HipBeat Review

HipBeat is a 2020 feature film written and directed by Samuel Kay Forrest.

A deep reflection on discovering your true self in the world that doesn’t always find a sense of direction. HipBeat has a lot of interesting visual flair but doesn’t always meet the mark.

There is a lot taken from the filmography of Wong Kar Wai in this film. Most easily and notably being the use of slow shutter speed, creating a ghosting effect in the images. There is also a heavy use of wide-angle lenses as well. When done well, the film can create a sense of visual space that is both interesting in dynamic.

Where things miss a bit, though, is in the way the narrative plods along from one stream of thoughts to the next. It rings a bit hollow and aimless at times, making for a viewing experience than in several cases just feels like it is filling in time.

Not that the points made or brought up are bad, they are actually all quite modern, giving conversation that topics that can not be raised enough. It is simply in the lack of nuance or subtlety that makes everything drag on a bit from point to point.

Overall, too the acting feels a bit stiff, especially in moments where conflict arises. The bedroom apartment scene between Angus and Angie, for example, is of particular note for feeling much too stiff and improvised to truly provide any strong emotionality to the film. Not to say improvisation can’t achieve this, simply that in this scene it helps nothing along at all.

The film is at its strongest points where it is finding unique visuals and experimenting with angles for the viewer to take in. When these parts slow down with constant narration and character to character verbal exchanges, it just feels ultimately weaker.

HipBeat has a lot of merit to the points and awareness it is trying to bring to the table. The acting capabilities overall definitely keep it back from reaching a higher tier overall, but the messaging of acceptance and self-discovery are valiant ones.

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Cheers!

Daniel Hess

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