Memory Lane

Very, very interesting Great characters and some really big laughs, I really enjoyed this one. Memory lane, even the images are the best. Will definitely check again and again 10/10.

Memory Lane is a short film by Ross Holman that highlights the music of his rap-persona Arcadia Smith. Mixing a music video style with a more traditional narrative, Memory Lane is a good showcase for Holman's musical talents, even if not for his filmmaking. The true driving force of this short film is the music, but it tries to give the plot to string the songs together. A fictional version of Arcadia buys a briefcase that allows him to relive his past and visit potential futures. He experiences formative memories of his younger self, falls in love, and sees himself in a successful career - before things take a turn for the worse. Memory Lane is an amateur production, but with that in mind, it's a solid effort. Though the acting leaves a lot to be desired, the camerawork is competent, though there are a couple of unfortunate shots where the cameraperson is visible. The editing is also not bad except for a few clunky and obvious cuts. The plot is the weakest part, as well as the time it takes to get through it all. The first few songs had clear connections to the onscreen story, but by the time we reach the halfway point, it's harder to see how they support the narrative or vice versa. Overall, the real talent of Arcadia Smith is in his music. The songs were enjoyable, and their segments featured the best editing of the whole endeavor. If you view it as a musical showcase rather than a narrative, Memory Lane succeeds in that you probably want to hear more music from its star.

Directed by Ross Holman, Memory Lane (2022) stars Bianca Holman, Ross Holman and Steven Wilkins. A science fiction adventure shot in B-movie style, the film finds its protagonist, Arcadia Smith, who discovers he can travel both into the past and future which leads him to relive and recalibrate his life.

Holman, who both directs and stars in the production, balances both roles pretty nicely. With the weight of the entire narrative on his shoulders, Holman approaches both his character and the production with a form of B-movie energy that is perfect for the tone of the story. Fabulous directing aside, Holman brings his zany energy to his characters as well; charting an illustrious story that takes the audience down a path of timeless adventure.

With interesting and quirky characters introduced throughout the narrative, the film keeps things moving along nicely. From the costumes to the dialogues, every character has a different flair to him or her that speaks to the level of dedication and complexity that the makers wanted to infuse in the production. Of particular note are the sets where Holman has made effective use of both green screen and real locations to shoot the various skits in the story. One particular locale that pops on the screen is the green hillside where the conclusion of the film takes place. Furthermore, the interspersed footage of the protagonist's past also invokes some much needed depth in the story and makes the protagonist more relatable to the audience.

Running at just over an hour, Memory Lane (2022) has just enough action and adventure to satiate everyone. It is obvious that the production is a labour of love by its makers who have tried to make the very best film possible within the creative and fiscal limitations handed to them. Although this is very much in the realm of a student film, the technical choices in regards to editing and narrative structure are very much in the vicinity of a Hollywood level production.

To sum up, Memory Lane puts Ross Holman on the map, illustrating his gifts as both a visual artist and an avant garde filmmaker who will go to the edges of what is possible to bring the most unique film ever made. It is fairly obvious that Holman has a terrific future ahead of him and we can't wait to see what he comes up with next.