One of the highlights of February for me is always seeing the Oscar nominated shorts-- animated, live action, and documentary. Being recognized by the academy showcases 5 of these usually low profile little films into an anthology shown in theaters. It's an opportunity to see the work of international filmmakers who are often unfettered by the expense and corporate control of the big studios, and most of these films are usually fresh and innovative and even a little edgy.
In past years there have been memorable tales of time machine builders, a pre-teen Somalian pirate, a modern-day cupid (with real arrows), a babysitting job that saved a guy from suicide, and an encounter with terrorists on a bus ride in Nigeria, to name a few of the live-action entries.
This year the subject matter of 4 of the 5 live action movies included little boys in danger, from themselves, from others, or both. They were unflinchingly grim, so much so, that the audience who sat in stunned silence at the end of the first film, giggled with gallows humor at the end of the second, and guffawed at the end of the program, a little traumatized by what we had all seen in the last 100 minutes.
Because of the similar themes and content, it was hard to consider each movie outside the collective, and I'd have to say that this year, the format was probably a disservice to the nominees. (Except for the one about the dying old woman who wondered what she missed when she didn't pursue a same-sex relationship in 1963.)
"This was our first date after our baby was born," I heard a guy behind me tell the total stranger to his left. "What the hell??"
I, personally, was thankful that the only dog made it through unharmed.
In past years there have been memorable tales of time machine builders, a pre-teen Somalian pirate, a modern-day cupid (with real arrows), a babysitting job that saved a guy from suicide, and an encounter with terrorists on a bus ride in Nigeria, to name a few of the live-action entries.
This year the subject matter of 4 of the 5 live action movies included little boys in danger, from themselves, from others, or both. They were unflinchingly grim, so much so, that the audience who sat in stunned silence at the end of the first film, giggled with gallows humor at the end of the second, and guffawed at the end of the program, a little traumatized by what we had all seen in the last 100 minutes.
Because of the similar themes and content, it was hard to consider each movie outside the collective, and I'd have to say that this year, the format was probably a disservice to the nominees. (Except for the one about the dying old woman who wondered what she missed when she didn't pursue a same-sex relationship in 1963.)
"This was our first date after our baby was born," I heard a guy behind me tell the total stranger to his left. "What the hell??"
I, personally, was thankful that the only dog made it through unharmed.
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