‘The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action’ Review

Release Date: February 1, 2013
Directors: Various
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Score: 8/10

For the last several years before the Oscar telecast the short films that have been nominated for an Academy Award are given a rare theatrical release.   Presented as separate programs for each short category Animation, Live Action and Documentary, moviegoers have the opportunity to see the shorts that in the past they would seldom ever get to see.   For some it’ll give them a leg up in their office Oscar pools.  Outside of knowing that these films are nominated it can be kind of exciting for a filmgoer because you never know what’s in store and this year’s selections were no different.    This year’s nominees feature science fiction, comedy, drama, pathos and in one instance heartbreak.

Death of a Shadow (Dood Van Een Schaduw) (Directors: Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele) is an original and very well done science fiction film.  In it a deceased soldier is tasked with photographing the shadows of the dead so he may have a chance to live again.   It is never fully explained why the shadows are being collected but in the end it doesn’t matter it’s just a cool idea.   Intriguing story, fascinating science and an air of mystery make for an entertaining short that I could see fleshed out into a feature one day.

Henry (Director: Yan England) is the most affecting of the nominees.  You could hear sniffling throughout the theatre not bad for a nineteen minute short.   An elderly man struggles to discern between what is or isn’t real.   This is a very well acted, written, directed and edited short.    It’s not a sure bet but I can certainly see this one taking home the statue.

Curfew (Director: Shawn Christensen) is an entertaining little comedy.   Despite the dark undertones it has a simple charm and feels genuine.   In the midst of an attempted suicide,  a down and out loser decides to help his sister and watch his niece for a little while.   It features some great moments between the uncle and his niece, between brother and sister and let’s not forget the unexpected dance number that’s worth the price of admission alone.

The Buzkashi Boys (Directors: Sam French and Ariel Nasr) is a drama about two boys, one a street rat and the other raised by his single father,  in war torn Afghanistan who dream of being great buzkashi riders.  Buzkashi?  Do you remember that game that Rambo played in Rambo III?   Yup that’s the one, it’s a national sport in Afghanistan I believe.   This features some good performances by the two children.   It’s a well written piece about dreams and growing up.

Asad (Directors: Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura) is a humorous tale about a young Somali boy who must choose between becoming a pirate or a great fisherman.    Lighthearted at first but it does feature a few tense moments later on.   It’s a well written and acted piece that doesn’t go where you’d expect and where it does will probably surprise you.

The program is hosted by director Luke Matheny whose God of Love won this category at the 2011 Oscars.  In between shorts he shares his memories of Oscar night.  My favorite moment was how he admitted going from humbled nominee to a vain one when he became adamant he better win.   This is a great series of shorts that features something for everyone.   This year is very hard to call when it comes to who may win.   Buzkashi Boys seems like the more traditional short that the Academy would go for.  Death of a Shadow (Dood Van Een Schaduw) should win on originality alone but it may be too genre for the Academy.  Henry seems like the logical choice.    If you have the opportunity to see this program don’t miss it.