It's clever, naming an all-seeing, all-knowing security apparatus after Jeremy Bentham. It's similarly cheeky to name an agent, beholden to that apparatus, Foucault.
That's about the most clever that 'Plurality' gets.
From start to finish these 13 minutes have the feel of an over-produced, high-end commercial for, I don't know, credit cards, or LED TVs. You know the kind: The ones of length, action-filled dynamic style, and apparent budget that make it appear to be a film trailer, when ultimately it's just an advertisement. That notion is boosted by the voiceover from Jeffrey Nissani, in his role as Inspector Foucault, whose timbre and diction lends credence to an immediate impression that 'Plurality' is actually a commercial for a product. It's boosted by shots from the camera that suggest the short is actually an advertisement for a security product that doesn't exist. I'm unsure if the performance of the actors here, ever furthering that ham-fisted impression, is more a result of their acting or Dennis Liu's direction. I'm left to wonder, though, where I can find the credits for certain lofty advertising spots, and if I'll see some familiar names among them.
That's not to say that this is necessarily bad. It takes in a slightly different direction the ubiquitous sci-fi trope of the abolition of privacy, and therefore freedom, in the name of security. It uncomfortably centers the antagonists, and in the end gives us more questions than answers. Keep the audience guessing - I like it. I also like Samantha Strelitz, appearing here in the part of Alana Winston, and injecting more personality into her role than the rest of the cast combined.
'Plurality' is entertaining enough. But the flaws of its production weigh it down heavily, and it only just manages to remain engaging enough for us to watch to the end.
Worth 13 minutes of your time? You could do worse.
That's about the most clever that 'Plurality' gets.
From start to finish these 13 minutes have the feel of an over-produced, high-end commercial for, I don't know, credit cards, or LED TVs. You know the kind: The ones of length, action-filled dynamic style, and apparent budget that make it appear to be a film trailer, when ultimately it's just an advertisement. That notion is boosted by the voiceover from Jeffrey Nissani, in his role as Inspector Foucault, whose timbre and diction lends credence to an immediate impression that 'Plurality' is actually a commercial for a product. It's boosted by shots from the camera that suggest the short is actually an advertisement for a security product that doesn't exist. I'm unsure if the performance of the actors here, ever furthering that ham-fisted impression, is more a result of their acting or Dennis Liu's direction. I'm left to wonder, though, where I can find the credits for certain lofty advertising spots, and if I'll see some familiar names among them.
That's not to say that this is necessarily bad. It takes in a slightly different direction the ubiquitous sci-fi trope of the abolition of privacy, and therefore freedom, in the name of security. It uncomfortably centers the antagonists, and in the end gives us more questions than answers. Keep the audience guessing - I like it. I also like Samantha Strelitz, appearing here in the part of Alana Winston, and injecting more personality into her role than the rest of the cast combined.
'Plurality' is entertaining enough. But the flaws of its production weigh it down heavily, and it only just manages to remain engaging enough for us to watch to the end.
Worth 13 minutes of your time? You could do worse.