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Director Joe Burke is a
man seen around these parts for the last two or three years and he's a
man who has managed to spawn some great reviews from yours truly who has
been so far impressed with what his indie shorts have to offer. A man of
many genres, Burke best knows how to capture that twenty something
sentiment enabling his cast to work within their limits while painting
the portraits of cities that are darker than our own and lives that seem
to be nothing but heading for a dead end romantically and emotionally.
Past efforts like "Coop's Night In" have proven that he knows how to
portray actual characters on screen without any need to exaggerate what
we're seeing.
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"Nice
Knowing You" is another short drama that takes three young
people on the verge of a new chapter in their lives who have
to move on and say goodbye to their once joyful youth. What
Burke accomplishes with "Nice Knowing You" is looking at a
friendship that lasted a long time. This allows the
characters a platform for their feelings as the last night
of their lives together come to an end in a whisper while
feelings are made apparent, feelings that bring them a
bittersweet sensation but also a sort of liberation taking a
leap in to the unknown as they ready themselves to be apart
forever. |
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Thankfully as the events unfold Burke never acknowledges the
characters' actions as black and white. Instead he asks us to look
at these people with an understanding as to what their last night
means to them. Unrequited feelings, anxiety and horror fill the air
between the trio and this eventually leads to a place in their
hearts that they never thought existed. Once again Burke pulls out
immaculate performances from the entire cast (especially Abby Wathen)
and allows his characters to unfold in to new depths at such a short
running time. As always Burke works within his realm of
understanding and introduces three rather ground thirtysomethings
facing a new frontier in their personal lives that will decide how
they live their remaining days.
It looks like Joe Burke
has done it again proving he knows how to properly portray young adults
in modern society by taking the classic formula and making it pop in
less than a half hour. From unspoken feelings to living with life
changes right down to excellent performances, Burke's thesis film is an
absolute win, and I remain a fan.
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