Disney+ Talk With Megan Williams: Paperman Short Film (2012)
As is obvious by now, the Disney+ Talk feature doesn’t just cover feature films, but shorts too. And the 2012 short ‘Paperman’ was one that was going to be covered before the release of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’. However, this did not occur purely because I wasn’t sure whether it was a Disney production despite being on the streaming service. Disney+ also contains National Geographic and Star, hence where the confusion lied. But ‘Paperman’ does count as a Disney short as it was distributed by them.
‘Paperman’ is a 7-minute short that was released on the DVD for ‘Wreck It Ralph‘. It follows two people as they reconnect after their initial encounter in a unique way.
While it’s a simple story of a man trying to capture the heart of a woman that he met at a train station, the execution of this common story is what makes it stand out. The hand drawn/CGI hybrid animation is gorgeous and the movements are fluid. Despite this being released nearly ten years ago, it still looks fantastic. This was a short that originated in the 1990’s, with it being pitched several times. So, it makes sense that the animation style reflects the Disney films that have long since been forgotten about by the company. It makes me wish Disney would be more willing to take a risk when it comes to their animated films.
The use of the black & white overlay gives it a 1930’s feel too, which is unique to the usual colourful films that Disney makes. However, this doesn’t mean ‘Paperman’ is gloomy. It’s in fact the opposite. The story is hopeful and charming, not just because of the story, but because of the playful characters and musical score. This short is essentially two adults experiencing the innocent wonders of connecting with a significant other for the first time and it’s delightful. It’s also playful with the execution; the man uses paper planes to try and get the woman’s attention and ends up failing, leading to those planes following him and showing him where she is. It’s silly and funny but, once again, charming and innocent. The music also reacts with the planes, specifically when he’s attempting to catch her attention and failing. This adds meaning to the score: it’s minimalistic but it gives the planes a sense of personality and purpose.
Overall, ‘Paperman’ is a short I’m glad to finally cover on the Disney+ Talk feature. It’s charming and innocent, while also standing out from a modern Disney film/short. Long gone are the hand drawn-style films that Disney used to create, but it’s wonderful to catch a glimpse of what that might look like today.
At the beginning of the year, I watched a Pixar Sparkshorts for the first time. These are short films that are created by different Pixar employees in six months with a limited budget. That one in particular, called ‘Burrow’, was one that I really enjoyed. And now that the Marvel shows are lacking, I decided to cover another short. I had heard of ‘Kitbull’ before and remember it being described as cute. So, I went in expecting an adorable story about a stray cat and, while I did get that occasionally, I also got a heart-wrenching story.
Written and directed by Rosana Sullivan (Story Artist – Incredibles 2 / Soul), ‘Kitbull’ follows a stray black kitten and a Pitbull who form an unlikely friendship, resulting in them escaping the dangerous situations they’re in.
The one aspect I love about the Sparkshorts is it encourages different art styles that would not normally be seen in Pixar’s feature length films. It’s a welcomed aspect because viewers get to see more of the staff’s creativity and talent, and ‘Kitbull’ is no exception. The almost stop-motion style animation is fantastic and works beautifully for this story.
Despite its bleak subject matter, it’s colourful and the two focal animals look adorable, making them immediately likable; something that is needed for this short. Their movements are also animated differently to match their maturity levels: the kitten’s movements are exaggerated and cartoonish to reflect its bouncy, young age while the Pitbull’s movements are slow and more grounded. The latter is also because the dog is being trained by its owner to take part in dog fights and, unfortunately, loses one, leading to it being injured. Because of the subject matter, the short could’ve easily have gone down the route of ‘humans are the real monsters’, but it lets the imagery speak for itself and, instead, focuses on the animals.
The other aspect I like about ‘Kitbull’ is that it’s focused on two animals who hold a bad reputation: a black cat and a Pitbull. Pitbulls are banned in the UK for the very reason this short highlights, while black cats are, unfortunately, seen as bad luck. Both animals are subject to man-made reasoning and don’t deserve it. But, if we look past an animal’s appearance, we see an innocent creature which the ending displays when the two animals are taken in by a woman whom the kitten had met at the beginning of the short. When she first sees the dog, she steps back in shock only to then gently pet the injured animal; she’s shocked by the dog’s injuries and the dog itself.
