This Modern Man Is Beat (2015) User Reviews

Engrossing Visual Odyssey: A Critique of 'This Modern Man Is Beat'

[mohammadalirahman · 8/10 · 5 April 2024]

"Exploring contemporary manhood and profound existential doubts, 'This Modern Man Is Beat' offers a gripping story. Its starkly minimalist style coupled with evocative filmmaking fashion an eerie environment for the main character's reflective quest. Characters navigate their identities, feelings of isolation, and outside pressures in a highly realistic manner. Guided by Director Alex Merkin's command, it weaves together insightful narratives that linger long after viewing end credits roll up on screen.

In its short duration run-time spans out enough to allow viewers space to delve into themes around our existence and self-awareness journey."

This Modern Man is beat.

[mattmullin-89948 · 8/10 · 22 September 2023]

This 17-minute short film delves into the complex emotional journey of Habib, a man grappling with depression stemming from his tumultuous relationship with his wife, a relationship that raises questions about his underlying motivations. The film impressively demonstrates high production value, effectively harnessing suspense to engage viewers in a manner that truly encapsulates the essence of a short film's brevity. Furthermore, the performances by the actors are exceptional, vividly conveying powerful emotions and intensifying the suspense surrounding the unfolding narrative. As a result, this film undeniably leaves me eager to delve deeper into its intricacies and discover more about its compelling storyline.

Creatively Thoughtful / Denise Espioza

[edithespinoza · 8/10 · 1 December 2023]

This Short film was written for the curious. Following Habib a man we know nothing about besides he's dirt broke and holds strong emotions that can only be explained by the mere insight we as the viewer have into his mind. Using Sound, Lights and, imaging to hint at what could be happening. Leaving us the watcher thinking "But why". Left my mind especially wondering is it mental lllness, stress, or maybe even anger. Not just the unknown of his own purpose and emotions but, the facts that we do know and his purpose as an ethnic man in white America. Sprinkling just a glimpse of what subtle racism looks like and the disbelief of not being able to do anything but maybe, just maybe educate the ignorant. In such a perfect way of not making it obvious that is obnoxious but so it's perfectly sweet like a soft marshmallow. Light and soft in your mouth but thick as it goes through your body. After realizing what it all means ripping a heavy set in your heart and mind.

Awesome Short Film

[alxandrasantana · 10/10 · 22 July 2023]

The greatness of this film lies more in what is intimated than in what is presented. On the surface, the plot of the movie seems relatively simple: a man goes to a pawn shop to sell his guitar. However, the backstory that is only alluded to and not even seen is incredible. I've never seen a movie use negative space so effectively. The narrative is presented in little fragments, leaving the remaining details to your imagination. It began by striking the person with the appropriate emotions. How effectively the primary character was able to convey each feeling. He conveys his sorrow over his wife's memories in a way that also conveys his feeling that there is a slim chance that things will return to the way they were. The small amount of joy he experienced upon learning that he was able to sell his guitar for a little bit more money. He started to feel the weight of what had transpired, the desperation he had experienced upon realizing the police were going to arrest him.

Great suspenseful film

[kevingomez-99964 · 10/10 · 7 December 2022]

This Modern Man Is Beat, a phenomenal short film with a very good unexpected turn of events. It had stunningly beautiful and colorful scenes. The film kept me tense the whole way through. Wondering what had gotten Habib in such a depressed mood. The small hints and details throughout specific scenes not giving you the whole picture but slowly leading you to to make your own assumption of the situation. The mains characters quick development of emotions towards the end was very well curated, it had really left you with a lot to think about. I would love to watch it again and recommend this film to everyone.

Great watch

[lauren-95298 · 7/10 · 29 November 2023]

The short film "This modern man is beat" is a riveting short film produced and written by David Schroeder. From the amazing actors, to the intense cinematography, and engrossing music, this film keeps you entertained throughout the whole film. The story of a man trying to navigate himself in todays discriminatory society. The film shows a mans experiences while dealing with his personal relationships, such as that with his wife, and evaluating his personal life decisions. We watch as this foreign mans love for America is put to the test when it feels as though America may be against him. It is a feeling many can relate to and therefore creating a very touching story.

Guilt In This Modern Man Is Beat

[douglasperlajose · 5/10 · 30 October 2023]

"This Modern Man Is Beat" tells the story of a troubled, guilt ridden man. It is a simple yet compelling story, though it may feel cliche, its storytelling is done wonderfully so, to the point where it does not feel as just a simple retelling of an exhausted cliche. The story revolves entirely around the protagonist, and for such a short film, it makes sense. All the elements of the story are very well done and introduced, it wraps everything up nicely. I personally really enjoyed how the character's (Habib) guilt plays a huge role in the film, as it's arguably the reason the film even happens to begin with. He murders his wife, which admittedly, was more predictable than rain in a desert, but the way it affects him, feels incredibly human. He's not some psycho mastermind, just a man, and as all men do, he has flaws and a conscience, and morals, and all those elements which makes us human. Naturally, the murder was an accident, and he goes on to cope by basically living in denial, which is very well portrayed up to the point where it boils up, eating him alive, and he confesses his sin to a store clerk. Very nice film, and for like 15 minutes of actual storytelling, it's worth the watch.

