Feature Film ReviewSeries Info:
Sometimes to kill a Fanatic, you have to become one yourself! Written By: Luke Aherne, John Jamieson Directed By: Luke Aherne Genre: Action 23 Minutes ON FACEBOOK
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It always puts a smile on my face when I come across an indie production that is very, very good. As I'm sure you've guessed, "Fanatic" is one of "those" productions that make the indie industry proud. Although not perfect in every sense: What actually is? Indie, studio or life itself, we can always find flaws in everything. What director Luke Aherne does bring to the small screen is a slick and polished series; well written, acted and directed. What more could you ask? More to the point, what more could one expect? The first episode of "Fanatic" rivals most productions floating the cable network right now. Although it's not the next "Walking Dead" or "Person Of Interest", the potential is present and as I wrote above, this is a fine piece of work. The fact that it's a true indie is the gravy on the potatoes. If the episodes continue, and are handled the same way we could have a real winner here. Sure, luck always plays into things but "Fanatic" is leaving as little to chance as possible.
The technical elements presented in this episode are top-notch to say the least. We've got some beautiful camera work complimented by excellent framing and lighting. I scrubbed through the episode a second time, looking for any "real" shot issues or lighting flaws. Although I found a few "iffy" shots scattered through-out, they were still better than some of the best shots of other recent indie films I've watched. Add to all this an excellent dialog track, some unusual but completely fitting scoring pieces, effect shots worthy of a Hollywood flick; in the form of explosions and gun fare, saying I was impressed would be an understatement. Now, add in an excellent edit and a really nice color grade; shake or stir and BAM! Welcome to the world Luke Aherne and John Jamieson have created for you. The writing/story itself featured in "Fanatic" is nothing terribly new so far. We've all seen this plot before and will probably see it again. The reason for that is simple. It works. Loads of classic and recent films/shows use almost the exact story. Change the names and places, and switch around the plot details enough to call it your own. It's a common recipe. "Fanatic" works simply because it done well enough to keep it fresh, and the cast themselves do a stellar job, making you think this is something new and untold. Since I mentioned the cast, I should add that they all performed fantastically. I never noticed any "cheese" factor in their deliveries, and the indie staple of scripted dialog didn't exist. I should also add that although... at first... the "featured woman agent" seemed more a token character, I was glad to see she really kicked some ass. Even in indie film, it's nice to see woman that are not just placed to be a victim or look pretty. This simple aspect alone may elevate the series sometime down the road. We'll see what happens. I am still a little puzzled on the actual title of the series, but I'm sure that will become clear as it progresses. Still though, a direct explanation of the title, in the pilot episode would have been a good idea. Not really a big deal though. "Fanatic" is a great series so far. It's clear from the start this was put together with some heart. I would highly recommend anyone who reads this should visit their social pages on the left, hook up and stay tuned. This has the potential to be something really special. -JT Other Reviews That May Interest You
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