The Ultimate Shorts Collection

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre classic Starring Ewan McGregor, Mel Gibson, Martin Sheen, Timothy Olephant, Chris Penn, Rebecca Gayheart, Verne Troyer, Alice Cooper Directed by Various Publisher Vanguard Cinema & Hypnotic Shorts External Links Official Vanguard Website

33 short films including award winners from the Sundance and AFI film festivals

Short films, so many to choose from, so little time. They are elusive; overlooked by the mainstream, generally inaccessible to the public, and not regarded with a fraction of the esteem as their bigger brothers, The Feature Film.

Sure, Youtube has opened a lot of eyes to the short form, but the amateur filmmaker generates more material than the budding one. Real film buffs want more than just a short-lived chuckle or flavor of the week.

So, where does one go to see short films? Film festivals are once-a-year occurrences and outside of that there are so many to choose from it’s a daunting task.

Some Criterion Collection DVDs have shorts in addition to the feature. Roman Polanski’s “Knife in the Water” is one where the shorts are on par with the film. However, they are in addition to, not the main attraction.

But short films should not be a sideshow; they should be the main attraction. They are a venue of unbridled creativity, and restricted only by the filmmaker’s creativity and industry. Studios with their rules are not seen on a short film set. Directors with visions rule.

So, when a short film collection comes out it is a noteworthy event. Vanguard and Hypnotic have released a boxed set, The Ultimate Shorts Collection, which showcases how enjoyable, poignant, and important short film can be.

This shorts collection does not bring heavy hitting directors such as Polanski, but it does bring some talented young filmmakers who represent the future of film. And, you do get some stars (McGregor, Gibson, and Sheen), along with some new comers that turn out impressive performances. One of the successes of this boxed set is a single theme. If you are in the mood for frights, throw in Hollywood Scarefest or Spooks & Creeps. Feeling mainstream? Try Celebrating AFI. Avant-garde? Then Headcases should work. Still not satisfied? Official Selections delivers some of the best festival films.

The thirty-three shorts are spread out over five discs. To give you an idea of what to expect, it is necessary to only focus on a couple that merit recognition above and beyond.

“Delusions in Modern Primitivism”, on the Official Selections disc is an experience you can only have with a short film. It follows a backseat philosopher on his trek to get the newest form of body modification as he seeks meaning, identity, and acceptance.

What, you may ask, is this new form of body mod? As the film unfolds through a white, middle class man’s monologue about why he’s oppressed we find out that he is seeking something more than tattoos and piercings. He is searching for scarification from a gunshot wound. That’s right; he’s actually driving to a specialist to get shot. With a gun.

The film is successful because it teeters on the edge of reality and farce. The entire time you are asking the question, is this real or fake? If it is real, it is a testament to what documentary can open your eyes to. If it is staged, then the filmmakers must be incredibly talented (and a little demented). I won’t ruin the fun with the answer to that question, or if he actually does go through with it.

Another film, “Desserts” starring Ewan McGregor on the Spooks & Creeps disc is three minutes of magnificence. This funny and irreverent short finds McGregor walking along the sea, when he happens upon a éclair.

Temptation gets the best of him and, much to his dismay; he realizes the dessert is bait connected to a fishing line. McGregor is pulled out to sea never to be seen again. “Desserts” is a great example of how economical and enjoyable the short form can be.

On the same disc you’ll find a stunningly beautiful short titled, “Doppelganger” starring Timothy Olephant (Hitman) and Rebecca Gayheart.

It is about twelve minutes long, and plays like a short feature film. Olephant’s character, a prosperous New Yorker, confides in his girlfriend, Gayheart, that he’s been having disturbing dreams. He realizes that his dreams are actually a window into his other life, where he is a down and out San Franciscan.

The San Franciscan is fed up with his life, and upon seeing the New York version of himself; he decides to make it his own. When the film ends you feel as you’ve just seen a whole story unfold, with character arcs, dramatic climax, and theme delivered.

The most impressive element of “Doppelganger” has to be the special effects and computer generated matte work. Epic locations realized through the graphics propel this film to a higher level. The film takes us from a photo realistic cloud filled sky-scape, to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, to the top of a Manhattan Skyscraper.

The other films worth specific mention are “Family Attraction” with Chris Penn and Martin Sheen, “The Chili Con Carne Club”, mostly because of a Mel Gibson cameo in his Martin Riggs days. “Fits and Starts” is one of the most original and absurd films in a long time. “Pause”, “Holiday on the Moon”, “The Delicious”, and “My Chorus” are all relationship pieces with a touch of the crazy.

The best thing about The Ultimate Shorts Collection is there is truly something for everyone on these five discs. Vanguard has scoured through literally thousands of short films to give you a diverse selection. With that said, there are two negative aspects worth noting.

The first is price; for five discs and thirty-three shorts you pay, $59.95. For a DVD set that lacks cultural and historical significance that is too much. A DVD shorts collection of Charlie Chaplin, Howard Lloyd, or Buster Keaton for $59.95 would be appropriate, but not for this.

Second, there are some bad shorts you need to sift through to get to the good ones. Hollywood Scarefest in particular lacks the quality of the other discs. To be fair, a shorts program at even the finest of film festivals is going to have some stinkers, but who wants to own bad films?

For the short film lover, short film maker, DVD collector, anyone who finds themselves checking out Youtube, or anyone who just love a good movie The Ultimate Shorts Collection is a must have. Let Vanguard and Hypnotic do the legwork for you on this collection and enjoy an experience you can only have with a comprehensive collection such as this.