One of the best short films

[mpaula-19965 · 9/10 · 29 November 2023]

I thought it was an excellent short film, the way the scenes, images and people were presented was super entertaining. It is a short film that hooks people. I liked the different points they touched on and how the actors managed to convey very real sensations behind the screen. The locations were so well chosen that they managed to give greater visualization to the scenes, and everything complemented each other perfectly. I highly recommend this short film, it is very diverse and touches on important topics that would be very interesting for everyone to seeSans plus rien dire, j'espère que vous l'apprécierez autant que moi, c'est très intéressant.

Intriguing, but room for improvement + expansion

[vdavis-21162 · 6/10 · 16 February 2024]

This Modern Man is Beat is a dramatic short film featuring professional cinematography and visuals. The narrative was intriguing, with a shocking plot twist at the end. I did anticipate the plot twist correctly within the first few minutes of the film, but was satisfied with the narrative, nonetheless. I do feel as if some of the dialogue and pauses between scenes were a tad awkward or artificial - the main character, Habib bin Habin al Fulan, often spoke too little or too long. Upon exiting the motel in the first half of the movie, the camerawork showed several angles to view Habib and his surroundings with, including a dog laying on the other side of the road. The lengthy shots suggested something significant or dramatic would occur, perhaps with the dog or the area Habib was in, but nothing of note happened besides the transition to the next location. The story itself was compelling, though it lacked the backstory that I felt was necessary to truly appreciate the film. Overall, I would rate this as a quality film with a lot of room for an expanded story. Much potential for a longer, more intricate adaptation.

Thought-Provoking Film

[valdezrignak · 4/10 · 10 April 2024]

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: "This Modern Man Is Beat" is a captivating exploration of identity and cultural assimilation. The film follows the journey of a Muslim man navigating the unfamiliar terrain of beatnik culture. Through beautifully crafted scenes and genuine performances, it delves into the complexities of personal and cultural identity. While some parts of the narrative may feel disjointed, the overarching themes of belonging and authenticity resonate deeply. The cinematography adds depth to the storytelling, capturing the clash between tradition and modernity with striking visuals. Overall, "This Modern Man Is Beat" offers an engaging and thought-provoking cinematic experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

"This Modern Man Is Beat" is an award winning film for a good reason!

[rbscwspdq · 10/10 · 22 September 2023]

I absolutely loved this film. At first, I was confused and didn't understand what was going on as the introduction did not give us any background information. I had a lot of questions toward the beginning and middle of the film. Once I began to reach the end of the film. I started to get answers to my questions and thats when the entire film began to make sense. I found it off that the main character was telling the pawn show owner all his personal troubles pertaining him and his wife, but when he confessed the events that had occurred the previous night, I realized that the main character was feeling guilty and needed to tell someone what he did, even if he chose to be in denial about what he did to his wife.

It's a Solid Shortfilm

[ul3vm · 6/10 · 10 February 2024]

I can see a lot of thought and effort went into creating this film. All the actors did great. It has some nice cinematic shots, my favorite one actually being used as the cover. At the same time, the dialogue is telling not showing. One example is the long drawn-out scene of his wife being still on the bed while Habib talks to himself. It has an abrupt tone shift from "Can you say something? Are you going to stay in bed all day?" to "You don't believe me but it's okay cause I was lying." It feels drastic because nothing happened in those 30 seconds. Unprompted, Habib overly narrates to the audience and both men at the pawn shop. His background and ethnicity give depth to the character but within the film itself, it's awkwardly stated and adds nothing. The events between Habib and his wife would be more impactful to the audience if you cut to flashbacks to hear and see what happened in real-time instead of Habib retelling it.

