The Icebox (2014) Directed by Momo Lee Aoi
I recently had a chance to see this little gem at the Irvine International Film Festival. The Icebox has a little bit of everything. At first, one might get the impression they are watching a high tech mystery with a flourish of noir. However, as the movie goes on – the tone gradually shifts. Ultimately, The Icebox turns into a character study with good comedic timing and depth. There is also a lovely message to be found here; what you see and hear isn't always true. What you perceive about people could very well be wrong and that everyone deserves a chance to be heard. Nobody is perfect and Adam (Tony Denman) is no exception. For instance, he thinks his neighbor Bean (Adair Jameson) is weird, and yet we are clued in that Adam is just as closed off as she is. The Icebox plays a little with the movie-within a movie concept, only in this case – it's with a touch of voyeurism. While Adam is forming his thoughts of others, we are doing the same with him. This is all made possible through clever use of foreshadowing. For instance, the movie sets up the voyeuristic tone immediately as we watch Adam through a surveillance monitor.
Despite the low budget, The Icebox was surprisingly thought provoking, funny, and even sweet. Director Momo Lee Aoi confidently directs this short movie and is very aware of the world she is creating. While a lot of CGI is employed, Aoi is smart enough to spend an equal amount of time on the characters. Character development is vital in movies and it's nice to see someone actually grasps the concept. Without good characters, it's difficult to care about the outcome. The performances are also surprisingly good. Tony Denman is very sympathetic and there is no doubt that some of the audience will connect with him on more than one level. The only criticism to be found here is with Adair Jameson's performance as Bean. At times she is a little too strong, but finely restrained at others. This could very well be deliberate on the director's part as it does add to Bean's quirky behavior. Also the music is a bit too on the nose, especially in the beginning, While the music firmly gets the point across – the audience already expects something a bit more sci-fi, which complicates matters when the film shifts gears later on. On the other hand, this too could be deliberate as we are supposed to be caught off guard. Is my perception of The Icebox correct or do I need to look at this movie again from another angle? It would appear this is what the movie's main focus is all about. Perhaps another viewing is in order. Assuming of course the movie plays at another festival nearby. If you have a chance to catch this short film, by all means do so. Highly recommended!
