"Rediscovering Hope Through Family"
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What You Need To Know:
ONE SPLIT SECOND was made possible through the use of AI, but the tech sometimes gives the movie an unreal feeling that’s distracting to the viewer. Also, the movie was made on a very small budget, so it has low production values, from the sets, to the performances, to poor camerawork. ONE SPLIT SECOND has a strong moral worldview, with some redemptive elements. It stresses repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. However, it also has some foul language and violence. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children and sensitive viewers.
Content:
More Detail:
ONE SPLIT SECOND is a technological marvel; the movie, initially shot in 1995 on 16mm film, was lost. A VHS tape of the movie was found 28 years later and, with the help of AI, brought back to life. The movie tells the story of Russell Baker, a conservative radio host who must handle the tragic death of his wife and his newfound custody of his estranged son.
ONE SPLIT SECOND opens with a young couple arguing as they walk to their car after a night out at the movies. They’re interrupted by a gang who pick a fight with them. A gunshot goes off, but before viewers can see what happened, the movie rewinds to a day earlier.
Russell Baker has it all – a job as a conservative radio talk show host, the possibility of his show going national, and a loving wife, Eileen, who’s also pregnant with their first child. Russell receives news that the show he co-hosts with his liberal friend, Dave, will be syndicated and they will move to New York.
To celebrate, he gives Eileen a beautiful pin and the two go out to see a movie. Afterwards, Eileen asks Russell who Gina is. While cleaning their house, she found a piece of paper that says Russell is the father to a son he never mentioned to Eileen. They argue, as Russell prefers to leave the past in the past, when they are suddenly interrupted by gang members. Things escalate, and Eileen is shot and killed.
As Russell grieves, he starts to lose hope in his previous ideals that hard work and courtesy to each other will always win the day, and that there’s a God-given meaning to life. Amid this turmoil, he gets a phone call from Child Protective Services, who inform him that he needs to pick up his son, Deon. Deon’s mother, Gina, was arrested for drug possession and endangering a minor.
Russell initially doesn’t want to get involved but ultimately brings Deon home with him. The two males immediately clash. Deon doesn’t know or respect Russell, and Russell thinks Deon is a punk who represents everything he opposes. Deon steals Russell’s car and runs away but returns later that day with a black eye. He reveals that he’s in a gang and, when he told them he wanted out, they beat him up. Russell offers to help Deon get his act together, and he accepts.
The father and son start to grow closer, as Russell introduces Deon to writings from Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, brings him to the radio station, and plays basketball with him. However, they fight once again, and Deon storms off. While Russell packs his things, he finds the pin he gave Eileen the night she died in Deon’s bag. Deon was one of the gang members that caused her death.
Deon returns, ready to continue working on bettering himself, but Russell confronts him with the pin. Their relationship is now on the precipice of total disaster.
ONE SPLIT SECOND reflects the amazing technological advancements the world has made – AI made it possible to view today. However, the AI-doctored scenes give parts of the movie an unreal feeling, taking the viewer out of the story. ONE SPLIT SECOND was also made on a shoestring budget, so the sets and performances are a bit amateurish. Parts of the movie are confusing at times, as well, due to strange cuts or subpar audio. For example, in the scene where Eileen is killed, it’s unclear if she or Russell is the one who was shot.
Overall, however, ONE SPLIT SECOND has a strong moral worldview with some redemptive elements. Russell works to try and help Deon improve his life and, in the end, seemingly forgives his son for the death of Eileen. Deon also has a redemptive journey, learning the importance of following the laws of society and facing the consequences for your actions. However, Russell is shown to be an absent father. He knew about Deon and chose not to be in his life for years and is very reluctant to bring him home, even after the authorities tells him Deon’s mother has been arrested, and he has no one else.
Finally, ONE SPLIT SECOND has some foul language used, as well as a few scenes featuring smoking and brief violence. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children and sensitive viewers.
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