Castello Cavalcanti

Wes Anderson's "Castello Cavalcanti" is one of two short films he has made that were financed by Prada, the popular and lucrative fashion company. "Castello Cavalcanti" bears all the aesthetic artistry and assured camera-work of Anderson's filmography but also bears that annoying emptiness that is present in many of his works as well. At only eight minutes, the only things Anderson has time to communicate are some well-orchestrated camera pans, beautifully warm scenery, and some more great uses of Anderson's trademark aesthetic, and that's about it. Jason Schwartzman stars Jed Cavalcanti, a Formula One racer who crashes in a sleepy Italian village during a race through the country. He discovers, however, that this town is populated not by strangers but by people that could very well be related to him. While the short is more of a direct reference to the many films of Italian director Frederico Fellini, the vibe I get is more from Pixar's Cars, about a racer hellbent on winning before crashing and slowing down in a land that is much more than meets the eye. There's some great shots and sequences here thanks to Anderson's style that is nicely emphasized in eight minutes; if only he could spare at least two extra minutes to give us a reason to care about Cavalcanti's situation.

Starring: Jason Schwartzman. Directed by: Wes Anderson.