“The Crush” has proven to be one of the most outstanding, comical short-films that have modernized the acts of childhood love and admiration. Director Michael Creagh, 37, honed his passion for movies and took the next step by producing this short-film, which is also his very first film that has received several praises inclusive of the current Oscar nomination and award for the Best Irish Short at the Foyle Film Festival in Ireland. “The Crush” tells the story of a clever eight-year old, Irish youngster who proclaims his undeniable love for his teacher by igniting a duel to the death with her distrusting fiancé in efforts to reveal the truth and win her heart.
First and foremost, the movie was filmed in Ireland, and produced entirely with capital resources received from the bank and the director’s father. This notable contribution and investment facilitated Creagh’s ideas which swiftly developed into the worthwhile film being nominated at The Oscars on Sunday evening. As a newcomer to the world of short –films, I overly enjoyed this well-developed short; it was astonishing, humorous and memorable. Despite the brief running time of fifteen minutes and a cast of novice actors; this film successfully captured the viewer’s interest using a charming storyline that utilizes the care-free yet common emotions that have stirred in many middle-aged children and teenagers.
Out of the five short-films that we watched at the IFC theatre last week, “The Crush”, provided a nice, lasting impression that made me smile. Specifically, it was the generous amount of creativity employed, which was one sweet element in the film that aided in the dazzling delivery and performance from Oren Creagh, the 10-year old, director’s son and main character in the film. Honestly, I thought Oren Creagh was spunky, witty and bold; he dominated the role by displaying an adorable sincerity throughout the film. In addition, Oren quickly won the audience over when performing the clever, hilarious scheme his character cooked up to humiliate his competition in the pistol duel.
What I loved most about “The Crush” was how the genuine emotions of the schoolboy was demonstrated in the very first scene. In this scene, the director effectively showed viewers the strong, cute infatuation he held for the teacher when he presents her with a ring, which represents the traditional token of love in most films. Director Creagh re-introduced a commonly used theme; in general crushes on teachers are unavoidable but it can be the right universal and relatable experience to illustrate in a film’s storyline in efforts to engage viewers. For example, in an episode of the television show, Glee, female lead character Rachel Berry develops a tremendous, school girl crush on Will Shuester, the New Directions Choir Director.
Initially, Rachel begins to demonstrate her fondness for Shuester by giving a tie gift to get his attention and shortly after surprising him with a home visit to present the home-made dinner she prepared for him. Meanwhile, Shuester struggles during the episode as he contemplates the best way to stomp out her devotion for him without hurting her feelings. This comparison reflects on the youthful storylines in both “The Crush” and “Glee” and its amusing portrayal of the informal, anticipated actions and behavior during a crush period.
Finally, the award committee for the Oscars may not be open-minded about films that acquired the combined themes of love and comedy but as a longtime fan of movies that captures your heart by employing those themes, I hope they will decide on “The Crush” for the prestigious winner of the best short-film award.
If you are excited about the Oscars on Sunday and are prepping for the big night with your family or friends, here is a list of 10 appetizer recipes: http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Recipes/10-Oscar-Worthy-Appetizers.html?zeta_mid=HFM2_329452&zeta_rid=80198334 . These recipes will be perfect for your award party, as they were created to feature the nominated movies for the award of Best Motion Picture!
Also, if you are have been interested in reading the select novels that some of the nominated films were based on, here is a list for you to check out during your free time; http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/category.asp?r=1&PID=33145&cm_em=arudd908@gmail.com&cm_mmc=Targeted-_-Digital_Targeted-_-110226_TD01_T6EBOOK-_-digeboosca
I love that you call it a comedy. I did too, initially. And then I called it a thriller. A romantic thriller, a comic thriller, a romance in the western genre (which means thrillingly romantic, no?)