Reviewed by Aaron Haynes

With The Sniper @ Andres De La Hoz HQ and Cycles, Andres has created a trend that I hope catches on -- a director changing the scale and voice of a project when it becomes apparent that it's too big to finish. An unfinished movie is interesting the first time you watch it, but the prevailing thought it always inspires is "Wow, this would have been awesome if it was done." With his epic fantasy project In Zorn's Image, Andres has come up with a smart, effective compromise: Adjusting the existing material in order to create a short, semi-insightful and surprisingly subtle religious commentary positively drenched with his trademark brand of dry humor (funny word choice there, I know).

Armed with the unfinished version of Zorn released as part of Andres's Movie Folder earlier in the year and a glance at the new title, it's not exactly rocket science to guess the arc of Cycles' plot. What WAS a surprise, however, is how well the visual style and tone of the narrative worked. It's told in the form of a children's story, and always presented as simple fact for a simple people. We're told how the great Zorn created the world and vomited everyone into existence. He makes a good God, generally fair and kind, except when he gets mad and smites someone for the hell of it. You know how that goes. The people just kind of accept it and do their best not to anger him in any way. Except for one guy.

And this is the most interesting part of the story to me. Clux is not in any way a sympathetic character. He comes off as self-important and easily offended, and when Zorn smacks him with a lightning bolt out of sheer boredom, he takes issue and fires a few insults at him. It was odd how I found myself subconsciously siding with Zorn during their arguments; the movie's message may have come across in a more powerful way if Clux inspired our alignment with him, rather than the guy who amusedly smacks him around -- especially considering how Clux's story ultimately ends. But Cycles carries this sort of precarious theme of boredom and disinterest in almost all of its elements: Zorn is extremely bored, Clux is unlikable, the three faces sound sleepy, and the music is drugged and a little drowsy sounding. The movie seems to, in a way, look at its characters with a mixture of contempt and ennui. It doesn't feel strongly enough about them to hate them, and may even find the repetitive cycles a little amusing. After all, this has happened a bunch of times already, hasn't it?

I've gotta commend James Burgon for his multiple roles here. The narrator has just the right touch of that "old guy telling a story" spookiness. Zorn sounds highly intelligent, bored, and amused all at the same time. Clux, while being the most irritating character, hits the right note with a smattering of wimpiness and righteous indignation. Extremely well done. The music is fantastic, and works well in conjunction with the half-paying-attention sort of world Andres has created. The whole movie feels like it's been smacked together disinterestedly by a bored God with a lot of bright colors at his disposal (I like the effect of Zorn's pink and green clouds, to match his wardrobe).

At times it feels blatant and obvious, an issue I had with Sniper@ADLH as well -- it's like Andres is making his point with a sledgehammer, and you can guess the various twists a mile away. But I think this was the intention; as Clux looks around and sees Zorn off in the distance, coupled with the twangy, bored-sounding music, you smile knowingly. I tip my hat to the New Constitution.

Critical Score: 75/100.
Personal Score: 80/100.