Despite the unexpected sobs the short gave me, ‘Kitbull’ is adorable on the surface, but goes on to tell the story of a wonderful friendship that is formed under awful circumstances. It also holds a message: don’t judge by appearances. This is something that people do, even if we don’t realise it, but it’s an important lesson to learn. Like the ‘Burrow’ review back in January, I would highly recommend watching this Sparkshort; just remember to have the tissues at the ready!
SPOILERS – Like mentioned last week, this article will be a spoiler article for the series finale of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’.
Ultimately, the series finale of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ acts as closure for the lead characters.
Like mentioned two weeks ago, Sam has finally accepted a role that he should’ve taken at the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame’: the role of Captain America. And, as we see in this episode, he’s perfect for the role: His new suit incorporates the Falcon wings, making this a fantastic mixture of old vs new, but also a great costume. The wings are also more flexible and bird-like, an example that highlights this is when Sam saves a police officer from an out-of-control helicopter then shields the officer with the wings, as the helicopter crashes and bounces off the Vibranium wings. The mix of the shield and wings also makes the fight scenes interesting and awesome! The choreography for these sequences are one of my favourites in the MCU, and future fight scenes involving Sam in his Captain America suit are an aspect I look forward to.
However, Captain America wasn’t just about physical fighting: it was also fighting for a cause and working with the authorities to make the world a better place. Sam’s ability to not only work with the Senator, but also convince them of his new role and what the next steps need to be, also makes him a perfect Captain America. An aspect from his speech, out of many, that should be highlighted is when the Senator tries to explain that situation around The Blip and the homing problem is complicated and that Sam won’t understand. Sam’s immediate response to this is ‘I am a Black man holding the stars and stripes and you think I won’t understand?’ Like mentioned last week, Sam had reservations about being the next Captain America, not only because he didn’t think he was right for the role but also because of the colour of his skin. His quote also highlights that he understands what he’s taken on and that, unfortunately, some people will not be ok with the image of the new Captain America. However, they’re all in the same situation now, brought about by The Blip and that everyone needs to work together, regardless of a person’s race, sexuality or gender. This speech is also seen by Isiah Bradley, the other Super Soldier that was in the last episode and he gets closure and deserved recognition too, when Sam shows him the exhibit in the Captain America room of the museum from the first episode. This was especially a heart-warming moment and was a scene that I was glad happened; Isiah finally got the recognition he deserved, and he is, unsurprisingly, emotional and thankful for this. It also demonstrates to him that the world is changing for the better.
The finale also sees Bucky’s closure, as he finally confronts Yori Nakajima, his friend from the first episode who had unexpectedly lost his son…due to the Winter Soldier’s actions. While this is a sad scene, it also feels like an overbearing weight has been lifted, especially since Bucky has had this knowledge throughout the whole series. In the last episode, Sam essentially explained to Bucky that he was still having nightmares because, while he was trying to quickly complete tasks, it wasn’t helping him or the victims. However, Bucky gets a chance to save someone and is thanked for it. It’s a quick moment but an important one. Actions speak louder than words, as the saying goes, and Bucky’s story arc throughout this series is a definite example of that. This is a part of his arc that has been desperately needed ever since ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’: recovery.
John Walker’s actions also speak loudly, if they haven’t yelled enough previously! The two important aspects to focus on his transformation as the U.S. Agent. This is an event that I have been patiently waiting for and the execution of this scene was fantastic. While Walker’s role as Captain America was a huge spectacle, this reveal is silent, calm and secret. This role is supposed to be a secret, as the role may lead to sinister actions being carried out, something that John Walker is more than capable of doing. However, he also has a chance to be a hero, even if it’s short, when he tries to stop a truck from dropping from a great height. He manages to fight against the serum for a moment, which also means he can fight against his worst traits. While this moment is an eye opener, the introduction of the U.S. Agent ultimately shows that Walker is happy to accept his negative but strongest traits.
