Great film! Cleverly written comedy with a message for us all. I wasn't sure what to expect, but as someone who has been to many short film festivals, it is obvious why this one has won so many awards. Loved the writing, directing and the performances. Also really enjoyed the fact that was a truly a family affair. Bravo, all!
17 Reviews
We want more!
jason-1830311 April 2020
Marvelous!
pamanherp11 April 2020
You must see this amazing short film! I recommend it so much! The film is so hilarious, entertaining and meaningful. And the moral of the film to me is, Do something good/nice and helpful to people, even just a little, and that's how your star will increase and people will rate you as a great person. It's just incredibly awesome! And the whole cast did an amazing job, so proud! Everyone go watch it! 👍
Inventive and timely
emil-haas14 April 2020
RATED is a fun, relatable and thought provoking ride with great performances all around and spot-on direction. Fun fact: the family at the center of the story is a real family! In addition to playing their roles, Dad directed and he and mom co-wrote and produced. How cool is that!? The film leaves you wanting more!
It's an masterpiece! The best short Film of all time
georgevigneshgv13 April 2020
Just outstanding, I mean how did they the come up with such an amazing idea?
John Fortson is so inspiring, amazing acting by Christie Lynn Smith, and of course Abby! I don't even need to tell anything! Such a clever story!
This movie is one unforgettable!
This movie deserves a lot more!
It's just a MASTERPIECE!!!!
It's the best short Film!
Well Done
Moeclaro151312 April 2020
A MUST SEE for the entire family!!!
girlsonfilm-0515811 April 2020
When I first saw the trailer a few days ago, it hooked me immediately and I could hardly wait to see the full feature! I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this short film for so long and it did not disappoint! It is such a clever idea with a great message. It is beautifully written, laugh out loud hilarious with strong performances by all. It's fun for the whole family and appropriate for all ages...which is rare these days. Our family watched it 3 times in a row! I have heard that it might be made into a full feature length film? Fingers crossed that this is the case because this short film left me wanting more! Truly a gem!
Lana Bolton
Marvelous because it's not just funny but incredibly insightful.
planktonrules3 April 2016
Rated is a comedy short that manages to be exceptional because in addition to being funny, there is a heck of a lot of depth and social commentary hidden within a simple plot. It was my favorite comedy short of the day.
When the film begins, a woman awakens and gets her children ready for the day. However, her young daughter is shocked...so shocked that instead of telling mommy something, she drags her to the mirror to show her. It seems that Mommy has stars that are floating above her head!! And, as Mommy moves, the stars move with her and they won't disappear. It's a neat little special effect and it literally looks like rating stars are hovering above her throughout the movie. It turns out this is true of all the adults...each person has a rating that apparently was generated by some website where folks can rate each other! What's worse is that Daddy has five stars over his head....and Mommy only has two and a half!! He tells her not to worry, but she is panicked and doesn't want to leave the house.
Soon, you see that her fears are not groundless. All the adults at her daughter's school have the stars over their heads and a few of them are quite sanctimonious about this. A few, on the other hand, are surly...and the stars above their heads seem to reflect this! What can Mommy do? And why does she only have two and a half stars? Well, the delightful little actress that plays the daughter gently reminds her that she needs to 'remember her tone'! In other words, if you are nice and treat people well, you would have a higher rating.
What happens next is what takes this from a simple comedy to the next level. Soon, the four and five star folks start feeling superior and mistreating the lower starred folks. After all, these people only have themselves to blame. So what's next in this insightful little film? See it for yourself...I highly recommend you do.
Not only did John Fortson star in this film as the nice husband, it turns out he wrote and directed it as well. Up until now, Fortson has been strictly an actor and while it's hard to believe it, this is his first attempt at writing or directing. Some guys apparently can do it all and he elicited a marvelous performance from his young actress, Abbey Ryder Fortson...who happens to be his daughter. And, incidentally, his wife in the film is also his lovely wife, Christie Lynn Smith and the little boy is also their son! What's he going to do as an encore-- perhaps play ALL the parts and film it at the same time?! Or, is he going to get his family to film, edit and produce it?!
When the film begins, a woman awakens and gets her children ready for the day. However, her young daughter is shocked...so shocked that instead of telling mommy something, she drags her to the mirror to show her. It seems that Mommy has stars that are floating above her head!! And, as Mommy moves, the stars move with her and they won't disappear. It's a neat little special effect and it literally looks like rating stars are hovering above her throughout the movie. It turns out this is true of all the adults...each person has a rating that apparently was generated by some website where folks can rate each other! What's worse is that Daddy has five stars over his head....and Mommy only has two and a half!! He tells her not to worry, but she is panicked and doesn't want to leave the house.
