A mysterious briefcase is found buried on Jeb’s (Dan Berkey) property–and he’s unable to determine its purpose or where it came from. But when the owners of the suitcase come looking for what is owed to them, things go haywire. Now this lonely farmer is forced to take matters into his own hands and defend himself from the nefarious grip of two dangerous men. Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men will either see Jeb survive the fight of his life or die at the hands of scoundrels.
Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men moves far too quickly–never really giving the film a chance to develop. In just twenty-five minutes, Writer-Director Jordan Pellegrini attempts to develop an entire story and multiple, multi-dimensional, characters. Time is always fleeting, and there never seems to be enough of it–and Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men falls victim to that. I’m honestly intrigued by this story, and to a degree the characters, but with only twenty-five minutes, those aforementioned qualities fail to ever be fully developed or expressed. Things are rushed, there’s no doubt about that, and aspects of the film fail to work as a result.
With all of that being said, however, I think it’s clear that Pellegirini understands how to write a riveting script. I can’t be sure of the reasons behind Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men being so short–but the reality is that, at the film’s core, it’s so well written. Even though we don’t get to see everything play out in a timely manner–Jeb’s journey is interesting, and the mystery surrounding the briefcase is enticing. These little things that exist throughout the course of the film keep viewers engaged, there’s no doubt about that–and that speaks to Pellegrini’s ability to write something effective.
Beyond the story itself, Jeb himself is likable, understandable, and more than enough to drive Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men forward. Berkey is wonderful, and he does a great job of bringing this character to life–but I think the likability of Jeb ultimately comes down to, once again, the ability of Pellegrini. Acceptable characters, characters that reach out and touch viewers, come first from the page. They are a product of what the writer is able to get down on paper before an actor ever has the chance to touch them. Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men is the perfect example of how everything begins in the writer’s room, and how powerful the pen is.
It would be unfair to discount the performances from Berkey and the others, or the role that the rest of the team played in developing Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men, as they really do a stellar job throughout. But it feels like everything that works in Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men stems from what Pellegrini brings to the table. My only concern and hope is that there had been more time, that these characters and the story had more time to develop (because this aspect of the film hinders it to a degree). Honestly, though, other than that, Empty Plains and the Plight of Common Men is stellar.
Written & Directed by Jordan Pellegrini.
Starring Dan Berkey, Terrence Smith, Joey Manuselis, & Dayton Willison.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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