"An impression of poetry in motion for all generations"

[cloydinmedina · 5/10 · 9 December 2020]

This is great short film created by an amazing effort of a small talented group of professional actors and great developing crew back in 2015. The hypnotic film under 17 minutes long will have you on the edge of your seat. The film is full sounds and profound music, with every eye-catching color and romantic scenes completely sequestrated all the senses. it is easy to get lost into the storyline and get your mind blown away with the tragic emotional twist. Astonishing performance; The holistic story of a man broken man living in a world divided by cultural differences and confusion. Habib bin Habib al Fulan, (Jordi Villasuso) the submissive loving and dedicated husband whose sole purpose in his life was to cherish his wife (Sheena Colette). Fierce warrior cast from the Americas the antagonist of the story. The great dark secret that Habib and his wife share while sharing his state of denial. Turmoil and the struggle to reach out beyond the heartbreak and enormous grief in his heart. All that Habib could hope for was an attempt to reconcile his demons and return with his beloved wife. Longing to share one more moment with his beloved one. Habib attempting to pawns his guitar for fist-full of dollars, with the endeavor of a fresh start. The money would catapult new hopes and dreams for the young couple, together again. This is a great film that must be watch over and over, new twist along this great performance of splendid actors and the amazing direction of Prof. David Schroeder. The unique style of cinematography can only be contemplated as masterpiece amongst many. Congratulation to the Team for executing this fantastic film and creating this powerful impression of poetry in motion for all generations.

Very entertaining

[iamjrawls · 10/10 · 21 September 2023]

"This Modern Man Is Beat" is an entertaining short film with beautiful cinematography and a well put together storyline. With the film only being 17 minutes it does a good job of getting the viewer emotionally invested in the main character Habib. He goes through many ups and downs throughout the story and I was rooting for him to make a comeback and overcome his hardships. I also enjoyed the attention to details that the creators of this film added in. There were some subtle clues that I caught on to my second time of watching the film which do an amazing job of connecting the dots of the plot. I hope that there will be a sequel providing more details about Habib's wife as well as what happens to Habib after the end of the film.

A Compelling and Engaging Thriller

[jocelyndiggs · 10/10 · 20 November 2023]

"This Modern Man Is Beat" is a captivating short film that follows the challenges and inner life of main character Habib bin Habib al Fulan as he faces poverty, a violent relationship, and battles with his own inner demons and impuleses. Though it starts out slow-paced , the film does a great job of building tension in a slow burn, keeping you on the the of your seat as information is revealed through the eyes of Habib, until the plot gives way to an enthralling twist that will keep this short film on your mind long after you have finished watching. An emotional rollercoaster, the tragic life of Habib will leave a lasting impact on viewers. I highly recommend this film for its engaging story.

Review and Critique

[diegocano-71840 · 5/10 · 5 April 2024]

This movie doesn't do much to steer far from your run of the mill thriller,. It has solid ideas presented and for the most part is actually well paced. For being a short film however, it could've honestly used some its time building on its characters, particularly the protagonist and/or his wife. I think if either of those characters had given me more material to care about them, all of the plots twists and structures could've landed harder. The short film excels with its acting and cinematography and those aspects I feel are the film's greatest strengths. The symbolisms in its cinematic style are also nice in its subtlety. Though the montages and muted dialogue scenes in the flashbacks I believe can be a weakness. I understand showing and not telling but sometimes these interactions can work better to serve its characters instead of appearing only as glimpses. However, for where the scenes are placed it contrasts well to the idealized daydreams he reaches for in denial. So far that lack of development and how predictable some of the story beats are, are what happen to make the film ordinary. I feel the film at best is a decent viewing if there is nothing else to watch; this film probably would work a lot better if it was a feature. With how short this film is though it should've focused on making its characters more interesting, the background info on Habib could've gone somewhere but it ultimately was just exposition. One thing that I strongly feel the film in its current state suffers from and can do without is Habib's depiction as a half Palestinian man, I can get behind him being El Salvadoran to bring a job opportunity but it does nothing for his character being an Arab. I bring this up because in a post 9/11 world, this portrayal of Arab people in villainous/violent roles is just a reflection of how wrongly perceived they are in real life. It may have not been the films' intentions but this aspect serves to reinforce western fears of "the untrustworthy middle eastern man" stereotype. If the film wanted to center around him being foreign, it can do that, but here it just feels like throw away information and feels poorly handled.

Great film

[lizmorillo-84574 · 8/10 · 17 February 2024]

This Modern Man is Beat is a very interesting film that uses ambiguity to keep the viewer guessing and involved. The splicing of moments from the past and present tell the story of Habib and his relationship with his girlfriend, going from very loving moments to more violent ones. This storytelling strategy works to intrigue the viewer and make them wonder what will happen next. As the story begins somewhat in the center of the events, there is no way of understanding the full picture until it has played out in its entirety, and when it does, the payoff is immense. The cinematography during the flashbacks of Habib and his girlfriend are beautifully shot and reflect the love the have for each other. Overall, this is a very well made film that lingers in your mind after viewing.

