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Really like that short. Kind of feels like an amalgamation of movies I grew up with in the 90ties in a good way. There's a touch of Léon (1994) with that strange colliding of worlds between an adult and a sweet kid (even though she's does not want to become a junkie ;)), there's the bowling alley with musical intermission of The Big Lebowski (1998)and that composed song by Shawn Christensen himself somehow recalling the soundtrack of Drive. Add good acting and a good camera and that mix adds up to movie that has a good length but I still wanted to see more of.

I even tried to get hold of that "bowling alley song". I'm guessing it must be that "sophie so far" song composed and performed by Christensen. Please add this to iTunes. People would buy this for sure.

And congrats to winning the Oscar!

I just got back from seeing the five Oscar-nominated live action shorts and was pleasantly surprised. After seeing a mediocre batch of animated shorts yesterday, I was so happy to see that the live action films are among the very best I've ever seen nominated.

I really enjoyed "Curfew" and it sure had a lot to like. Nevertheless, I think it's definitely a long-shot to get the Oscar simply because two other films ("Henry" and "Death of a Shadow") are perfect--among the two best short films I have ever seen. They just blow away the competition--but I would hate to see "Curfew" lost in the process. The quirky story was terrific but I really, really liked the acting--particularly Fatima Ptacek--who had one of the best child performances I've seen in years! The film starts on a VERY dark note. Richie is in the midst of committing suicide when he gets a phone call from his estranged sister--she is in a bind and no one can watch her child, Sophia, and she begs Richie to watch her. But, since Richie is a drug-using loser, she sets some VERY specific rules for the evening. Where it all goes from there, you'll just have to see for yourself. The film is ALMOST funny--but also darkly tragic and touching--a difficult sort of path, but the film succeeded in doing this. But THE reason to watch it is Ptacek--who gave a performance that reminds me, a bit, of McCauley Culkin in "Uncle Buck". I can't wait to see more from this kid--I just hope she keeps her head on straight when all the offers start pouring in--and they are sure to. Well worth seeing.

UPDATE: In keeping with my usual track record with predicting Oscar winners from this category, I was wrong about "Curfew" as it DID win! I am glad I am not a betting man!

100% spoiler-free.

I think that this is a beautiful story that show themes such as life, death, love, pain, hopelessness, hope, loneliness, depression, emptiness, discovering a reason to live for, and - second chances.

The story felt so real it must be based on real events, even though it is never claimed it is based on a true story, I personally am sure it must be. Nobody comes up with such a ridiculously plausible plot out of the imagination. The ending was good too. Overall, a meaningful story that left me thinking and wondering about life, and may leave you doing the same.

Shawn Christensen - he wrote the story, directed, and was one of the two protagonists. I think he wrote a fine story, and directed it well, and his acting of a 'terminally' hopeless man was believable enough and good enough to carry the story.

Fátima Ptacek - she did a great job; enjoyable to watch. Great acting. If Shawn the darkness, she was the light of this film.

Emmy Rossum - I thought she did a great job too, especially towards the end, that scene she absolutely nailed it.

Supporting cast - they did fine. Ron Perlman (from Hellboy) and Paul Wesley (from Vampire Diaries) were in this film; I wonder how they were afforded to be in it. Their acting was fine.

Producer Damon Russell and Cinematographer Daniel Katz, and everyone else who helped make this beautiful film - thanks.

Movie theme song - "Sophia So Far" by Goodnight Radio (2013). I am so thankful the movie released this full version of the song. It is first played during a really nice scene in the movie and also at the end of the film. This song instantly makes one think about the film.

Conclusion: I think this is a beautiful story with multiple underlying themes about things like hope, love, life, death, and second chances. Watched it 2x so far, will surely watch it again in the future. It is a good film and it is worth a watch and recommending.

9/10

"Curfew" is a nineteen minute short film that gives you enough to understand its breadth. Richie (Shawn Christensen) is a suicidal man in the midst of suicide when his distraught sister Maggie (Kim Allen) called him to ask him to watch his niece Sophia (Fatima Ptacek). It's clear she doesn't trust him at all, but it's also clear that she's desperate.

The little that you get from this drama is solid. I'm not sure if I would watch the same movie if it were a feature length film, but if it were on I wouldn't change the channel.

Someone who knew I was a bit battered by life told me to seek out and watch this short, and I'm so glad they did, because it went under my radar.

Without spoilers I can only say that it captures the feeling of being at the last saloon, and how the smallest thing can make you go one way or another. Trust me on this.

Shawn Christensen deserves so much praise for his understated performance as well as doing pretty much everything else, and what a find Fatima Ptacek is. A solid double header of talent.

Everyone I know that has seen it talks about the fantasy ( or is it ) sequence, that great tune, and the sureal scene in an otherwise dark tale.

Bottom line: WOW. It really is a ten out of ten. 20 minutes of your life, what have you got to loose.

Yes, this short film is OK. It ticks all of the boxes that make festival judges salivate. It has the lonely protagonist going through a crisis, we have the sister that creates the main conflict early on - early enough to stop him from doing the unspeakable. The young girl does a good job here as the bratty child with a strict to do list.

The story was well paced and it keeps you engaged. Some parts bordered on pretension though, such as the use of the song, "We'll Meet Again", and the composition, "Si on change les équipes ce n'est plus une revanch". These seemed misplaced - as if it was a case of, we acquired the rights so we'll use it type of thing.

The dance sequence was also out of place. It didn't make any sense. It took me right out of the story. Onto the positives, Shawn Christensen is a good writer/director and was able to handle being the lead character too with relative ease. Curfew really cleaned up the Official Selections and Awards. I mean it's good but is it that good?

Christensen is clearly well known and has a lot of contacts in the industry. I've seen shorts this good and better that didn't get the recognition they deserve. They just fell into oblivion because the talent were simply not known.

Anyway, this is a solid effort all round. 7/10.

It is really worth the time to watch this Oscar Winning short film by Shawn Christensen. I would recommend it to anyone.

Well directed and acted by Christensen, and it look out for Kirsten Holly Smith of the off-Broadway hit Forever Dusty!

This is a surreal dark comedy about suicidal depression and drug addiction, but it's really about the characters and the way family can affect a person. Not realistic, not quite intended to be realistic, but totally believable emotionally, and the dialogue and music are terrific.

Watching Shawn Christensen's Academy Award-winning "Curfew", I was reminded of Wes Anderson's works. Similar cinematography and characters (but a very different plot). The short has a good balance of comedy and drama, focusing on topics as different as responsibility and suicide. I've been making an effort to see a lot of Academy Award-winning (or even nominated) short films recently, so I'm glad that I got to see this one. I recommend it.

Evil trash that abused a child. Is about a man who smokes with a little girl. How could something as horrible as this be made let alone get awards. Everyone involved in should be ashamed.