Since 1996 |
  
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
|
|
Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
|
| Home
Subscribe About Us Features News Album
Reviews
|
Oscar
Nominated Shorts 2009---Animation (Part 2 of 2)
Oscar nominated short films in animation in contention for the 2009 Academy Awards. Some subtitles Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures Rating: not rated but could be PG Running Length: less than an hour When one thinks of the Academy Awards, one thinks of Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and the rest of the awards. However, the Shorts are there, also in Animation, and telling a story in 15 minutes or less. You don’t hear about them, except in art house runs. Here is quality movie-making and this year one of the nominated Animation Shorts is from the United States. This section may run alone or with “Oscar Nominated Shorts---Live Action.” My review of “Live Action” is a separate one. The lone American nominee for Shorts-Animation is by Doug Sweetland and titled, Presto. It is included on the DVD release of “Wall*E.” Here is the story of a hungry rabbit after a carrot and his magician owner/friend who won’t give it to him unless he performs tricks. The tricks they play are on each other to the delight of the audience who thinks it is part of the act. Konstantin Bronzit (Russia) has Lavatory Lovestory in black and white with occasional color. Here is the story of a lavatory matron who finds she has a secret admirer. His gift of flowers leads her to think they were offered by someone else, leading to a humorous encounter. Japan’s film, by Kunio Kato is titled La Maison en Petits Cubes (House of Small Cubes) which gives us a different perspective on global warming and memories lost. Oktapodi by Gobelins, I’Ecole de l’Image, France, tells the love story between two octopus. When the female is taken away from her tank, the male manages to use his wiles, tentacles and pods (plus black ink) to chase and find her. Humorous love story. Great Britain has Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes with This Way Up, the adventures of two undertakers who do anything to bring the deceased and casket to its rightful place. A triathlon would mean nothing to these guys. This is not only clever animation but a humorous story as well, plus you wonder who makes these tall, stovepipe hats, anyway? Of the Animation five nominees, I would close This Way Up. The Academy Award ceremony will be on February 22, 2009. Copyright 2009 Marie Asner
|
Copyright © 1996 - 2009 The Phantom Tollbooth
