During a solar eclipse, two strangers wait together and talk.
Written and directed by Lucy Gamades, this short form comedy drama is one that is mainly composed of conversations, or rather one main conversation that goes in a few different directions. The lead two characters are pretty much the only ones with lines and their discussions start seemingly innocently, then evolve into the soul baring (but on a base level) to eventually lead to the end here. Overall, this will appeal greatly to some audiences but to this viewer, it was not “it”. The fact that some of the interaction starts on **** SPOILER**** a lie makes it just that annoying once its discovered. The conversation here is the main focus of the film and as it’s not one everyone would have interest in listening to, it leads to the film being of limited interest.
In terms of acting, the leads are decent. Both Megan Greener and Nicky Maindiratta are good actors and Maindiratta plays his character in a realistic manner leading to memories of similar men met in the wild. His interpretation of his character is mostly annoying here which fits the part rather well. He’s not someone many women would want to be forced to spend time with or be forced to take care of which fits the character and story quite well. Megan Greener plays the put-upon woman stuck with him in a public place. She shows a bit more variety in her acting, doing well here while also leaving one wishing she’d put her foot down and get rid of this man, which is more a writing than an acting issue.
The cinematography by Matthew Marino is serviceable. This may sound mean, but it’s the best way to describe it. The images work, they are decently framed, decently lit, decently all the things, but there is no special anything. This may be a budget issue or exactly how the filmmaker wanted the film to look but it feels uninspired, like the cinematography is just there because it’s needed and nothing more. It’s a bit sad considering all that could have been done here but reviews are not about what could have been sadly.
Overall, Mesopotamia, TX is a decent short film with decent just about everything, but nothing that truly stands out. There seems to be a lack of inspiration on the artistic side of things. There is something here, but it gets lost in the slightly bland everything. There was a chance to really make a point, to do something truly inspired but it all seems lost in the meanderings of the conversation between the two leads.