* Note 1: This post was written for the 4th annual LAMB Devours the Oscars event going on right now at the Large Association of Movie Blogs. It will be going up today; the event, which features articles from 30+ bloggers on all of the categories (plus one for each Best Picture nominee), will conclude tomorrow. Many thanks to Jess Rogers for running the show (beautifully!) this year - in addition to the just-as-impressive 30 Days of Oscar event she's running over at her site.
* Note 2: I am not a smart man. I was assigned the Animated Short Film category for The LAMB Devours the Oscars, so what did I do? I made sure to see the Live Action Shorts at the theater. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been a problem at all, but with a newborn in the house, getting out to the theater isn't exactly a piece of cake. Thankfully, so many of the other writers had their stuff in on time, and Jess was able to push me back until today. Also helpful (since I couldn't, in fact, get to the theater again) was the fact that you can purchase many of the short films for $1.99/each via iTunes. Not a bad deal at all - at least, not until you consider that one of them (in both live action and animated) is not available. So that sucks, in that I'll only be able to provide an opinion on 80% of the nominated animated films. But that's a much better percentage than 0%, right?
* Note 3: The following intro was written for the live action shorts post I already put up, but I'll include it here as well for perspective.
It's become somewhat of a tradition in the Fletch household to see the Academy Award-nominated short films each year - at least all but the docs, which aren't typically screened. This is the third year in a row my wife and I have gone to see them, and it's an event that I look forward to more and more with each passing year. They play away from our "home" theater (that's just a few miles away), but that's no deterrent - the longer drive is made up for by the picture house in which they are screened: the wonderful Harkins Valley Art theater in Tempe, Arizona. It's somewhat of a relic of days gone by, having stood for decades (a rarity in the Phoenix metro area) and being one of, if not the only, theaters in town that has but one screen. The lobby is no bigger than a large master bedroom, but that only adds to the charm, as does the retro art above the concession stand.
The setting puts us in a great frame of mind to catch some of that movie magic - short films are anything but commercial, so you know that they are made with loads of passion and heart. Every year leaves us with at least one short that has you rooting for the filmmakers' future, giving us a chance to one day possibly say "Hey, I knew about them from way back when." Who will it be this year?
Day & Night
Far as I can tell, Pixar's entry into this category - and the pre-show bonus for Toy Story 3 audiences - is the favorite to win, and for good measure. It's quick, to the point, and beautiful on a variety of levels. It tells a story of rivalry, tolerance, and, ultimately, understanding, by way of introducing us to two characters who at first seem polar opposites but soon find common ground. That it does so (mostly) without words and (of course) with a healthy dose of humor should come as no surprise to veterans of Pixar's work. The real kicker, however, is the brilliant blending of old- and new-school animation techniques, rendering a final product that can truly be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Let's Pollute
Hey kids! Have you ever watched a PSA that turns its message on its head? That tells you to do something that you shouldn't or wouldn't want to do in a lazy attempt at humor and/or satire? Well, then sign right up for Let's Pollute, a short film so bewilderingly obvious that it blows my fucking mind that it was nominated for any awards at all, much less from the Academy! You'll blow your mind when you struggle to stay awake during this six-minute short that says that same thing over and over again! You'll shit your pants when you wonder how it is that a six-minute short can feel long and tedious!
Ugh.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Madagascar, carnet de voyage
Madagascar will not win the Oscar, and will likely turn off a number of voters/viewers for one significant reason: it's 11 minutes long and doesn't tell much of a story at all. However, of the three short film categories, I've kind of always felt as though you might be able to get away with such a thing in the Animated category, as it hinges so strongly these days on technology and pure visuals than either of the others.
In that regard, Madagascar is a tremendous achievement, and a pretty literal adaptation of its title. "Carnet de voyage" essentially translates to "travel diary," and for those out there with even a hint of desire to visit Madagascar, I would assume that this might be the best place to start. Mixing seemingly dozens of animation styles, creator Bastien Dubois infuses each frame with so much vibrancy and life and sounds that you can't help but want to make the trip yourself. Let go of your need for narrative and just enjoy the scenery.
Fletch's Film Rating:
The Lost Thing
Is it possible to rate one film lower than the top spot and still have it be your favorite? The Lost Thing is certainly beautiful, but in that regard alone, it can not match either Day & Night or Madagascar. It tells a touching story of people being so fretfully busy with the lives around them that they neglect to open their eyes to the wondrous things in their world, but it's a story that feels a bit too familiar to really wow you. All in all, I guess you could say that the sum of the whole is greater than that of its individual parts. It has a childlike wonder, a compassion - a humanity - that, while found in the plotless Madagascar, is missing somewhat from Day & Night, which hits all the right notes, but feels too precise and organized (Partly Cloudy had the same effect on me a few years back). The Lost Thing meanders, charms, and introduces you to a dystopian world in need of cheering up, but in the end it's you that gets cheered up.
Fletch's Film Rating:
The Gruffalo
The one film unavailable via iTunes, and it just so happens to be the longest, clocking in at 27 minutes. I tried to do some research on the film to gauge just where it might fit in, but opinion seems a bit split, largely due to said run time, which doesn't seem to be able to support the story being told. Adapted from the children's book by Julia Donaldson, but in a much sharper visual style, The Gruffalo features a loaded voice cast of top-notch British actors, including Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, and Robbie Coltrane. I hope to catch it soon.
