Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action

1.5 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Wouldn't it be great if local theatres incorporated short films into their lineups on a regular basis? At least I get to see them on the big screen once a year. 2013's quintet of Oscar-nominated shorts in the live action category is a mixed bag - one is stellar, one is good, one is odd and two deserve a great big eye roll for their heavy handedness.

Curfew

This one is a mini-masterpiece about brother-sister relationships, timing and the power of hope.

Asad

This one is a well-told version of the "life is what you make of it" tale filled with humor, hope and a great ending.

Death of a Shadow
This one - a Jules Verne/Grim Reaper/photography mashup - I didn't get.

Buzkashi Boys
This "it's tough if you're a poor kid in Kabul" one doesn't show us or tell us anything new.

Henry
This one, about the dark side of aging, reeks of after-school special - I'd rather watch a hopped up Helen Hunt jump out a window.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs, but there's a cat in costume in one of the shorts that's pretty darn spectacular.