And, lastly, my theory from two weeks ago is correct: Sharon Carter is the Power Broker. This is revealed when she confronts and, ultimately, shoots Karli. Her role as the Power Broker makes complete sense, considering her low profile throughout the series. The reveal scene may not be executed in a way that is a spectacle, but it does pave the way for some very intriguing and exciting directions for future MCU projects. Especially when the end credits scene occurs: Sharon Carter gets the charges against her dropped, just like Sam promised, and becomes Agent Carter. However, she is still the Power Broker. And, with access to government top secret documents and weapons, she’s now become a more powerful character. This, along with the U.S. Agent, new Captain America and Bucky as the White Wolf will make for a fantastic second season if Marvel choose to commission a second series.
While I’ve had mixed thoughts on ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, another series is greatly needed due to the finale. Each character’s arcs are completed in terms of who they were: John Walker is no longer Captain America, Sam is no longer The Falcon and Bucky is free of the Winter Soldier. Their origin roles have been replaced with equally interesting roles and, because these new aspects have been introduced in this series (some earlier than others), it gives the show an opportunity to go forward in an exciting new direction. Here’s hoping Season 2 happens!
One World, One People: Falcon And The Winter Soldier – Disney+ Talk.
Friday saw the release of the series finale of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’. This article will not contain spoilers; spoiler section will be coming next week!
In this episode, Sam and Bucky, alongside John Walker, confront Karli and the Flag Smashers, while Sam must accept his role as the new Captain America.
Overall, ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ improved in the second half of the series. While the events of the second half were more interesting and exciting, the first half was just as important if a little bland. After the unique ‘Wandavision’, this show felt like a return to the familiar Marvel format that viewers are used to seeing. The format works for the show, but the timing of its release made it seem tiresome. It would’ve been better if ‘Loki’ had been released first, then ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But, the second half raised the stakes, especially with Episode 4’s ending.
While the show as a whole has been a mixed bag, Sebastian Stan and Antony Mackie are, once again, fantastic. Like mentioned during my coverage of ‘Wandavision’, Sam was another character that was poorly written throughout the films, so I’m glad this show has fleshed his character out more. It continued his story as he learns to accept the role of Captain America, and what that would ultimately mean. And, while I thought Bucky’s story was completed in the films, I was proven wrong when watching the show.
Bucky Barnes is a complex character with a lot of trauma and issues that still need to be resolved. Interestingly, one of the most interesting aspects of this show was the psychological side of the characters, e.g.: Bucky’s therapy sessions. So, I’m glad that ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ took the time to explore this aspect. Another character that was fantastic was John Walker. Played by Wyatt Russell (Overlord), he played a soldier that was plunged and moulded into the role of Captain America but didn’t have the empathy for it. It therefore made him a dangerous figure, even more so after Episode 4. Russell’s acting was just perfect; he played Walker fantastically, making us feel conflicted about our feelings towards him at the beginning of the show, to then hating him when events took a dark turn. Alongside Bucky and Sam, John Walker was just as important and his evolution at the end of the finale will presumedly carry on into future Marvel projects.
Like ‘Wandavision’, it also explores the consequences of The Blip and the fact that the action may have been positive for The Avengers, but it’s an overall negative decision for the general public and the world as a whole. I’m glad that the shows have shone a light on this, as this is an aspect that also needed to be focused on. However, while I liked the idea of the Flag Smashers and the moral dilemma between their cause and their methods, Karli Morgenthau is possibly the weakest Marvel villain ever. She should’ve been threatening, but the show’s short run time, along with the writing, didn’t give her enough screen time to develop her character, or make her intimidating. This was to the point where I would forget that she even existed! While most of the writing was good, this was its weakest aspect unfortunately.
Overall ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ had an enjoyable second half but is ultimately a show that isn’t entirely worth revisiting. The acting is fantastic and the psychological aspects it brings up, either around a character or revolving around The Blip, was enjoyable. However, it was also a return to typical Marvel format which is a shame, especially after ‘Wandavision’. The timing of its release would’ve been better if it arrived after the ‘Loki’ series.
