Blowing Bubbles (2010) User Reviews

Gen Art 2010

[roduko44 · 9/10 · 22 September 2010]

This film screened at the Gen Art film festival, alongside Sebastian Guetierrez's feature 'Electa Luxx'. I was given tickets to this screening and, honestly, did not have high hopes for either of the films... I was more interested in spotting a few celebrities! Electra Luxx was a far departure from Guetierrez's most recent works (Gothika / Snakes on a Plane) and I was pleasantly surprised...

However, the most entertaining part of this screening was a the short film Blowing Bubbles, by unknown director Vaughn Juares.

This is a very short film, about 3 minutes long, but very perversely touching in it's own way.

I love old black and white films and I thought it was a great choice to tell this twisted comedy in a sort of noir-style.

The young actor who plays Bubbles the Clown, Joseph Schneider, gave a very matter-of-fact performance which cut perfectly against the ridiculous nature of this story.

The film is a great reminder that it is unnecessary for the object of obsession to make sense to our peers. Great!

That's Filthy!

[julioderosia · 9/10 · 10 October 2010]

So, I'm watching this film thinking it's this really artistic short... It's black and white... It's beautifully shot... the characters are in pain...

This is going to be a drama about a depressed clown, right?

Wrong!

This is a dramedy about a Clown who used to get blown by the bearded lady but she's gone and now he can't perform... he's got sex on the brain.

I can relate to that. It's probably the reason I had such a hard time concentrating in high school. Who can get anything done when all they want is a little action?

So I like this but I'm thinking... how do you resolve this because this Clown only wants action from women with beards... he's got standards, OK?

The ringmaster is thinking on his feet because, in a circus full of freaks, the one thing he has none of is a woman with a beard... so what does he do? He puts a beard on a hot chick and the clown doesn't know the difference...

Genius. I like perverse comedy and this is definitely that.

Haha, oh boy

[torrencemalaisy · 9/10 · 11 October 2010]

I don't want to ruin any surprises for you, but I also don't want to be blacklisted by IMDb, so in case I accidentally say something that gives something away, I've checked the "may contain spoilers" box. This is a really creative film. It's not a regular comedy in the sense that you're laughing the whole time; in fact, it's pretty serious (albeit ridiculous) for most of it. But in the last few seconds, the whole movie shifts, and you get what you haven't understood until that point, and the surprise is totally worth it. Therein lies the comedy, and the genius of this film. The guy who plays Bubbles is great, and understated, same goes for the Ringmaster. The character I loved the most is the sincere little snake charmer. Hilarious. Good job from all involved, a great addition to the GenArt film festival.

Really funny, really smart comedy

[katherine-kittridge · 10/10 · 22 September 2010]

OK. I saw this short film in NYC at the Gen Art Film Festival in April 2010.

It screened before a feature film called Electrolux, which was also very good... but not the topic of this review.

This film's comedy sneaks up on you, disguised as drama.

The plot twist is very clever... when I saw it I almost peed my pants.

I met the actor who played Bubbles, Joseph Schneider, at an after party and he was very sweet.

The director, Vaughn Juares, makes an appearance in this short and his performance is very good.

There aren't a lot of great short films, that I've seen lately, but this one really stood out.

Funny... heartwarming?

[kaiserjohnson · 10/10 · 9 October 2010]

This is what a short film should be. Or at least a short short film. I mean, yes, Six-Shooter is good, but it's a half an hour. With a title that sounds, frankly, pedestrian and uninteresting, one might not expect the launching pad it provides for a truly hilarious film.

The best thing about this is how deadly serious all the actors play into the film. The pathos of the clown, the deep-seated anxiety of the ringmaster, and the sincerity of all the performers as they seek to save the show. The differences that separate this film and "The Butterfly Circus" are small if you think about it... but the payoff is ridiculous (no offense to the Butterfly Circus, it's just a different kind of movie).

Anyway, good performances, great style, all around, a fun film worth anyone's four minutes and three seconds!

Honest!

[margaretgoobache · 10/10 · 29 September 2010]

I found this film on YouTube! One of the writers of this film, Joseph Schneider, had given a talk at the Playhouse West Film Festival after screening a very serious film called LIE. I enjoyed what he had to say. When asked what his favorite acting role was, he said the role of Dennis Wilson in LIE... then, after a moment, he laughed to himself and added "...and Bubbles the Clown".

He wouldn't give any explanation of who "Bubble the Clown" was, giving the title of the film: Blowing Bubbles... it sounded sort of like an adult film! The humor of this film is that it takes a classic happy character- a clown - and gives him an honest sadness. He is just a human being with ridiculous make up on, which may make his pain even worse... stuck wearing a happy mask when all he wants to do is grieve the loss of his Lady Love...

And who is this lover lost? Well, your options are limited when you're the star of a traveling circus, but Bubbles found himself a keeper: the Bearded Lady... and when she tires of the circus life, she leaves him and his nightly act is suddenly hallow in her absence.

This is a very honest love-lost story, but the players are not your normal Romeo and Juliet and so it is funny. However, the funniest part of Blowing Bubbles, is definitely the solution to his lost love. Watch this film, it is perversely honest and wildly funny. Well acted. Well shot. I understand why Joseph mentioned this role... how many young actors get to play a depressed, love sick circus clown?