Greetings again from the darkness. Alden Ehrenreich tackles a sensitive topic in his directorial debut with this superb 15-minute short film gem about the twisting turns of brotherly love. Ehrenreich is best known for his acting in such films as SOLO: A STAR WARS MOVIE (2018); HAIL, CAESAR! (2016); and two very different movies this year: COCAINE BEAR and OPPENHEIMER.
In addition to writing and directing the film, Ehrenreich also stars as Cole, a wannabe musician who joins family and friends at his parents' house on a big day for his brother Jacob (Nick Robinson, "Maid", LOVE, SIMON). Joining Ehrenreich and Robinson in this excellent cast are Lisa Edleman ("House") and Nick Searcy ("Justified") as their parents. Jacob's big break as an actor culminates in the evening at the planned premiere of his new movie, and his family is going all out in support. Well, most of the family, anyway.
Cole's music is going nowhere, and he finds himself in a free fall that he can't seem to slow down. Desperation can quickly lead a person down the wrong path, and when Jacob doesn't respond favorably to his request, Cole makes the decision to betray his brother in a way that fixes his own money problems, but will alter their relationship forever.
The first thing we notice is this doesn't have the same look and feel as many short films. Its cinematic look is likely due in part to Executive Producer Francis Ford Coppola, but also to cinematographer Ben Mullen, and of course, the talented cast. Family drama and desperate times can bring out the worst in people, and filmmaker Ehrenreich displays an advanced expertise as he combines the dramatic moments with a couple of minutes of near slapstick. Cole's dilemma of brotherly love vs self-preservation is uncomfortable to watch from an emotional point, but quite a treat as a movie.
