Tony vs. Paul (2007)

Directors:

Paul Cummings
Tony Fiandaca (co-director)

Writers:

Paul Cummings (writer)
Tony Fiandaca (writer)

Genre:

Animation | Short

Plot:

A stop motion battle between two friends turned enemies. |

Cast

Paul Cummings	...	Paul
Tony Fiandaca	...	Tony

Runtime:

USA:5 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (MiniDV)

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Free Poster Films

Trivia:

Fiandaca broke his ankle during shooting (unrelated to the shoot), but had to finish a few more jumping scenes by jumping off of, and landing, on one foot.

A poignant snapshot of life in stop motion

This graphic depiction of a friendship turned sour is more than merely a stop-motion fight: it is an exploration into our subconscious and, as a result, is a humbling take on today's society. I find it particularly powerful as I too was once in the situation we see in the film, and had not the grace to shake hands with my rival and glide into the sunset. It is because of this mistake in my life that I believe this film ought be shown to all children of a certain age, that age being 12.I have found that an intimate portrait such as this can greatly effect the way we view life, and the force with which 'Tony vs. Paul' has effected mine is unprecedented. The patience with which they persist in their laborious battle is to be admired, as is their grace and consistency - in flight and underwater. This film is like an early 'Bond' movie. Unconcerned with the societal constraints placed on filmmakers in this frightening age of cinema, the creators of 'Tony vs. Paul' have gracefully stripped us of our preconceptions and childish perceptions. An hilarious and current take on the world as we know it, with scene stealing performances by both eponymous characters. 10/10.