Plot Summary
The coal town of St. Michaels is falling apart. The mill has already closed and now the coal mine is downsizing. The town is shrinking and people are leaving to find better times elsewhere. But one tragic day, the mine collapses and traps all of the miners beneath the surface of the earth. The entire town comes together to pray and rescue the miners from certain death before time runs out. Will they all lose the men they love and their faith at same time?
Production Quality (2 points)
In the past, Chip Rossetti has had many rough moments when it comes to movie making, especially production elements (see Right to Believe and Fathers). However, 94 Feet demonstrates a definite improvement in this department, including professional video quality, camera work, and audio quality. The soundtrack is also intriguing. Sets, locations, and props are very appropriate and realistic. There are some minor issues in the special effects department, but this and some confusing editing are the only errors to highlight. Overall, this film demonstrates that no matter how small you start, you can always improve in your movie career if you put your mind to it.
Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)
Though the plot of 94 Feet is a definite improvement over past efforts, it still leaves something to be desired. It’s great to use a real life story to base your movie on, but the premise if this film is still somewhat shallow as the characters and their dialogue need better development. There are too many very dry attempts at comedy and too much wasted time. The beginning of the plot is too slow and not engaging enough and does not use time wisely to develop characters. While we can appreciate their struggles, they still need more realism to deepen the experience. As it is, this story is fine and will many audiences will enjoy it, we just can’t help but feel it could have gone a step further.
Acting Quality (2.5 points)
This section is also a major improvement over swing-and-miss casts of previous Rossetti films. These cast members appear to actually know what they are doing and demonstrate honesty and realism. Each cast member is cast appropriately. Emotions and live delivery are on point; this cast only demonstrates minor errors, thus making it this film’s strongest portion.
Conclusion
Though improvement is sometimes slow and meager, any improvement is always good regardless. Sometimes it takes time to hone film making skills, and it appears that Chip Rossetti and his team are on the right road. Production and casting have greatly improved, so the final frontier for them will be plots. With better characters and a more engaging storyline, the Rossetti team will be looking at a Hall of Fame film in no time, if they stay the course and don’t give up.
Final Rating: 5.5 out of 10 points
Box Office Revolution 