Soon, you see that her fears are not groundless. All the adults at her daughter's school have the stars over their heads and a few of them are quite sanctimonious about this. A few, on the other hand, are surly...and the stars above their heads seem to reflect this! What can Mommy do? And why does she only have two and a half stars? Well, the delightful little actress that plays the daughter gently reminds her that she needs to 'remember her tone'! In other words, if you are nice and treat people well, you would have a higher rating.
What happens next is what takes this from a simple comedy to the next level. Soon, the four and five star folks start feeling superior and mistreating the lower starred folks. After all, these people only have themselves to blame. So what's next in this insightful little film? See it for yourself...I highly recommend you do.
Not only did John Fortson star in this film as the nice husband, it turns out he wrote and directed it as well. Up until now, Fortson has been strictly an actor and while it's hard to believe it, this is his first attempt at writing or directing. Some guys apparently can do it all and he elicited a marvelous performance from his young actress, Abbey Ryder Fortson...who happens to be his daughter. And, incidentally, his wife in the film is also his lovely wife, Christie Lynn Smith and the little boy is also their son! What's he going to do as an encore-- perhaps play ALL the parts and film it at the same time?! Or, is he going to get his family to film, edit and produce it?!
This film is exceptionally written, very entertaining. Go see this short.
jjs-694068 April 2017
Rated is about a woman named Maggie (Christie Lynn Smith) who is alerted of 2½ stars hovering above her head by her daughter Hannah (Abby Ryder Fortson) during breakfast. After becoming aware of the stars that loom above her, she awakes her husband (John Fortson), and realizes that he too has stars that loom above his head. The problem though, is that he has 5 out of 5, significantly higher than her. As the story progresses Maggie leaves her home, only to come to the realization that the 5 star system looms over the head of every adult. The prominent issue is that most of the adults have 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 stars and the ratings are based off of behavior. The reason for her low rating is due to her poor rating and treatment of others. She also finds out that lower rated adults are restricted from certain areas. These discriminations she faces make her a social outlier and begin to cause her stress and irritation. Maggie knows the reason she's rated lower than most of the other adults and she is well aware how it can be changed, but whether she is willing to make an improvement in her attitude is up to her. How will the discrimination Maggie will face affect her life? Is Maggie willing to make the changes necessary to improve her rating?
I highly recommend seeing this short as soon as possible. Rated will completely exceed any prejudgements. It is incredibly funny, the story contains a narrative that explores themes relevant to modern society through clever and comedic deliverance. From beginning to end it demands your attention by drawing the viewer's curiosity through the peculiarity of the rating system and how speculation on how it influences the characters. Rated satirizes the way we allow rating based systems, especially those found on social networks, to influence our reputation and emotional well-being. Despite Rated's comedic deliverance, at certain points it forces the viewer to think about situations that create separation and have occurred or are currently occurring. Christie Lynn Smith, the actress who plays Maggie and John Fortson, the actor who plays Brian, display a wonderful chemistry on the screen together. Both of them display performances that are realistic and feel relatable, which is why this short film is so enjoyable. If you get the chance, definitely go see Rated.
I highly recommend seeing this short as soon as possible. Rated will completely exceed any prejudgements. It is incredibly funny, the story contains a narrative that explores themes relevant to modern society through clever and comedic deliverance. From beginning to end it demands your attention by drawing the viewer's curiosity through the peculiarity of the rating system and how speculation on how it influences the characters. Rated satirizes the way we allow rating based systems, especially those found on social networks, to influence our reputation and emotional well-being. Despite Rated's comedic deliverance, at certain points it forces the viewer to think about situations that create separation and have occurred or are currently occurring. Christie Lynn Smith, the actress who plays Maggie and John Fortson, the actor who plays Brian, display a wonderful chemistry on the screen together. Both of them display performances that are realistic and feel relatable, which is why this short film is so enjoyable. If you get the chance, definitely go see Rated.
Hilarious
tommygreece22 April 2017
Really, do not miss this film. This is one of the funniest, original, well played shorts I have ever seen. I saw this at the Savannah film festival, not having read or knowing anything about it, and was extremely pleasantly surprised. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time and I was only sad when it was finished, I really wanted more!
A Definite Must See for the Entire Family!
flmotb14 April 2020
This is such a great movie!! Rated is incredibly entertaining and funny, but it is also extremely poignant and thought-provoking. It makes you stop and think about how you treat others and the impact that it has. I didn't want it to end!! Bravo!!!
