Thanks for the memories!

Such a frustrating disappointment

i must have seen a different film!!

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

After being knocked to the ground by her brother who also vandalised her doll and shot her with his toy gun, a little girl develops some special powers which she then uses to get revenge against her annoying sibling. Bedhead is a little short Robert Rodriguez directed before he made his break through movie, the impressive lo-fi action movie El Mariachi (1992). This one was very much a family affair with Rodriguez siblings playing the parts. His sister Rebecca plays the main role and gives a thoroughly charming performance. Shot in black and white, with no synchronised sound and only clocking in at 8mins, this is very lo-fi stuff. It is essentially an unpretentious kid's movie, with a story which is playful and silly. But Rodriguez uses his limitations well to experiment with inventive camera-work and editing techniques, while incorporating a sense of humour throughout. Like most films of this very short time-frame, it is limited. But it is kind of a sweet natured and fun watch all the same.

You might get the sense of Robert Rodriguez, if his college short film is the first time you're being exposed to his work, that he could be a near protégé of Sam Raimi. But if you've seen Bedhead after already seeing the bulk of his work (The Misbehavers, Mariachi films, at least one Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn, even Sin City), you can tell a style already in camera and sense of humor being defined. The edge and crazy verve of comic-books get worked into almost all of Bedhead, a movie about kids that would have appeal for anyone who can find a smile for the endlessly tongue-in-cheek. Like the other short, Misbehavers, Rodriguez is totally in tune with the vendettas and plots waged between siblings, only here it's done in a fashion that's faster, more wicked, and with almost a morale that could land it on Nickelodeon. There's also the outrageous to it, of course, but cranked to the demented once or twice, which lends it a more unique quality than other kid's short films. It's like something a kid might think up when bored in a class. That it's done with seemingly so little is also remarkable. I liked also how it was kept at a kind of innocent level, too, of kids being only so rotten towards each other, as kids can get. It's even sweet in it's crazy way, as Rodriguez's camera keeps getting strange angles and even stranger, more contorted angles and zooms and pans and even animation in the mix. The kids- Rodriguez's own family- are pretty good at being these exaggerated characters because there's a grounding to it that can be seen at the start and finish of the film. It's brief, to the point, and packs a neat little punch; one of the better student shorts I've maybe ever seen.

The people most likely to be interested in watching this short film would be fans of Robert Rodriguez and thus would watch it looking for Rodriguez-style independent film-making. For those people, they'll get everything they want... fast-paced action, fast-paced camera movement, fun and funny storytelling, and a general sense of know-how often unseen in first-time shorts (and of course that's because it's not really a first-time short... see "Rebel without a Crew").Those who happen to stumble across this film, though, won't have to be well versed in Rodriguez's style (and also, Rodriguez's style isn't a style that is that difficult to be well-versed in). It's still fun and fast-paced and funny. So there you go.It's available on the El Mariachi DVD if anyone's interested in seeing it.--PolarisDiB

This movie can also be found on the Special Edition DVD of El Mariachi, along with his 10 Minute Film School on how he made El Mariachi on a budget of $7,000 (USD). Good, fun, silly movie that shows the early genius of Robert Rodriguez. Rather frenetic at times, it represents a prime example of what has become "stereotypical" camera work by Robert Rodriguez. Using his brothers and sisters in the cast, it's perfect for those who have always dreamed of revenge on our siblings for whatever "crime" they committed against us or our toys, and for all those little idiosyncrasies our siblings have that drive us crazy. Don't take it too seriously and have fun with it. Whether a fan of Rodriguez' work or as an instructor in film technique, this movie is worth watching.