Us Against Them Review
Us Against Them is a 2021 short film directed by Ronnel Ricardo Parham and written by Troy Parham and Ronnel Ricardo Parham.
A short film that takes a dissecting look at the state of affairs in the modern world with the police force in America Us Against Them takes its time to show both sides of the wider issues at play.
If there is one overarching problem with the film, it is the repetitive cycle that it falls into throughout. Showing the viewer tidbits of the work and personal life of officer Taft as he navigates both areas start off very strong but slowly stalls out with no clear stakes being raised.
There almost needed to be a break in these set-ups to ratchet up the tension. Everyone in the film feels almost like a passive observer to the wider events going on in the world. Having a character have a serious run in with a criminal or a different cop might have added some extra context to provide deeper empathy for the characters overall.
The acting on display from Troy Parham, Ronnel Ricardo Parham, Trevor Parham, and Andrew L. Gardner are all strong, even if some of the dialogue feels a bit too on the nose.
The visuals of the film are gorgeous with cinematographer Trevor Peckham working in a subdued style that provides a perfect naturalism to each scene. The music in the film is also another strong suit throughout as well.
This is a film that is touching on a hot button issue in the world today. We must commend Parham and team for offering a take that identifies with both sides of the spectrum, allowing us to see where unity is truly necessary now more than ever. While not a flawless look into these themes of police brutality, it is still one that is very needed.
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Cheers!
Daniel Hess
Film Festival and Award Highlights:
Best Poster – Europe Film Festival
Best Short Film – Europe Film Festival
Finalist Best Short Film – Continental Film Awards January 2021
Apex Film Awards Official Selection
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