Film Notes is a new series of bite-sized reviews by Rogue staffers.

Tom King's notes on AFI's Family Jewels

This well acted and scripted short film unfortunately is too routine to fully enjoy. A young military family gears up as one of the parents gets ready to go back into battle. Simple and well acted (especially by the two leads), but you've seen it before.

Not a terrible film by any means just an ordinary one. It sort of reminded this reviewer of Grace is Gone, just before the mother is sent back to the front as it were. The terrific performances by John Cusack and his daughters really hold that film together. Nice try but no cigar. 2.5 stars of 4.

Jon Ashby's notes on AFI's Family Jewels

The film is well acted, as I've come to expect from AFI thesis films, and Martin Stitt has done a decent job. It feels as though something is missing from this short though, something I can't put my finger on. Perhaps it's the open-ended nature of the film. It has a small conflict that is resolved by the end, but it feels as though the underlying problem still exists. In that regard at least the film feels realistic. Tom's right, although a good short there was nothing here that really got me thinking. Other than how much it'd suck to serve overseas with a family at home.

I'm gonna give it 3 out of 4.