the direction showed a very understated yet mature handling style that tells a story though chooses not to put its feet down on what we as the audience should ascertain from it. The film does not pander, as many other short films do, to the audience through shock or mock. Broken is a multifaceted and layered story that raises questions it does not seek to directly respond. We are left with a story about a man who was redempted from a "broken" experience, or was he? A seemingly harmless frolick south of the border turned into a life changing -- and shattering -- experience. All the principals players in that experience, the girlfriend, the jail guard, the sympathetic paramedic, were impacted by the "broken' experience in life altering ways, yet departed from the story as mysteriously as they entered it. In the closing scene, as the surfer heads off to another wave seemingly salvaged from this experience, what really happened to him, and all of them? That is one of the mysteries of this film, and indeed, of life itself. Was Broken the beginning, the end or a process? In that way, are we all broken?

Gripping, moving, inspiring film.

[kcurtin · 9/10 · 8 February 2000]

I had the opportunity to see 'Broken' at its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. It was, by far, my favorite short at the festival. Elle Travis tells a frightening and moving story in this beautifully acted and shot film. Don't miss it

Don't mistake this film "Broken" with others. This one's a gem

[eternalproductions · 9/10 · 17 October 2005]

I don't know why this movie has gotten so panned on this site. It's one of the best shorts I've ever seen. I just saw it again at a small screening. The first time I saw it was in Century City, it was playing with a terrible Harrison Ford movie and this film blew the high budgeted Hollywood film away. Nolan North, known for his role on General Hospital gives a haunting performance. Something I wouldn't have expected from a Soap Guy, but he has the chops to carry it off. Too bad he didn't continue in film, I would have like to see more of him. This film is a true tale of terror and politics. I hope to see more films from these filmmakers.

Compelling...

[nealjk · 10/10 · 11 January 2003]

This was one of the most compelling films I've seen in the past few years. Great story line and excellent acting. I was pulled into the story and wanted more... Very rare that I feel that way about a film. Where is the full 2 hour movie???