Shuffle (Kurt Kuenne, 2011): USA

Reviewed by Truman Kewley. Viewed at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The film Shuffle was produced on a very low budge, but it’s low budget did not get in the way of it’s awesome story telling.  Shuffle was one of the most enjoyable films I had the opportunity to see at the SBIFF.  The film was shot in black and white witch some might think it would take away from the movie but actually it helped create more tension during dramatic moments in the film.  The black and white really made this film stand out.  The film Shuffle has a very interesting story line and I would recommend everyone to check it out.

I saw the film Shuffle at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.  The film was written, directed, and composed Kurt Kuenne.  He not only did that he also did all the lighting witch was a critical tool used in this film.  Kurt’s ability to create tension and even humor using shadows and low light situations was very impressive.  The main star of this film was T.J. Thyne and he did a wonderful job of seeming real and confused every time his character would wake up.  T.J. had to play many different ages threw out this film and each age seemed very believable.

The film Shuffle is about a man named Lovell Milo a man with a sleeping disorder.  Not only does he have a sleeping disorder, every time Milo falls a sleep he wakes up a different age in his life.  He could go to sleep as a 21 year old and wake up as an 8 year old boy.  The film fallows Milo as he tries to figure out why he wakes up a different age and what the purpose of that is.  Paula Rhodes was the supporting actress and played the part of Grace, Milo’s girlfriend from childhood who he eventually married.  Graces character was very well acted and worked well with the character Milo.

There were many significant aspects of the film Shuffle that made it a great movie.  The fact that it was in black and white helped make this film stand out as well as it’s super unique story.  The acting in the film was very well done and I believe the characters meant what they were saying.  There is a scene where the main character Milo is screaming at his father and that scene was incredibly real.  The main star did a great job.  The lighting of the film was very significant to the film as well. The lighting helped create the moods and really gave you a great black and white film.

The only other black and white film at the Santa Barbara international film festival was the film The Artist.  I did not have the opportunity to see The Artist but I was told it was silent.  I can not compare the films but I can say Shuffle was very entertaining.

The film Shuffle is definitely worth the time to check it out.  I really enjoyed it and if they had, had another showing I would have definitely went and watched it again.  The director was very humble and excited at the reaction from the audience.  If you enjoy good original movies I would 100% recommend watching Shuffle.