Win-Win Situation
So, Cashback. Originally a short film that achieved a fair degree of critical success, it was later expanded into a full length feature. Having heard good things about it some time ago, I had it on my LoveFilm list - but by the time it arrived, I'd largely forgotten about it and so watched it without any particular expectations.
Turns out it's about an art student who develops insomnia after a bad break-up, who in order to kill time and pay the bills starts working nights at Sainsbury's instead of sleeping. Said supermarket is home to a number of somewhat wacky characters, who deal with the crushing boredom of working there in a variety of different ways. Ben, the aforementioned student, deals with it by imagining that he can stop time. Then, while time is stopped, he undresses women and draws or paints them naked.
Ok, stop. This is not the film I'm perhaps making it out to be. Which is to say, it's not as perverse as it sounds. Or maybe it is, but it's also rather good. Bear with me.
Yes, like Ben, it's fairly obsessed with the female form - but also both the film and its protagonist manage to carry off their obsession as (at least partially) artistic. And, fortunately, Ben is an interesting and likeable character, with his sexy daydreams and detached, artistic outlook helping to round out his basic 'struggling nice guy' template. Likewise the film balances its more artistic and, erm, pornographic impulses with thoughtful and nostalgic moments, a light but engaging story, decent (if somewhat slapstick) humour, a solid cast and excellent cinematography. The writer/director Sean Ellis has a history in photography and that really seems to come through in the way the film is shot, giving it a clean, clear and vivid look that's very appealing.
On the one hand Cashback is engaging, funny, thoughtful, artistic and romantic and on the other hand it features gorgeous, naked young women standing about in a supermarket. If you like the sound of one or other of these things, then you'll probably enjoy the film. If, like me, you're reasonably keen on both, then it's fantastic.
If you're easily offended by nudity though, do consider yourself warned :)
Turns out it's about an art student who develops insomnia after a bad break-up, who in order to kill time and pay the bills starts working nights at Sainsbury's instead of sleeping. Said supermarket is home to a number of somewhat wacky characters, who deal with the crushing boredom of working there in a variety of different ways. Ben, the aforementioned student, deals with it by imagining that he can stop time. Then, while time is stopped, he undresses women and draws or paints them naked.
Ok, stop. This is not the film I'm perhaps making it out to be. Which is to say, it's not as perverse as it sounds. Or maybe it is, but it's also rather good. Bear with me.
Yes, like Ben, it's fairly obsessed with the female form - but also both the film and its protagonist manage to carry off their obsession as (at least partially) artistic. And, fortunately, Ben is an interesting and likeable character, with his sexy daydreams and detached, artistic outlook helping to round out his basic 'struggling nice guy' template. Likewise the film balances its more artistic and, erm, pornographic impulses with thoughtful and nostalgic moments, a light but engaging story, decent (if somewhat slapstick) humour, a solid cast and excellent cinematography. The writer/director Sean Ellis has a history in photography and that really seems to come through in the way the film is shot, giving it a clean, clear and vivid look that's very appealing.
On the one hand Cashback is engaging, funny, thoughtful, artistic and romantic and on the other hand it features gorgeous, naked young women standing about in a supermarket. If you like the sound of one or other of these things, then you'll probably enjoy the film. If, like me, you're reasonably keen on both, then it's fantastic.
If you're easily offended by nudity though, do consider yourself warned :)