I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

After seeing 'In Bruges', I got curious of the other film Martin McDonagh had made. This short film is also a dark comedy and tries to make fun of death, suicide and the loss of a loved one. This is of course really hard and not easy to do. It sometimes fails as well at some points, but overall it kinda succeeds. Yet another movie of Martin McDonagh I am not sure what to make of it... strange... but if you like dark twisted humour, then this film is definitely for you.I am not sure if the Oscar was really deserved, but it keeps me thinking at least... 7/10

I wanted to see this film because another movie directed and written by Martin McDonagh, In Bruges. That was one of those rare films that I rate highest and therefore I had to see this one.Maybe it's the high expectations, but it felt a bit boring to me. This guy loses his wife to some sickness, boards a train, all depressed, and has one of the most possible annoying days. The tension is palpable, all actors play really well and the ending is both a bit predictable as an idea, but surprising as the emotion it produces. Kind of like expecting to be treated with candy, but getting surprised by the taste of it.All in all a short film I can't rate. It has everything, but also nothing. For me, it stays in limbo, leaving me undecided.

SIX SHOOTER was an infuriating film for me, though judging by the fact that it won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short, I assume I must be in the minority. What I found infuriating was that the film seemed so uneven and didn't seem to stay within a genre. One minute, it was a very sad drama, the next it was a bit of a comedy and back and forth it went. I've seen others describe it as a black comedy but there just wasn't enough to laugh at or enough irony for me to see it as this style film. I like my humor dark, but this just wasn't even funny--it was just rather nihilistic.The movie begins with a man at the hospital learning that his wife had died. Soon, he's on a train and it seems that several around him have also just lost family. A bizarre and ugly-spirited young man's mother just died and he seems pretty happy about it. A couple is coping with the loss of their baby--and the young guy taunts them about it relentlessly. This all just seemed very cruel and sick. Yet, later in the film, the young guy was talking about heaven and God and this all seemed rather profound--and like it was an entirely different person. To me, to have someone change that much just made little sense and seemed like poor writing. Perhaps they were implying he had a mother issue and hated mothers so much that that is why he was so cruel to the mother on the train, but even this didn't explain him completely. His character just seemed too full of disparities to be realistic.After a while, there is a lot of violence and death on board the train. This, combined with the dark ending, made for a very dark and unsatisfying film and the bad seemed to leave a much bigger impression on me than the good (such as some excellent acting and a few imaginative scenes).By the way, this film is part of the CINEMA 16: European Shorts DVD. On this DVD are 16 shorts. Most aren't great, though because it contains THE MAN WITHOUT A HEAD, COPY SHOP, RABBIT and WASP, it's an amazing DVD for lovers of short films and well worth buying. Also, while it lost to SIX SHOOTER, I recommend you try watching OUR TIME IS UP--it was a very, very clever, insightful and funny short that I wish had won instead (it was THAT good).

The London-born playwright of Irish parents,Martin McDonagh,returns to the land of his fathers for his movie debut,and shows considerable promise and talent as a filmmaker.The film has an excellent performance from the well-known Brendan Gleeson and an even better one from the relatively unknown Ruaiduri Conroy as the main protagonists.As with all black comedy,it is mainly about the subject of death and it's various causes and impacts it has on various individuals.The potential poor taste the story offers is easily offset by fine photography,a witty script,convincing characterisation and well executed plot twists.The foul language could be too much for some,but it is to be hoped that on this showing at least,McDonagh will concentrate on film-making in the future equally as much as his theatre work.