Makes you think!
curlygoldlocks19 April 2020
Fantastic!
wintred5 May 2020
heartwarming short movie!! <33
kennabbyunicorn15 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I watched "rated" a few days ago and it's honestly one of the best short films i've ever watched!! :D you guys did such an amazing job and the movie was incredible!! here's my favorite lines "you get what you give" & "can you please get out of my face" also this one line is so cute > "mommy, you promise you'd go, i don't care how many stars you have." not only touching and heartwarming, this movie is also so funny! abby was right when she said she got the best lines!! "two and a half stars mommy." i'm hoping you guys to make more short films or even a movie! that'd be so awesome! if you haven't watched rated, please go watch it! you won't regret it at all!! <333
BEST INDIE DRAMEDY EVER
dsykescourtneyins14 April 2020
Love this film. It hits the heart with a kaboom! A message that can be taught over and over, however this time the message is spoken/ done so cleverly and with this day and age. I highly recommend it. My rating 10 gold stars!!! A film worth watching over and over. great great job!!!
A reflection on judgement in (Western) society
yourfriendmissminutes21 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
What would happen if other people's judgments of us followed us everywhere we went? There are a lot of directions this could go, and this film chose one of them, and a plausible one at that...
Sometimes I feel like I'm in a situation like the coffee shop, where people are appraising each other not by who that person seems according to their interactions with them (even less by repeated interactions with them), but by that other person's "reputation," or, rather, by some proxy for their reputation. Surely not by the stars above their heads, but by the way they walk and talk, whether they have friends, generally the way they hold themselves in relative standing to others in the scene. So that the humble-looking aren't well-appraised, but the self-righteous end up being seen as being the good ones because they seem secure in their reputation. And I think the world is even worse than what happens in the film, because people also aren't as quick and willing to adjust their views of a person upward (as they do for the wife) as they are willing to adjust it downwards. And: is tone really a valid criterion by which we should judge people? Yes, it can be grating and wears on the ego of the listener, but as the film clearly shows, tone isn't necessarily tied to the heart. I am more of the husband's view: he sees the heart of his wife as good, and that should be what matters, and it should matter far more than tone. But this often isn't the case in society, and we really do judge books by their covers and that sucks.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in a situation like the coffee shop, where people are appraising each other not by who that person seems according to their interactions with them (even less by repeated interactions with them), but by that other person's "reputation," or, rather, by some proxy for their reputation. Surely not by the stars above their heads, but by the way they walk and talk, whether they have friends, generally the way they hold themselves in relative standing to others in the scene. So that the humble-looking aren't well-appraised, but the self-righteous end up being seen as being the good ones because they seem secure in their reputation. And I think the world is even worse than what happens in the film, because people also aren't as quick and willing to adjust their views of a person upward (as they do for the wife) as they are willing to adjust it downwards. And: is tone really a valid criterion by which we should judge people? Yes, it can be grating and wears on the ego of the listener, but as the film clearly shows, tone isn't necessarily tied to the heart. I am more of the husband's view: he sees the heart of his wife as good, and that should be what matters, and it should matter far more than tone. But this often isn't the case in society, and we really do judge books by their covers and that sucks.
Rated is compelling, well-executed and brilliantly acted
listentothethunder15 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I saw Rated when I went to the Annapolis Film Festival this year, and it stood out to me more than any other short I saw there. The concept is fascinating: overnight, adults wake up to find stars above their heads, rating them on a 1-5 star ratio. The wife, has only two-and-a- half stars, whereas the husband has five. Throughout the short, we see how the presence of these "stars" affect the daily lives of the characters. There's blatant judgement, the kind that before the stars existed, would probably have been whispered by the other parents at the playground, not said to the person's face. However, it seems that the presence of these stars makes the other mothers bolder. The reactions that the four and five star individuals have toward those with lesser stars begs the question of whether or not they actually deserve those ratings.
Also, where do these ratings come from? Who is giving the reviews that give a person these stars? Is it a higher power, the government, or are everyday people reviewing their fellow citizens on Yelp?
The movie flowed well from scene-to-scene and nothing felt forced about the acting, directing, or the writing. I think the thing that made this movie work so well is that the presence of these stars, which happened overnight, was woven into the story so well that it felt organic. It didn't feel like that plot point was the main element of the story, even though it was the driving force behind the character's motivations and behaviors. Instead, the characters and their interactions stood out to me the most.
I highly recommend this film.
Also, where do these ratings come from? Who is giving the reviews that give a person these stars? Is it a higher power, the government, or are everyday people reviewing their fellow citizens on Yelp?
The movie flowed well from scene-to-scene and nothing felt forced about the acting, directing, or the writing. I think the thing that made this movie work so well is that the presence of these stars, which happened overnight, was woven into the story so well that it felt organic. It didn't feel like that plot point was the main element of the story, even though it was the driving force behind the character's motivations and behaviors. Instead, the characters and their interactions stood out to me the most.
I highly recommend this film.
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