Diminuendo (2018)

Diminuendo: Directed by Adrian Stewart. With Richard Hatch, Chloe Dykstra, John Champion, Xine Zanillo. A film director whose life crumbles after the suicide of his Hollywood starlet girlfriend becomes obsessed with a lifelike robot that appears to be her exact duplicate.

“I feel a film should take you on a journey. Diminuendo does precisely that. Even before we are given the full premise, it sets a mood which I was very much on board for. Subsequently, I found myself quite eager to see where this film was going to take me, as things developed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe primary cast is exceptional. Richard Hatch in particular. I must admit, I was a fan of his long before this. I feel it is one of his best performances. And as it was his last film, it is one he could be proud of. Granted, Iu0026#39;ve not often seen him in roles that provided this much opportunity to show his talent. Certainly not to this degree.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThereu0026#39;s a B plot which involves an unlikable character, which is. . .well, unlikable. I found the b plot pay off very amusing. It was also well placed, as it followed some rather weighty moments of quiet desperation with Hatchu0026#39;s character, Calvin. In fact, his entire performance, the situation his character finds himself in, and how the director, Adrian Stewart, manages to expose everything Calvin is experiencing. . .u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI was quite deliberate in my use of the word u0026quot;expose.u0026quot; If you have lost someone close to you, there may be recognizable moments here. Director Stewart manages to bring us to a deeper place with Calvin. Thereu0026#39;s the expected, which is seen externally, but Stewart is hauntingly faithful with what only we see inside. And if youu0026#39;ve experienced this, both are like a knife to the heart. Both can bring you to your knees.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI canu0026#39;t speak to what anotheru0026#39;s reaction might be. All I can say is that this film can feel more personal than most. Some films have scenes described as being u0026quot;hyper-real.u0026quot; What Stewart does with Diminuendo is color outside of the lines of the Hollywood u0026quot;hyper-real,u0026quot; resulting in the u0026quot;real.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThereu0026#39;s a particular shot that I would very much like to praise here, but to make note of it may also spoil it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIu0026#39;m not so singular that I believe my distinct response to this film at times will be unique. I do see this being a personal, more relatable film experience for many who watch it. Particularly for those who carry someone with them. And eventually. . .donu0026#39;t we all?”