Shorts Spotlight: ‘Rat Pack Rat’, directed by Todd Rohal

Posted on January 31, 2014March 22, 2014 by Courtney SmallIn Short Films1 Minute Read

Winner of the 2014 Sundance Short Film Special Jury Award for Unique Vision, Rat Pack Rat is, if nothing else, a truly original work. Inventive, twisted, and darkly funny, the film follows a Sammy Davis Jr. impersonator (Eddie Rouse) who finds himself unexpectedly delivering last rights to a loyal rat pack fan (played with disgusting glee by Eastbound & Down’s Steve Little). Though the film takes a lot of pleasure in pushing the envelope, director Todd Rohal manages to lace the film with an earnestness that is surprisingly effective. Even in the film’s most outlandish moments, Rouse’s strong performance holds the film together. Rat Pack Rat is not a film for everyone, it will no doubt turn off some, but it definitely earns its unique vision award.

Rat Pack Rat
Director: Todd Rohal/ USA/ 2014/ 19 Minutes
Starring: Margie Beegle, Steve Little and Eddie Rouse.

Published by Courtney Small

The founder of Cinema Axis, Courtney is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic who can frequently be heard discussing film as co-host of Frameline on Radio Regent. Courtney has contributed to several publications including Leonard Maltin, CBC Arts, POV Magazine, That Shelf, In the Seats, Black Girl Nerds, and Comix Asylum. He has appeared on ET Canada and Hollywood Suite's Cinema A to Z. Courtney celebrates diversity in cinema as host of the Changing Reels podcast and is a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the African American Film Critics Association. He is also a Golden Globes International Voter. View all posts by Courtney Small