Short Cinema: John Wants a Cigarette

Not every story needs to be a long winded epic of dramatic twists and turns, nor even a deep dive into the complexities of profound or existential topics. Sometimes all a story needs to be is a single, simple idea expressed so divinely that it sticks to the mind like a catchy tune, slashes the heart like a bitter word, or warms the soul like a tight embrace. This is the gift Writer-Director Rajvir Singh of Day Drinkin Club gives us with his endearing short film, John wants a cigarette.

John wants a cigarette is a short film about John Price (Stuart Bassett), a humble, low level employee that craves one simple thing throughout his day, the chance to smoke a cigarette. In fact, it’s such a severe craving that throughout his entire seemingly mundane existence, it appears to be the only aspect of his life that he really looks forward to or finds any beauty in. However, the film makes a point not to drive this home with typical outbursts of anger or tingles of impatience, but rather elegant daydreams during John’s quiet moments.

Now admittedly, after my first watch, I found the film jumbled, a little dull, and needlessly erratic with its edits, resulting in a feeling of confusion more than anything. But then I watched it again, paying closer attention to the narrative rather than waiting for the film to explain itself to me. It was then I found a much more beautiful or perhaps melancholy story (depending on how you look at it) about John’s somewhat romantic relationship with his vice. And true enough, some of my original irks with the film still came up, like a few head scratcher moments included in some of the montage sequences. But these are minor gripes at best.

John wants a cigarette is not a film intent on dazzling you like many of today's showboaty blockbusters, overly quirky indies, or any shorts attempting to emulate the like. Instead it gives you a flash of an aspect within an instant of someone's life that (if considered enough) may just get its viewers to think about their own vices and how they relate to them. I know I certainly did. But even if you find yourself a little lost after a first watch, watch it again. It’ll be a well spent eight and half minutes. I promise.

Link: (John wants a cigarette) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3o3NbX-77E

Comments

Never in Theaters; Never at Home; But Perhaps on a Plane? - Breathe 2024

Uninspiring in its appearance. Barely interesting in its premise. Floundering in its conviction. When it comes down to it, 2024’s Breath seems to aim at being nothing more than a passage of time in no measure of impressive or insulting manner, unless you consider the time lost in watching it an insult in of itself. So then what, pray tell, is such a movie good for? What worth does it offer in any real way? Because as a theatrical experience, I’d be an utter disappointment. From the comfort of one’s couch, it may not even be worth having on in the background. But what about as an inflight showing? Do the conditions of coach class crammed seats become numbed with its viewing? Does it in any way pacify the many other pains and annoyances of laboring high altitude travel? If so, it may be the only suitable way to enjoy such a flick. So does it do the trick? Let’s get into it. This supposed sci-fi thriller Breath weaves a fairly straight forward tale of single mom-scientist, Maya ( ...

An Eye-Catching Cacophony of Cardboard Craft - Dave Made a Maze

Meaning … A kingdom of cardboard I craft and mold with my own two hands. Art … both beauty and destruction, if left untempered in expression. In a world masooned by the ceaseless assault of cinematic cgi, Bill Watterson’s “Dave Made a Maze” breaks the mold with a stunning practical production feat, the likes the modern world has seldom seen. But do all other elements hold up as well as the hand-crafted kingdom put before us? Or does the film whimper and mold like an old cardboard crate left out in the rain? Let’s get into it. Dave Made a Maze centers on the titular floundering artist, Dave ( Nick Thune ), who struggles to complete any project he begins. However, amidst coping with the dwindling good will of his parents and girlfriend, Dave has a stroke of creation and envelopes himself in the construction of a box fort maze in his apartment living room. But problems arise when his girlfriend, Annie ( Meera Rohit Kumbhani ), returns home to find him trapped w...

The Princess Bride (1987)

My name is Levito Mock-toya. I’ve watched this movie. Now prepare to listen … to me talk about it. A tale of swashbuckling antics, a sweeping romance, and long sought revenge. 1987’s The Princess Bride, adapted from the novel of the same name, is a fantasy adventure cult classic comedy like no other. One that since its release has captured the hearts and minds of many movie goers. But all these years later, in the prime year of 2026, does the late, great Rob Reiner’s fantasy epic hold up? With a star studded cast consisting of Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane bolstering such a seemingly timeless, heartfelt, and heroic tale, it’s hard to imagine that it doesn’t. But in this golden age, or perhaps just thoroughly saturated time of fantasy-spectacle cinema, can The Princess Bride even begin to compare or dare to keep relevance on any level? I suppose that’s a...

Low Budget Movie Buff: Movie Reviews

Search This Blog