And The Sammie Goes To...

Billy was back, Christopher Plummer finally took home a golden idol and Uggie looked cute in a bow tie. The Oscars are over (although people will be talking about Angelina Jolie's disturbing leg pose for weeks), which means it's time to announce the inaugural winner of the annual Sam on Cinema award. As a reminder, all films nominated for a Sammie were reviewed by this blog (well, sort of) in 2011 and featured a performance by a dog or dogs. The nominees:

• Hugo
• 50/50
• Super 8
• Jane Eyre
• Beginners

And the winner is:

• Beginners

It was a no brainer. I still can't believe the Academy managed to nominate nine movies in the best film category without this one getting a nod. Here's what I said after viewing this quiet gem in July at the Dundee Theatre, my neighborhood one screen (still musty, still open). Director/writer Mike Mills - your Sammie is in the mail (unless you want to swing by Omaha and pick it up).

2012 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action

2.2 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Watching the Oscar-nominated live action short films has become an annual tradition in our household, right before the big show itself. This year's offerings were a mixed bag - I loved two, two were "eh" and one I detested (this accounts for the odd Paw rating).

The Shore (31 minutes, English/Gaelic)

Aye, The Troubles. Perhaps I was unduly influenced by the Irish part of my heritage, but this one got me right in the heart. It skillfully mixes pain with comedy, and the haunting beauty of northern Ireland that tourists are told to avoid is on full display.

Raju (24 minutes, English/German)

Oooooh, this one grabs you at the very beginning and holds on tight until the very end. German actor Wotan Wilke Mohring mesmerizes as the newly minted father who is faced with an unthinkable decision. I'd like to see more of him, Hollywood.

Time Freak (11 minutes, English)

If you're the neurotic type (as I am), you will probably relate to this kind-of-funny time machine saga, but it reminded me of something you might see on an old episode of "The Electric Company."

Pentecost (11 minutes, English)

The Catholics in the audience roared at the antics of the main character, a football-obsessed altar boy with the face of an angel. It's too bad this type of behavior isn't the church's biggest problem.

Tuba Atlantic (25 minutes, Norwegian)

Remind me never to visit Norway - I just don't get the humor. I hope a flock of seagulls hunts director Hallvar Witzo down and showers him with a special gift.

Bonus Bones: 1

A street dog makes a brief appearance in Raju - that's it.

Haywire

2 Paws

Seen recently at Great Escape Omaha Stadium 16

About the film:

It's kind of fun to watch, the soundtrack is '70s groovy, and it's packed with a lineup of famous faces you wouldn't normally associate with thriller fare. The action is hard to follow, though, so try and pay attention from the get go - we headed to the Internet when we got home to read about what we just saw. It also has one of the best last lines in recent memory.

About the girl:

I've got a new role model. When I grow up, I want to be Gina Carano (Mallory), even though I've got two decades on her. At a sleek yet muscular 5'8", she's calm in the face of chaos and can kick the stuffing out of just about anyone who crosses her path. A word of advice to all the female youngins out there - put down the Barbie and tell your mom you want to start taking Muay Thai lessons.

Bonus Bones: 0

About the dogs:

No black ops pups here.