While board games aren’t a prominent figure in films, they’ve been used as a focal plot point, to carry a story along as well as place the characters in their world and obey their rules, the most famous one being 1995’s ‘Jumanji’. But what if they were used, instead, as a guide to escape a horrific situation?
Enter ‘Murder Bury Win’ a crime/drama revolving around three friends who want nothing more than to have their board game, Murder Bury Win, placed on the shelves of every store. However, after a failed Kickstarter campaign, they are contacted by an anonymous buyer who wants to buy their game and bring it to the masses. But things take a turn for the worse after an accidental murder and the friends realize they must use their own game as a guide on how to hide the dead body.
This indie film was an absolute delight to watch. The lead actors (Mikelen Walker, Elrich Lane and Henry Alexander Kelly) are fantastic as the three friends who are so desperate to bring their board game to life. The writing is wonderful and, at times, brings dark humour into the film. The actors elevate the script by their delightful performances, giving each character their own personality. Chris is confident, Barrett is quiet and gentle while Adam is the optimistic and slightly dorky white male. However, as the film’s events take a turn for the worse, their personalities change as a reaction to the accidental murder. While Chris and Barrett are lost on what to do, the film is happy to show Adam’s journey to becoming a leader-come-psychopath. It’s disturbing but amazing to see this change and, while it may sound like this development wouldn’t work, it actually does seamlessly and never feels jarring. Furthermore, it can be argued that ‘Murder Bury Win’ is Adam’s descent into a madness that he always had, especially considering he’s the character who makes the plot point decisions. But the two other leads get their moments to shine as well.
Not only does ‘Murder Bury Win’ have fantastic leads, but it also has a wonderfully eerie side character, who unintentionally becomes the focal point of the film. Craig Cackowski (Community) plays V. V. Stubs, a board game extraordinaire who’s released the majority of the best-selling board games in this film’s universe. He also acts as the friends’ mentor, helping them with their game until things go down a dark path. Cackowski plays this eerie and manipulative character beautifully, demanding the audience’s full attention from the moment he appears onscreen. And, because he’s the unintentional focal point, this aspect was important to get right, which it does. He’s also a red herring from the second the leads meet him: he lives alone in the middle of nowhere in a small cabin, and has a wall of multiple, sharp weapons. The film does a great job at making its audience think it will go in a certain direction, only to then do the opposite later on. This type of unpredictability carries on throughout the whole film, making me want to see it to the very end.
The actors have a role to play in this film, but the board game and the music score have a role to play here too. The music is extremely important in ‘Murder Bury Win’. It’s not only there to accompany a scene, but to elevate it as well as heighten a certain moment. An example is when the three leads realize that the person they’re meeting is V. V. Stubs. Chris’ eyes widen and the character’s realization play out in slow motion, while Western-style music accompanies this. It may sound like a strange genre to pick for this type of action, but it works, giving the arguably common moment a different execution that empathizes the character’s emotions in that moment. The score uses different genres for the various actions and scenarios that are taking place, e.g.: the start of the film has a ‘Stranger Things’-esque score to make the film feel nostalgic.
The score is as much of a character as the actual characters are in ‘Murder Bury Win’. Not only does the music play a role, but the leads’ own board game does too, as they must use their own cards to figure out how to resolve their horrific situation. It’s a unique plot point and, while films like ‘Jumanji’ have brought the board game to life in the real world, there’s never been a film where the board game is just used as a guide, making this film unique and special. The board game also comes to life via re-enactments that occur at the very start of the film and throughout Stubs’ mentoring. The three friends will be seen in the same alleyway, with the weapons that they’ve picked from their own card deck during each playthrough of their game. This was an aspect that was particularly enjoyable, and I wish these re-enactments had appeared more, especially when they’re figuring out what to do with the dead body that they’ve gotten in front of them.
‘Murder Bury Win’ is a wonderful and unique film from writer and director Michael Lovan. The script is fantastic, and each actor is wonderful, elevating the roles that they’ve been given. Each character has their own personality, making them all memorable. Not only are the characters memorable and play an important role, but their own board game and even the musical score play certain roles too, essentially making them characters. ‘Murder Bury Win’ is a fantastically well-put together film that should not be missed!
