“CASHBACK”
“Time has become unhinged” as stated in this stylistic, artsy feature debut by writer-director Sean Ellis. An extension of Ellis’ 2004 Oscar-nominated short, Cashback (2006) follows Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff), an art student who develops insomnia after being dumped by his first real girlfriend. As a result, Ben decides to take a job working the nightshift at a local supermarket; he trades in his time and gets cashback. Among the colorful cast of characters that works the nightshift with him are Barry and Matt, two jokesters each with the mentality of a 16-year-old boy, Brian “Kung-Foo,” archetypal-boss Jenkins, and delicate Sharon, who becomes the new subject of Ben’s admiration.
Naturally shifting between reality and imagination, the film is a constant stream of Ben’s consciousness as he masters the “art” of time manipulation. Time speeds up around him, slows down, freezes. He creates for himself a frozen world, safe and untouchable. Between the seconds, Ben is able to admire the beauty of still life, emotion, and the human body. Flashbacks to his childhood throughout the film show his early fascination with the female form. Through Ben’s eyes, even nudity, porn, and stripping are turned into art.
Shot in 20 days and written in seven, the comedy-drama keeps the audience engaged in every second, the element of speed complimenting the film’s steady pace. In spite of the film’s swift execution, it was made with an amazing attention to detail; the cinematography and uniquely interesting shots were carefully matched with the music and storyline for an ultimate artistic and edgy film. At the same time, the film’s dramatic elements—the emotional soundtrack, heavy shadows, and Ben’s broken heart—are lightened up by its witty humor. This story, told and seen through an artist’s eyes, is itself unmistakably a work of art.
Cashback was released by Magnolia Pictures in limited US theatres on July 20th and will be available on DVD for $24.29 on July 24th.
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