Nine 1/2 Minutes (2002) Poster

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10/10
Speed dating, 21st Century style: Spoilers Possible
cassandra200623 September 2006
May contain spoilers. A few of the perils of the blind date are explored in this interesting and rather surreal comedy. The female character is smug, successful, controlling and domineering and comes to the date with an agenda. Her would-be swain is played by the divine David Tennant in a camel corduroy jacket, so I adored him on sight. Charlie is a less driven personality than she, presenting as someone who is uncomplicated, amusing, ordinarily intelligent, not as risk-averse as she seems to be and perfectly aware that he is being played like a trout on a line. He seems a nice bloke. Rather than wasting her valuable time, finding out the usual way if they are going to be compatible, she suggests that - on this first date- they play out scenarios of what may transpire in their relationship over the next three months. In about 9 minutes, they learn something about each other. What is revealed is often less evident than what is kept hidden. In rapid succession,they go to the movies; they 'get to the sex', but in a G Rated sort of way, for viewers who need to know about this; they break up; they encounter each other again in passing. This film is a quirky little conceit that could fall flat on its face and nearly does once or twice. But it's saved by excellent comic timing and sharp performances from the two leads. It's only fair to give the writer, director and editor some share of the kudos too. Like all good comedies, there is a sting in the tail. Or is there? Watch it and see what you think!

Well worth spending time on this one.
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3/10
What was this?
Mandy99916 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This made absolutely no sense. Okay, so I'm American as we're not exactly renowned for our high-brow film choices, but this was rubbish. Was it a date? Was it part date, part alternative reality? Did it happen all on the same day or were we skipping around? Did Heather actually like Charlie, but was so messed up about dating she let him get away? I couldn't even tell if they had sex or not! This little writing adventure was way too clever for its own good. It was trying so hard to be surreal, it lost itself in its own narrative. The acting was fine; it's just too bad the artists were thrown away on such unsatisfying material.
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9/10
Smart, witty, sexy
alexanderhughesreplies30 January 2007
I am bewildered by the relatively low vote for this great little short. It has two excellent actors in it and there is plenty of chemistry between them. It also gets better with repeat viewings.

It is about a date that doesn't quite go the way the couple thought it would - and does not end the expected way either. It leaves you a little perplexed in a way, but ultimately is satisfying because it subverts your expectations. Most short films take themselves too seriously, have ponderous, clumsy messages and take too long getting you to a place you don't want to go (in British short films that tends to mean a crack den in Liverpool). Not this one.

It's clever, amusing, sexy, tightly packaged and there's absolutely no flab. In other words, it's a great short film. I recommend it.
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