Dirty Books – A Short Film Review
Dirty Books is a sixteen minute short in the same vein as many a John Hughes classic teen movie that focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary students in us a high school setting. Along the way we get a message that we can all relate to in some shape or form from our own experience as a teenager. This was light-hearted and enjoyable short that everybody can appreciate.
The film revolves around Prichard Hall School student David Burroughs (Noah Bailey), editor in chief of the school paper, who is informed by the school principal Dr. Bradley (Timothy J. Cox) that the school paper will be wrapping up and moving forward as an online blog in order to save money. This news does not sit well with David who makes plans of his own to save the paper by creating headlines that will ensure everybody is reading it.
First time writer/director Zachary Lapierre does a good job at keeping the film fast paced with a tight script that is clutter-free and simplistic enough to all you sit back and enjoy it. The script seems on the outside to be a simple message of old-school vs new-school, print vs digital, the paper vs the blog, but if you look a little deeper the story is actually about taking on authority, the teacher vs the student, sticking it to the man! I felt this message would sit very well with students of all ages and there is no doubt this short would appeal to them.
The music featured was a highlight for me as I felt it was very fitting and in context with the high school setting and kept the story moving along nicely. When it comes to a High School movie, music is a key element, it is essential that it fits the time period and the setting and this does both.
The static shots in and around the school work well and is very satisfying with some very refreshing shots and all round very well done cinematography, thanks to fellow co-writer Ian Everhart.
Noah Bailey plays the role of David Burroughs and when immediately greeted with the character feels almost awkward and uncomfortable looking, almost ‘Napoleon Dynamite-esque’ but soon Burroughs gives the character a lot more confidence and ambition, which is credit to Burroughs ability as an actor and you are instantly backing him. Timothy J. Cox who plays Dr. Bradley gets the authority figure just right, getting the look of an educated and sophisticated principal while looking to have a deep down genuine care for his students. His strong performance helps to elevate those around him.
Overall this is an enjoyable short that keeps things simple because sometimes … life is complicated enough!
