Good start, but then it gets ruined

As Good As It Gets

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

A surprise. or a collection of surprises. that is all. reference to Little Prince. the amazing texture of hair of Victor. admirable animation. and the inspired music. the seductive absurde. the colors reminding teenager party. and the right Frank. from existential dillema to a form created for surprise it. a salesman so seductive. and vulnerable. a misterius operation. and the answers. in the next episode. short, wow !

I'm not a film student, a film art fanatic or an expert in these things. I'm just an everyday Joe watching a video. I don't care who the director is (unless he does a very good job on the video), what his past is, how experimental something is supposed to be. When I watch a film I look for good directing, good plot, and a purpose. Film for art-sake leaves me cold. Life is too short to watch pointless videos.I'm no prude... but it's getting pretty sad when they can't make an animation without dropping the F-bomb. The animation on this is acceptable-- and even exceptional when they do a close-up on Frank's face. Other than that not much to see here. There's no indication up front this is a series, so the ending winds up being a no-plot nonsensical letdown. The entire video consists of primarily two scenes: a field of sheep and a laundromat (well a third scene, but spoilers).While the premise is semi-interesting, the fact that they never really take it anywhere or explain anything quickly dissolves any expectations one may have in this. The high point of the video quickly turns (literally) into something that makes no sense. It's not funny, it's not impressive, it's not moving. It just is.I appreciate "outside the box" as much as anyone and have enjoyed many cerebral, difficult-to-grasp animations, scifi and fantasy films. But there's nothing to see here. Move along, move along.

These 12 minutes are the newest release from the successful Dutch production company Blender Foundation. Back in 2012, they stepped into the new area of live action movies, but with "Cosmos Laundromat", they are back to animation. Unfortunately, it is not really a successful return. I do not think that this is on par with "Big Buck Bunny" or even the outstanding "Sintel". Certainly disappointing as director Mathieu Auvray and writer Esther Wouda are both fairly experienced filmmakers and the inclusion of the pretty well-known actor Pierre Bokma to voice the main character is an interesting one as well. But all this is not enough, if the story is just not as interesting, smart and emotional enough. From the technical perspective, Blender delivers as usual. Nothing wrong with the visual side of the film at all. Still, my overall verdict is: Not recommended and if they really make a sequel as it is implied at the end, I am not sure if I have an interest in watching it.

The animation and style in this is phenomenal! A very promising start that utilizes an attention to detail, and texture, particularly with Frank, such as the individual hairs on this sheep's face and his wild wool, and in particular his eyes, which were well rendered in this great close up moment as he contemplates Victor's words. The colour in this pops at you in both setting of mood and a sense of the saturated trippy fantastical when Frank's ride arrives. Everything about this is a visual treat that keeps the eye riveted; you can tell the animators put a great deal of effort into this.The sound in this was very well done. The music by Sebastien Krause was perfect; adding an extra touch of wow to the moment when the vortex descends and chases after Frank, with the backup of Frank's fellow sheep in chorus was a nice touch.The premise of the story is intriguing, using a rather unique character, and the set up for what is to follow does well to incite interest, neatly starting Frank onto his journey and providing a good cliffhanger segway for the next instalment. The only problem I can see is that the sheep somehow inexplicably knew that the device would take him somewhere, but it never readily explained how the sheep knew that what Victor offered him would do anything at all and that he wasn't just some crazy person tying something to this neck. The dialogue between Frank and Victor could have been a bit more filled out. Otherwise, it doesn't overly take away from the enjoyment of it, and will perhaps be better handled in the next instalments.The individual characters introduced so far are good, Victor comes across with just the right amount of intrigue, presented in a manner that explains what he is without outright stating it while his motivations appear to be yet to be realized. Frank being a suicidal sheep of all things combines a sense of depressive comic tragedy about him. Right off he is presented as a creature that struggles, and boy howdy does he! When he drags that broken branch he had tried to hang himself on, you practically feel this guy's determined effort as he pulls that heavy thing across the island to the cliffs, panting and struggling with everything in him. You just want to know what this guy's deal with wanting to die is, and hopefully one of the other contributors this project will take the time to flesh out Frank's motivation.Overall this is an animation to look forward to with each progression, where it goes and how the other contributors will add to this wonderful project.By https://screensquinty.wordpress.com/