The Caricature

Do you ever watch a 48Hours film that just 100% clicks with your personal taste? For me that film this year is THE CARICATURE by the extremely talented Reuben T. Edwards, a film that in less competent hands could easily come across as silly but with pitch perfect self-direction, wonderful sound design and a performances for the ages is instead absolutely hilarious and had me questioning my own mortality.

Tightly framed in striking black and white, the phone rings and we are off in this one, un...deux...trois as a portrait of 3 cats and their owners goes horribly, horribly wrong with gonzo camerawork to rival Jean Rollin bringing life to the film through, well, death.

Everything is played 100% straight and the film is all the better for it, and honestly its a beautiful message to never compromise on your art no matter the situation. We're effectively in reverse Hans Holbein territory here

So why do I love it so much? Well for me it looks absolutely amazing. The mis en scene is perfection from the placement of the living area, through to livening up the backgrounds with abstract art and then the lighting...my god the LIGHTING. Subtle, yet perfectly drawing attention to the visually important aspects of each and every frame.

The sound captures the mood so damn well as well. The levels are strong but never clipping, and consistently strong, meaning there was an aural intimacy that perfectly matched the feeling of an intense artist in their studio space that is also their living space (well, not for long. badoom-tish)

But it's all Reuben. I've seen solo efforts before. From bombastic AI extravaganzas to men playing with their dolls, but this is something else. Our lead carries this film with intensity in their facial expressions, line delivery, and physical reactions where needed. Its a 100% believable lived in character. And of course a dual role.

Plus it's fucking funny. And comedy timing like that is hard to come by these days.

I take my hat off to you Reuben T. Edwards, absolutely phenomenal film!