The Hat Trick

Blue is the warmest colour in cinema for mine because of how it represents seduction and intrigue, from classics like DIVA through the whole oeuvre of Michael Mann. So when my eyeballs were flooded with night time swathes from the spectrum I was hooked. I can honestly say that this film has my favourite opening shot in a 48 Hours film of all time.

Witching hour and a clock ticking as moonlight bathes in with shadowy figures and objects examined in detail and then the rug is taken out from under you. It’s just TOO GOOD.

Does the rest of the film follow as strong a suit? You betcha, embarking on a metaphysical quest that teeters between the 3rd and 4th wall. I’ve seen a similar concept done by Christchurch 48 legends TBALC in 2014 with ‘The Silent Man’ but this takes the cake of simple but ingenious concept that should make any competitor this year envious of how clever this team were.

Duality and connection are often really interesting themes to explore filmically, and Great Lake Film Society used visual precision and colour play throughout to portray a yin and yang interplay between their 2 leads, giving them definition through exceptional direction. One the comic security guard, the other the cautious cat woman on a daring heist.

The titular hat is done so amazingly well that it is easy to forgot that Denise and Joel really know how to pace a film for when it is “go time!, being able to move from an intriguing buildup to electric action with increasing escalation and consequences. The camerawork is so buttery smooth I was in hog heaven lapping up their supreme command of the image at hand.

Lesser film makers would not have been able to make this film work without extreme closeups and zooms in that garage. But this film is a pitch perfect example of letting your film breathe and executing a plan to perfection. Each moment in the big action sequence to meet genre requirements just felt funnier and more severe than the last. The practical effects! The shock! The tension of the draw!

Having said all that it’s actually really hard to achieve movement and excitement based on persons and objects moving within frame and keeping the camera steady. But GLFS 100% know what they are doing and with a wink and a nod to the audience and INDIANA JONES we’re headed to a satisfying conclusion…or so it seems.

Personally I loved all the winks and nods and meta aspects of the film. I also felt The Hat Trick was a great example of showing and not telling a lot of details that would have been ruined with more exposition. So to summarise; stellar inventive story, wonderful performances, S-iter use of the elements. Amazing for me, and I hope others feel the same!

This was brilliantly fun to watch, which I've come to realize is just what we can expect from your team haha. I got to see it at the village theater and enjoyed the slightly confused claps everytime credits came up, but the big laughing cheering claps at the end. It was full of wonderful twists and turns. The narrator being its own character and how the other characters engaged with it was very clever

As I think we can all attest, it's not easy to make a film in 48 hours. What's even "NOT easier" is making a high concept film.

What I love about GLFS is their absolute balls-to-the-wall gall to take what could be a simple idea, chuck it in a blender, say "to hell with conventional structure!" and make it out the other side with something so beautifully pitched.

Last year saw GLFS going deep and tackling big ideas and concepts and leaving a lot of open ended questions. This year we were given all the answers, but drip-fed them in a deftly crafted slow-release of twists and turns. I am not surprised to hear of the awkward clapping at intervals throughout the film. It tickles me to know your film lived off the screen and became a piece of performance art, involving the audience, on the night.

As it's clear to me this film will at the very least make (if not win) the regional finals, so I won't go into too many details as not to spoil the plot. But future audiences should keep one eagle eye trained on the many many adventure-film-references. They're an absolute joy.

And just when you think it's over (again), there comes that home-run of an ending. But it all began with that opening shot. That bloody masterstroke.

You fooled us all. I watched it three times.

I take my hat off to you.

Entirely satisfying and entertaining. Once again the Great Lakes team are treating us like intelligent beings, pulling us in with a nifty tip of the hat at the cat and mouse trope which they don't just exemplify but appear to redefine with their own clever twists.
The game of wits was so well done I had to watch it through a second time. The first time I was "wow what did I just see?!" Completely smitten from the opening scene I found the play between the two lead characters quite mesmerising as she toyed with the narrator while also eluding her pursuer. It was fun, very cool, comedic, suspenseful, with strategic maneuvering to stay one step ahead.
It had me at "ok here we go" from the narrator telling the story against the chilled-out vibraphone type chords.
It was hilarious experiencing the audience in the theatre start to burst into applause each time the credits rolled, only to drop them into a further development of the story. The final applause showed how much the film was appreciated
The narrative is built on near-captures, close calls, and the threat of discovery before shifting to the garage scene with the introduction of more wonderful characters and slicing in the suggestion of sub-plots in the background thanks to the narrator exposing characters's inner thoughts which gives the story further depth.
And as always with Great Lakes, the neat twist at the end to round off a completely delightful experience and leave you remembering and thinking about the film still, days later.
An extra note about this film is how it's again an immensely impressive result from a team who open up the opportunity for others to come and dive in with them on this mad weekend. It's a risk involving newbies and mentoring them while also attempting to make a film in 48 hours. Hats off to Great Lakes Film Society for being so inclusive!

Loved your film as always GLS! Oozes with what I an only describe as true genuine creative "Flare" mixed with stunning technical skill!

Simply brilliant in every way starting with the highly comedic physical comedy of the security guard on patrol and from that point on taking us on a super well thought out journey with mind blowing unconventional moments and just pure fun fun fun all the way. To pull this off in 48 hours is simply mind blowing and Hats off to the entire team involved. Simply cannot fault it!!!!