Oscar's Noms Watch 2014: The Shorts (Live Action, Documentary and Animated)
The Oscar Nominated Live Action and Animated Shorts came out yesterday on iTunes and VOD so I managed to knock off a whole load more from my completivism watching list. I'm up to 35 watched (of 57 in total and 41 my goal for this year). I'm nearly there.
Here's where you can track most of the movies down (if you're in the USA at least, sorry the rest of the world):
Best Live Action shorts - all 5 as a package on iTunes $5.99 SD, on VOD to rent for two days $5.99, on Amazon etc and in selected cinemas across USA.
Best Animated shorts - 4 available as a package without Get A Horse! (as this is available with Frozen dvd/ondemand release) plus 2 highly commended shorts: à la Française and The Missing Scarf - to rent as a package for 2 days on VOD $5.99, should be on iTunes too but I didn't find it yesterday, and in selected cinemas. Room on the Broom also available as a dvd, on iTunes to rent or buy etc.
Best Documentary shorts - much more difficult to find but The lady in Number 6: Music saved my life and Cave Digger both available to rent on Vimeo for $4.99 each (click those links for locations), Karama Has No Walls available to rent on iTunes for $0.99. Prison Terminal: The last days of Private Jack Hall - available on HBO towards end of March, and Facing Fear (which I really want to see) appears to only be showing at film festivals currently.
Anyway, on with my thoughts - which you'll be glad to hear I'm keeping to 140 characters max ala tweets.....
Live Action Shorts
Sweet story about a boy about to die and a man who gives him hope. A bit fluffy. I enjoyed Wish 143 a few years back better. Won't win.
Avant Que De Tout Predre (Just Before Losing Everything)
My favourite. I love how story emerges, you're not given everything on a plate. Great acting, well written, seriously suspensful. Might win.
Really wanted this to be the best, didn't deliver on its potential. Martin Freeman's acting shows up the rest. Left wanting more. Won't win.
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything?)
Quirky, funny, cute. It made me and Goth Child laugh but fizzled out at the end. Love the kid's clothes 'for a party'. Won't win.
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)
Seriously graphic & harrowing for a short. Don't watch with kids around. Feels big though story fizzles for me again at end. Might win.
Animated Shorts
Loved it. This one is mine & Goth Child's favourite. Steampunk, sweet, proper story. It made us laugh, be curious and surprised. Won't win.
Goth Child called me and Melchett plebs for not liking this one. It's too arty, eery, dark and predictable for me. Nice music. Won't win.
Glad this was included in noms. Fun, beautiful, multi-layered, with a message. Goth Child (anime fan) intrigued by unusual style. Won't win.
Melchett's favourite. Great animation, fun, good music, colourful. I like it a lot but doesn't seem stretched out. Love the cat! Won't win.
I DON'T GET THE FUSS. Critics love it. Saw it before Frozen and cinema was quiet, non-plussed after. It's clever & innovative but not particularly entertaining. But will win.
HOWEVER.....with the package of animated nominationed shorts, perhaps because Get A Horse! wasn't available to be included, they've added two of the highly commended shorts - à la Française (which is quite delighful, chickens as French nobility in Versailles 1700, lots of humour and nods to Dangerous Liaisions too, and you can see it whole by clicking on that link) AND the Devyne family favourite (well me, Melchett and Goth Child): The Missing Scarf:
Sorry that's just a teaser, it's not online yet....but you can sign up to be emailed from the film's site when it is.....and it's a gem. We want this to win the Best Animated Short Oscar, except it's not been nominated. Boo. We laughed till we cried, then Goth Child spent about 10 minutes rocking and saying outloud "what just happened? what the flip?! I. Can't. Even...." etc. And George Takei narrating it is just marvellous. I wish this could win. Ah well.
Documentary Shorts
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Uplifting, inspiring, beautiful short about 110 yr old Holocaust survivor Alice Herz Sommer who died Sunday. Available on vimeo to rent for $4.99. Worth every penny. Won't win.
Available to rent on vimeo. Portrait of environmental digger/sculptor, his determination & obsession and clashes with those around him. Won't win.
Isn't widely available yet, but really want to see when is. 25 years after a gay teenager was beaten up by neo-Nazis they meet up again by chance. Don't know if it will win.
Prison Terminal: The last days of Private Jack Hall
Coming to HBO at the end of March so haven't seen it yet. Terminally ill Jack Hall in prison for killing his son's drug dealer (I think) is cared for by other prisoners. Don't know if it will win.
Amazing footage by two amateur cameramen in the middle of a violent clash during a peaceful sit-in during the Arab Spring that changed Yemen forever. This is my favourite to win.
To sum up:
Best Live Action Short Oscar will go to: Avant Que De Tout Predre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Movie I'll be rooting for: Avant Que De Tout Predre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Best Documentary Short will go to: Karama has no walls (or possibly The lady in number 6)
Movie I'll be rooting for: Karama has no walls
Best Animated Short will go to: Get A Horse!
Movie I'll be rooting for: Mr Hublot
Stars I gave to each movie on IMDB (for the film as a whole not just this category):
Cavedigger (Documentary) ★★★★★★ 6
Facing Fear (Documentary) - didn't get to see, only currently at festivals
Karama Has No Walls (Documentary) ★★★★★★★★★ 9
The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life (Documentary) ★★★★★★★★ 8
Prison Terminal: The Last Days Of Private Jack Hall (Documentary) - didn't get to see, coming on HBO end of March
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) (Live Action) ★★★★★★★ 7
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) (Live Action) ★★★★★★★★★ 9
Helium (Live Action) ★★★★★★★ 7
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything?) (Live Action) ★★★★★★★ 7
The Voorman Problem (Live Action) ★★★★★★★★ 8
Feral (Animated) ★★★★★★ 6
Get A Horse! (Animated) ★★★★ 4
Mr. Hublot (Animated) ★★★★★★★★★ 9
Possessions (Animated) ★★★★★★★★ 8
Room On The Broom (Animated) ★★★★★★★★ 8
The movie I'd tell you to watch if you could only choose one: of the nominated, The Lady in number 6: Music Saved My Life......but the sadly not nominated: The Missing Scarf
Blimey, sorry about that mammoth post...
Next categories up: the music categories, original score and original song..... and I'll have a big round up of my picks (and those that will actually win) on Sunday afternoon.
