Red, White and Blue (2023) User Reviews

Powerful Film

[gpeevers · 8/10 · 29 February 2024]

The film starts well with an all too familiar story of how access to abortion in the U. S. is so much difficult for the underprivileged.

When the story seemed to be about an abortion for the mother the film was solid enough - but when the bombshell drops it is immensely more powerful and instantly caused me to recall and re-evaluate several of the previous scenes.

The acting, writing and production values are quite good - and this is a impressive directorial debut for Nazrin Choudhury who was also the writer and one of the producers.

Sadly this probably won't change too many minds about these issues - but I hope it will.

One of my two favorites for the Live Action Short Oscar.

Effective

[isaacsundaralingam · 7/10 · 5 March 2024]

Abortion is a contested topic, so we're not talking about that. Because while Nazrin Choudhury's "Red White and Blue" is an abortion-centered movie, I enjoyed it mostly for its storytelling and effectiveness as a short film. It definitely does lean in on a few cliches, but it's not excessive enough to take away from the overall 'cinema' of the movie. It is a decently written, visually impressive and structurally sound short film with good acting to support, and no matter what your opinion is on the subject matter, the movie remains engaging and effective. One of the stronger short films of the year for sure.

Extremely well done short. You can guess where the negative reviews are coming from.

[Thundercats85 · 10/10 · 14 February 2024]

Honestly, it takes a lot to surprise me in film and television these days, and I was not expecting that emotional, heart wrenching twist. I have seen all of the live action Oscar nominated shorts this year, and my vote goes to Red, White and Blue for not only drawing attention to an important and divisive subject matter, but for also emotionally connecting you to characters that only occupy the screen for roughly 20 minutes.

I don't really want to add anything cynical about what other people are thinking or saying about this short, because we know why they're not rating it higher. It has nothing to do with the quality of the production and presentation, but everything to do with their own personal philosophies. Or they haven't even bothered to watch it at all (because it's not widely available at the moment) and just downvote because of the topic. Oh well, it doesn't change the fact that this is great short filmmaking. Makes you think, gets you emotionally invested, and has something important to say.

Congrats to the filmmakers on their nomination!

Simply an Amazing Viewing Experience

[solojere · 10/10 · 7 December 2023]

Red, White, and Blue is a powerful, emotional, and moving feature, even if it is just a short film. The film follows Rachel, a single mother of two who is just barely scraping by as a waitress. Rachel is forced to leave Arkansas, a state where abortion is illegal. Rachel must take a trip across multiple state lines with her daughter to see if she can even get the operation. This movie makes you think one thing is happening when really something else entirely is happening. Honestly, rewatching it is an entirely different experience. This movie takes a difficult and complex topic and presents it in a simple and straightforward way that makes you think. Brittany Snow is my all-time favorite actor for so many reasons, and this is just one more reason to love her. She simply kills it here. Even though it is short, it must be placed in one of her best performances. I love how she is able to illustrate so much emotion without even speaking. You really get the feeling that Rachel loves her kids and, at the same time, is in this place of huge emotional pain. I don't want to give anything away because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. But this was so amazing I would say it is a must-watch that will bring you close to tears. Trust me, take 25 minutes and watch it on YouTube for Brittany's performance alone.

Excellent film.

[naseemrakha · 10/10 · 5 March 2024]

A powerful and important look at what women face in states where lawmakers have stripped them of their reproductive autonomy. The film is a layered story, with unexpected reveals that brought home the reality faced by millions of women and girls, and it drives home the truth that lawmakers have no idea of the danger and disparity they have unleashed when they ban abortion as a reproductive option.

Some on this site have said Red, White and Blue is a cliche. And sadly, perhaps they are right. Maybe stripping women of their autonomy is so old hat that it has become a cliche. But, I ain't gonna buy that swag. Instead, I think the film presents a vital argument that it is the people who undermine women's rights who need to become cliches -- out dated and over used metaphors that need to be tossed for sake of women's lives and futures.

simply, great

[Kirpianuscus · 8 December 2023]

Simply, a pure great film . For admirable crafted story, for the performance of Brittany Snow, for children and carousel and, sure, for realism of situation.

But, more significant, for lovely- touching - precise portrait of motherhood.

A film about a fundamental decision, alternatives of it, sacrifice and a birthday.

The great scene - the counting of banknotes and coins. And the touching end.

More than a good film, a splendid poem. And an amazing pledge for virtues, force and fights of birth of sacrifice.

A film for reflection in real profound manner.

So, a special , in profound sense, short film.

Omg this movie sucks so bad

[derekixen · 1/10 · 4 March 2024]

I agree with the sentiment. Everyone should have access to abortions. Especially as a result of rape. But the movie makes the case that everyone DOES actually have access to abortions. Main character gets free money from a Good Samaritan. Gets priority at the hospital she goes to. Everything is easy for these characters. But that's not the point. Can we ask for some better acting, directing, and writing in these social justice films?

