Of Courtships and Cannonballs

3-2-1: Haskell King as the title character in Lonely Bliss of the Cannonball Luke

By S.T. VanAirsdale

"Can we get engaged?" "No." "Can I court you?" "No!" Such is the title character's lot in life in Lonely Bliss of the Cannonball Luke, NYU alum Levi Abrino's terrific short available now over at Vulture. It stars Haskell King as a human cannonball who returns to his small Pennsylvania town for a shot both through the air and at re-entering the lives of his ex-girlfriend (Megan Ofsowitz) and her daughter (Katelyn Rosselli), and if I hint at its flavor by invoking its pouty, Wes Anderson-style intro and a Malick-esque marriage of soundtrack and atmosphere, I only mean it in a good way. Never maudlin and ever humane, it'll be the fastest 11 minutes of your holiday. Hats off to NYM contributor Bilge Ebiri for the revival; this one deserves it.

Posted at February 18, 2008 7:30 AM