One of the most important things that go into making any sort of movie is the cinematography. Hiring the right director of photography is key, and for the most part, Benjamin Dennis does a decent job in these shoes, especially for a low-budget independent feature. He sets up the camera in some clever ways, though there were some instances in which the camera tended to shake quite a bit. This is most noticeable while a character was talking. But overall, it was impressive work.
Something that could be improved upon was the lighting. Often times the actors’ faces are hard to see, as they are lit poorly with weak sources. This is a fairly easy fix, though, and I hope to see this improved in Castrillo’s next feature. It may seem like a small problem, but lighting is a crucial aspect of any film.
“…feels disjointed…could have used another draft… but it is certainly well-presented for the most part.”
Aside from the plot, the other notable thing in The Pining is its character development. We get to learn more about most of the characters as the story progresses, although some do get sidelined like the Alison, as mentioned earlier. Joe and Grace are the two that get the most development, and they were handled really well. Plus, this movie’s third act is one that was surprisingly strong and grounded. All that being said, there were a lot of problems that I couldn’t help but notice, but I can tell that Castrillo and the crew really tried with this picture, and they made a commendable effort.
The Pining often feels disjointed with its jarring pacing and scenes that feel needlessly inserted. To be frank, it definitely could have used another draft. The movie suffers from somewhat stiff acting too, but it is certainly well-presented for the most part.
"…a commendable effort."