Let's start with the acting. Main character's first line is "We have food for free here" which she mumbles out, sounding more like "We afoofufeefo". I knew I was in for a treat. Her whole performance is very wooden, in a piece that sets itself up to be emotional and passionate. Very drab, hollow line readings on every actor's part.

The writing is about as believable as a Dhar Mann video (patron donates hundreds of dollars based on seeing a pregnancy test and a sad look on protag's face, daughter picks the elephant on the merry-go-round because "they're strong and look out for each other"), plus we get a seemingly endless montage of filling in gas, getting snacks and singing along to some gawd-awful generic pop song that overstays its welcome at the 15-second mark.

Apparently director Nazrin Choudhury wrote this script in "2-3 hours" after Roe v. Wade was overturned. And it shows.

The twist that it's the daughter who needs the abortion is well-played, though, I'll give her that.

It's a very passable student film. But not Oscar-worthy.

The Best 23 Min. Film - A must see for all

[jules613613 · 10/10 · 9 March 2024]

No spoilers, but I can say I am a bit shook after just watching that. In these times where women are losing rights to automomy and we are sliding back into the middle ages it is a must watch no matter what you think about abortion. Its really not about that. The power of this film is in what it does not say or force uon the viewer. Its power is in what is simply the incredible short but nuanced story telling. Brittany Snow is superior in her role and conveys perfectly the experiece of all women. Every woman watches this will find a moment to relate to as the story is told so very well. Again, it is not about the abortion issue, is is about so much more. Excellent film, I hope it gets the Oscar on Sunday, it deserves it!

Laughably Cliché

[camsettles · 1/10 · 25 February 2024]

Throw every poor person in rural America stereotype into a blender, hit start, and you'll get the setting for this film.

Single Mom working in a diner. ✅ Past due bills hanging on the fridge. ✅ Doing budgeting math by hand. ✅ Randomly stored cash for a rainy day. ✅ Driving a car from the '70s. ✅ Indiscernible southern-adjacent accent. ✅

Then throw in that it's about abortion and that's supposed to make it good. Well, apparently that worked for the Academy. But it's so abundantly clear that no serious research was put in by the filmmakers. I'm assuming the British writer-director has never actually been to rural America.

And the twist was so heavy-handed as to render it completely ineffective.

How this lost against the vapid uncanny valley cartoon that was Henry Sugar I will never know.

[aramintamd · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

These performances are too real for comfort. If only more people considered the very real consequences of restriction to women's health services, to stop listening to BS rhetoric and walk in Rachel's footsteps for even these short 25 minutes. If you didn't already know the harm the U. S. Supreme Court has done, Red, White and Blue should help you change your mind about why it's important to tell this story.

Particularly given the current legislation in States like Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama, denying women of all ages access to a safe and all too often absolutely necessary means to end a pregnancy, this short film should have taken the top prize at the Oscars.

When I was the age of Rachel's daughter, I suffered my first assault, at my cousins' house from a family "friend."

As a single parent, I could have been that mom.

Calling this a cliché, especially in light of these recent decisions shows the authors of those reviews have no idea what that's like, and I sure hope they never find out the devastating truth for themselves.

It's Almost As Though If a Film Is About Important Enough Issues Nothing Else Matters

[relyea-51507 · 3/10 · 18 February 2024]

Not to give anything topical away here, but even the substance may be a spoiler.

The movie begins with a low end waitress staring in disbelief at a pregnancy test as a patron looks on. We quickly learn that she is so broke that she has to have her children at work in an empty booth and can't afford $2 for a pancake breakfast. At home that night she plots the distance to the nearest place to get an abortion and tries over and over to make the finances work. The next day the patron asks how much she needs, because she could tell that she wasn't keeping the baby and we're off to the races.

And really, that is all the suspense build up in the movie. Despite the presumed attitudes about abortion, everyone is just as helpful as can be. It's as though everyone concerned thought that it was enough to show how difficult it can be to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy in this country then you don't have to bother making a movie. An example: during the "epic road trip", Brittany Snow can barely rest her eyes on the road, to the point where I was expecting a car crash.

So this is the spoiler part. There is no plot twist, gut-wrenching or otherwise. Instead we're provided with a big "gotcha" moment. The team says, in effect, you think you've been watching a movie about one thing, but in fact it is about something else, and it is only with the "gotcha" that you realize how silly the movie really is. You realize that, regardless of how good the performances are, one of the casting choices is so poor as to destroy the message, a la Ender's Game. Or at least severely weakening the impact.

There is definitely a story to be told here, even with the same plot details, but the producing, directing, and casting is lazy which destroys it. One can believe that these things happen in Arkansas, but you won't see it here.