And then...
* Note 2: I am not a smart man. I was assigned the Animated Short Film category for The LAMB Devours the Oscars, so what did I do? I made sure to see the Live Action Shorts at the theater. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been a problem at all, but with a newborn in the house, getting out to the theater isn't exactly a piece of cake. Thankfully, so many of the other writers had their stuff in on time, and Jess was able to push me back until today. Also helpful (since I couldn't, in fact, get to the theater again) was the fact that you can purchase many of the short films for $1.99/each via iTunes. Not a bad deal at all - at least, not until you consider that one of them (in both live action and animated) is not available. So that sucks, in that I'll only be able to provide an opinion on 80% of the nominated animated films. But that's a much better percentage than 0%, right?
* Note 3: The following intro was written for the live action shorts post I already put up, but I'll include it here as well for perspective.
It's become somewhat of a tradition in the Fletch household to see the Academy Award-nominated short films each year - at least all but the docs, which aren't typically screened. This is the third year in a row my wife and I have gone to see them, and it's an event that I look forward to more and more with each passing year. They play away from our "home" theater (that's just a few miles away), but that's no deterrent - the longer drive is made up for by the picture house in which they are screened: the wonderful Harkins Valley Art theater in Tempe, Arizona. It's somewhat of a relic of days gone by, having stood for decades (a rarity in the Phoenix metro area) and being one of, if not the only, theaters in town that has but one screen. The lobby is no bigger than a large master bedroom, but that only adds to the charm, as does the retro art above the concession stand.
The setting puts us in a great frame of mind to catch some of that movie magic - short films are anything but commercial, so you know that they are made with loads of passion and heart. Every year leaves us with at least one short that has you rooting for the filmmakers' future, giving us a chance to one day possibly say "Hey, I knew about them from way back when." Who will it be this year?
Day & Night
Far as I can tell, Pixar's entry into this category - and the pre-show bonus for Toy Story 3 audiences - is the favorite to win, and for good measure. It's quick, to the point, and beautiful on a variety of levels. It tells a story of rivalry, tolerance, and, ultimately, understanding, by way of introducing us to two characters who at first seem polar opposites but soon find common ground. That it does so (mostly) without words and (of course) with a healthy dose of humor should come as no surprise to veterans of Pixar's work. The real kicker, however, is the brilliant blending of old- and new-school animation techniques, rendering a final product that can truly be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Fletch's Film Rating:
 | "It's in the hole!" |
| LAMBScore: |
 |
Let's Pollute
Hey kids! Have you ever watched a PSA that turns its message on its head? That tells you to do something that you shouldn't or wouldn't want to do in a lazy attempt at humor and/or satire? Well, then sign right up for Let's Pollute, a short film so bewilderingly obvious that it blows my fucking mind that it was nominated for any awards at all, much less from the Academy! You'll blow your mind when you struggle to stay awake during this six-minute short that says that same thing over and over again! You'll shit your pants when you wonder how it is that a six-minute short can feel long and tedious!
Ugh.
Fletch's Film Rating:
 | "I want you to punch me as hard as you can." |
| LAMBScore: |
 |
Madagascar, carnet de voyage
Madagascar will not win the Oscar, and will likely turn off a number of voters/viewers for one significant reason: it's 11 minutes long and doesn't tell much of a story at all. However, of the three short film categories, I've kind of always felt as though you might be able to get away with such a thing in the Animated category, as it hinges so strongly these days on technology and pure visuals than either of the others.
In that regard, Madagascar is a tremendous achievement, and a pretty literal adaptation of its title. "Carnet de voyage" essentially translates to "travel diary," and for those out there with even a hint of desire to visit Madagascar, I would assume that this might be the best place to start. Mixing seemingly dozens of animation styles, creator Bastien Dubois infuses each frame with so much vibrancy and life and sounds that you can't help but want to make the trip yourself. Let go of your need for narrative and just enjoy the scenery.
Fletch's Film Rating:
 | "Darn tootin." |
| LAMBScore: |
 |
The Lost Thing
Is it possible to rate one film lower than the top spot and still have it be your favorite? The Lost Thing is certainly beautiful, but in that regard alone, it can not match either Day & Night or Madagascar. It tells a touching story of people being so fretfully busy with the lives around them that they neglect to open their eyes to the wondrous things in their world, but it's a story that feels a bit too familiar to really wow you. All in all, I guess you could say that the sum of the whole is greater than that of its individual parts. It has a childlike wonder, a compassion - a humanity - that, while found in the plotless Madagascar, is missing somewhat from Day & Night, which hits all the right notes, but feels too precise and organized (Partly Cloudy had the same effect on me a few years back). The Lost Thing meanders, charms, and introduces you to a dystopian world in need of cheering up, but in the end it's you that gets cheered up.
Fletch's Film Rating:
| "It's in the hole!" |
| LAMBScore: |
 |
The Gruffalo
The one film unavailable via iTunes, and it just so happens to be the longest, clocking in at 27 minutes. I tried to do some research on the film to gauge just where it might fit in, but opinion seems a bit split, largely due to said run time, which doesn't seem to be able to support the story being told. Adapted from the children's book by Julia Donaldson, but in a much sharper visual style, The Gruffalo features a loaded voice cast of top-notch British actors, including Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, and Robbie Coltrane. I hope to catch it soon.
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