Let me start off by saying I really love this song and I'm a big fan of Taylor! Taylor impressively made a huge supportive fanbase that loves everything she puts out. She got there through hard times and an incredible amount of commitment. She shows she doesn't want to stop learning and I love that!
Risk there is that so many people view every single project of hers as higher quality than it sometimes is, and in my opinion this is one of them. Seen a lot of fans even say it's an Oscar-worthy short film and I definitely wouldn't take it that far. I find this film good, but not impressive.
First of all, I'm a bit confused about calling it a short film. To me it seems like an extended music video. If we're really talking about a short film, I expected a little more.
Just like the album Red (Taylor's Version) and its aesthetics and lyrics, the short film for All Too Well (10 Minute, Taylor's Version) completes the autumnal vibes of this era by choosing autumnal colours, clothing and settings. I personally also really like the old fashioned frame that was used.
The storyline in the film reflects the one in the lyrics, which is dramatic enough as it is (in a good way) - but there is no added element to it, which makes the outcome something you'd expect by reading the lyrics. Good enough for a music video but not good enough for a film. For a film, it seems like a pretty standard story (for me this isn't the type of story in film that stays with me).
Sadie and Dylan's performances, often praised by Taylor, are beautifully acted and to me they deserve all the praise they get. I find especially the kitchen scene to be an impressive accomplishment for improvised acting. I think both of them did an amazing job at translating the lyrics into visual art. But that stops at Sadie and Dylan's performance. The dining table scene felt very unnatural and as if there was a lack of chemistry. I didn't believe those people were even friends with Dylan's character. Thankfully, the scene wasn't long. There's also something about the very last scene with Taylor in it that just didn't click with me. It almost felt like a "Hey, I directed it so that would be a fun idea!" sort of thing rather than actually part of the film. Also, the concept of writing a (poetry) book over a break up seemed to be a bit over the top.
So, there were definitely some cracks here and there. It's a good, cozy and creative way to accompany the impressively written, sung and produced ten minute version of Taylor's All Too Well.
