Short films are like short stories. They can be great but hardly anyone gives a fuck about them. The film and TV industry is skewed towards features... even if you make crappy ones you can make a decent career on SyFy, Hallmark, Channel 5 and their likes.

Make a great short film and a few intelligent types will nod at you at a film festival. And, if you're lucky, they'll give you some money. But, of course, they'll want a feature next time. Life ain't fair.

Bukowski's work makes for eyecatching short films and there's more of them than you'd think. I ploughed through ten or so and picked out four of the best.

AN EVIL TOWN
A 1996 SHORT FILM BY RICHARD SEARS

The most famous of these four short films based on Bukowski's work, AN EVIL TOWN is also the grubbiest and graphic. That's great... it's exactly what Buk was aiming for in his City Lights' short stories (AN EVIL TOWN is from TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS) and it's exactly why John Martin refused to print them.

AN EVIL TOWN is the most filmic looking of this bunch, with classy camerawork, clever gore fx and an easy style. It won awards too - at Cannes and elsewhere.

There are a few downsides, notably the clunky transitions in the music and at ends of scenes. But it's a good 'un and one that will stick with you.

THE SUICIDE
A 2006 SHORT FILM BY JEFF MARKEY

This is my favourite Buk short film. You can see it's been made on a tight budget but with efficiency and skill. The performances are all strong too, and the gal playing Diana is a real find.

It doesn't hurt that this is a great short story in the first place, with a likeable and feisty drunk narrowly chosing life over suicide. When Markey jumps onto the counter I half expected him to say "TO ALL MY FRIENDS!"

Markey looks like an East Coast version of Jello Biafra, and he's got the same maniacal grin that says he knows more than we do. Markey also knows what to do with a camera, and the cinematography and editing are smooth and understated. Wherever he is - and details online are sketchy - hopefully he's making more movies.

NIRVANA:
A 2013 SHORT FILM BY LIGHTS DOWN LOW

NIRVANA is one of my favourite pieces from Bukowski. It's an understated piece about isolation and the briefest flashes of hope. Then life starts flowing - and dragging down - again.

Tom Waits did a brilliant spoken word of it. Waits' voice is much how I expected Bukowski's to be, before I heard that San Fran drawl I've learnt to love.

The short film version apparently cost $14,000 and was made by some guys called LIGHTS DOWN LOW. It's too glossy and I've got a strong feeling the money went on everyone's period clothes, the CGI snow effects (you'll be able to see the bus has been greenscreened) and a fancy camera. Sadly, the result is lackluster with awkward extras and a lead who looks very uncomfortable - almost constipated - in his tiny hat. They should have picked an older, more careworn guy at ease with his own skin.

See what you think...

THE LITTLE TAILOR
A 2011 SHORT FILM BY SETH TAYLOR

Feeling a lot like an accomplished Film student's final work, THE LITTLE TAILOR is about a meticulous guy called Jack who murders folks. As he darns away, the corpses are attracting swarms of (CGI) flies. His drunk buddy - Harry - comes around and there are hi-jinks.

The Buk story here is a lot of fun, and there's a classic Buk moment revolving around telephone sex. But the energy of Buk's writing is lost through some hammy acting from Justin Dray as Chinaski. Dray - a far less appealing and talented version of John Belushi - gurns him way through the whole fucking thing.

The director also seems to have just discovered pull focus on his shiny new camera. And then he's discovered how to jump cut on his shiny new Adobe Premiere. But, hey ho, it has a few moments and is an ok watch.

Review by Steve Hussy
MurderSlim.com