When the writer and director stand up and say they sold their house in order to make the film you are about to watch there is a big part of you hoping that it is good. And they - Antony Neely and Sloane U'Ren - did just that ahead of the cast and crew screening of their film Dimensions yesterday at the BFI.
It is a romantic sci-fi set in 1920s/1930s Cambridge about a boy, Stephen, who after an encounter with a professor becomes interested in time travel. A tragic incident results in Stephen growing up obsessed with going back in time.
And there is much to be admired in Neely and U'Ren's endeavour. Both have a lot of experience in film and television, Neely in composing and U'Ren as an art director and it is these areas that really shine in Dimensions. It is beautiful both in its settings, costumes and how it is shot. Neely isn't listed as the composer but the music is certainly atmospheric.
It's weakness is, however, its script. The dialogue feels awkward and cliched. While the plot's premise is an interesting one there are a some scenes which seem forced in order to contrive the plot and there are also some plot holes.
There are some good performances from the younger cast and Henry Lloyd Hughes does a reasonable job as the grown up Stephen but there are also some stiff performances and often the extras in background look staged.
Parts of the film feels like they lack confidence while others feel experienced and accomplished.
Dimensions was certainly a brave venture for a first movie and I'm not sure Neely and U'Ren pulled it off which is a real shame because I so much wanted to like it.
You can find the Dimensions trailer here and below is a slide show of production shots.
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