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

[andyjoser · 10/10 · 20 November 2023]

"This Modern Man is Beat" is a spot on title for this short film. Habib, the main character, seems to be a great example of a "modern man" he is hardworking and selfless, and he for sure seems to be beat he is tired and physically hurt as shown on the first few scenes yet he is still walking around looking to make some money for himself, and his wife. He is selling his guitar which he values very much maybe due to his Palestinian/Salvadorian heritage. The cinematography in the film is also beautiful, the flashbacks he has of him and his wife when they were happy, the colors are vibrant and they're embracing each other there is almost an aura of love around them, and then in contrast the flashbacks when they were both fighting and arguing the colors seemed to dull out, they're distant. The music was also really moving, it waved the viewers emotions. The lead up to the twist at the end was well done, it was unexpected but watching it back there were subtle clues to it. It leaves you wanting more, you're left wondering what lead up to that ? Were there more issues going on that made Habib snap ? I truly hope there is a longer film made sometime in the future.

A must watch!

[nayeleenunez · 10/10 · 4 April 2024]

This modern Man Is Beat is one of the greatest short film that I have watched, first-rate. I am extremely picky when it comes to watching movies but this short film was very powerful. The overall idea/message of this film is what people in the real world might encounter with themselves and/or with their partners.

It was a well written film and the characters played their parts to perfection. I watched this film 3x and each time I realized something new which had me trying to put all the pieces together. The Modern Man Is Beat is so intriguing that it will have you locked in. There is also a lot of different emotions which makes it sentimental I really enjoyed watching The Modern Man Is beat.

The Ending is Jaw Dropping!

[allaboutmimiiii · 10/10 · 10 November 2023]

This short film kept me on the edge of my seat, and Habibs story caught my attention wanting more!. The film created a suspenseful atmosphere that will leave you wanting to know the story behind Habib and his wife.. It's a testament to the filmmakers' ability to create a gripping story that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level. The ending of this film really has you thinking if Habib did something to his wife.. For anyone with an appreciation for nuanced storytelling and a desire to be taken on a thought-provoking journey, this film is an absolute must-watch. Overall, a captivating experience that left a lasting impression.

Highly recommended!!!

REAL LIFE

[andygoestofsu · 10/10 · 5 April 2024]

This Modern Man Is Beat, a beautiful short story about a man on the verge of losing everything. Men losing everything everything happens every day around us but is not talked about enough. I loved the colors used through out the film. Habib being of middle eastern descent makes it more relatable for me as well. I really enjoyed how it took us through this well paced journey for it to pick up very quickly towards the end I was not expecting that outcome. The struggle of men in modern times is not talked about enough and this short film does a very accurate job of showing you how it easily can become this way for certain people. I look forward to watching it and depicting more detaisl on it later...

Shocking turn of events

[yaelispena · 9/10 · 16 February 2024]

"The Modern Man is Beat" explores the depths of relationship breakup and despair in the wake of 9/11. In the face of financial hardship and marital problems, Alex Merkin portrays Habib's effort to sell his guitar in a way that is both realistic and moving. The film masterfully depicts how Habib's emotions and trust are destroyed when he faces reality. Merkin skillfully negotiates the difficulties of love, sorrow, and self-realization via exquisitely rendered images and an engrossing story, ending in a shocking turn of events that has a profound effect. The profound insights this short film offers regarding the human condition and the pursuit of redemption transcend its little length.

Surprising!

[naylaa-45217 · 10/10 · 27 November 2023]

The short film "This Modern Man is Beat" is an amazing suspenseful film. The film is based on the main character that is going through a struggle and it unfolds it so wonderfully. I love the cinematography it was beautifully made. I recommend watching this short film the way it was leaving me anxious as to what would be the turn out. This short film isn't like others because you know what's going to happen but this one had a surprising ending that caught me off guard and left me wanting more. The producers did an amazing job with being creative and finding the right actors. This short film deserves more hype and would love it to become a movie because i would watch it.

A cinematic Odyssey Into a existential Turmoil

[devanteeverett · 9/10 · 2 December 2023]

"This Modern Man is beat" goes into offering a thought-provoking explorations of existential themes and the human condition. This films minimalist approach and strong performances create that atmosphere that lingers on inviting the viewer on reflecting on identity, pursuit of meaning, and society. While it may not be for everyone due to its unconventional narrative but for those who appreciate contemplative cinema can find it to be a captivating and intellectual stimulating experience. This can also be a must watch for those seeking a thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche with also being a film that can invite the audience to ponder on life's profound questions.

This Modern Man Is Beat Review

[milalascano · 10/10 · 23 September 2023]

Although it is only a short film, this film told a story unlike what I've seen on average lately. There are many moments where you can't look away, but also moments when you want to, which all in all make for a really good watch. I think the way the story is portrayed gives us an inside look into the main character and go through the motions alongside these characters. I think another great thing about it was the direction and the scenery of the film, it gave it a different look and added to its feel. I also think that for a mystery it perfectly captivates that exhilarating feeling of guessing what could possibly happen next.