2011 Oscar Nominated Animated Films and Shorts

The Lost Thing

The Lost Thing is an Australian animated film.  A boy is out searching for additions to his bottle cap collection when he stumbles across the lost thing. The boy befriends the lost thing but he doesn’t understand why no one else is interested in helping it.  He travels far and wide trying to find out to whom to or where the lost thing belongs.  The boy feels sorry for the lost thing but can’t explain why he feels that way.   The artwork is very interesting, reminds me of Salvador Dali.  The film is a coming of age journey for the boy, as he grows older he feels it is becoming more difficult for him to see lost things. The short has won numerous awards.  The Lost Thing will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo is a joint UK and Germany short animated film.  Mother Squirrel is out hunting food for her children.  As she nears the nest, an owl swoops down to nab her; the acorn is left on the branch.  Thankfully Mother reappears and she flees into the nest but she has left the acorn out on the tree branch.  As she goes it retrieve it the children beg for a story and so begins the mouse’s adventure with the Gruffalo.  The mouse is on a journey to beautiful nut tree.  Along the way, the mouse encounters a fox, an owl and a snake, who want him for dinner.  The mouse has to outwit these creatures to save his life.  The mouse has invented the Gruffalo only to find out that it is real.  The Gruffalo is an old fashioned fairy tale.  The film is stunning in its visuals and soundtrack.   The Gruffalo will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

Madagascar, Carnet De Voyage

Madagascar, Carnet De Voyage is a French animated film.  The film is a travel log for a European learning about the customs of the Malagasy culture and in particular the festival of Famadihana.  The animation is in the style of a children’s illustrated book.    As the travel log drawings come to life, with an amazing soundtrack the country and its people are revealed.  The film is beautiful and bewitching in its delivery.  The film has won numerous awards.   Madagascarwill be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Confession

The Confession is a haunting short film.  The film starts with two people dragging a body through a wintery woodland.  A young boy, Sam, is facing his first confession and he is worried that he doesn’t have anything to confess.  Jacob, his friend, sets about helping Sam to have something to confess: an innocent prank that turns deadly. If I reveal any more, it would spoil the film.  The Confession puts together beautiful scenery, an eerie soundtrack and innocent children adding up to a terrific combination.  It is a British film directed by Tanel Toom and nominated for an Oscar for Live Action Short.  It won Best Foreign Film by the Student Academy Awards and The Student’s Jury Prize from France.  The Confessionwill be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

The Crush

The Crush is a truly disturbing film.  A second grader is in love with his teacher.  He presents her with a ring and she teasingly asks him if they are going to get married.  The boy takes her seriously. He then runs into her while out shopping with his mother, and discovers that she has become engaged to someone else.  The film then takes a sinister turn. The boy challenges the boyfriend to a duel.  The situation that ensues is dramatic and terrifying.  The Crush is an Irish film directed by Michael Creagh.  The film won Special Jury Prize at Tribeca.  It also won Best Irish Short at the Foyle Film Festival. The Crush will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

Wish 143

Wish 143 deals with an uncomfortable topic.  It is about a 15 year old boy who is dealing with terminal cancer.  The film is about this boy’s wish.  The wish is totally inappropriate according to the granting charity.  What David wants is one hour alone with a naked girl. The twists and turns that he takes with the help of the hospital priest are touching and poignant.  The film is exceptional. The acting is superb.   This UK film was directed by Ian Barnes. It won awards for Best Short Film in the British Independent Film Festival and Best Short Film (Longform) in London Rushes Film Festival and Audience Awards from the Palm Springs Shortsfest 2010. Wish 143 will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

God of Love

God of Love is terrific short film.  The combination of the soundtrack and black and white cinematography sets the mood and feeling of the film. The hero of the film is a dart throwing jazz singer, and he wants love. He prays for a solution to his problem and he receives a gift from Olympus.  If I tell any more it will spoil the film.  This USA film was directed by Luke Matheny  and it has won numerous awards. God of Love will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

Na Wewe

Na Wewe is a Belgium film set in 1994 in Burundi, a country bordering on Rwanda.  A white man’s car breaks down and he is aided by a van full of local people.  As they travel down the road the white man makes inappropriate comments about the native population and suddenly gunfire erupts.  Everyone is ducking trying to avoid the line of fire.  The van is stopped and all members are forced out except for the white man.  The rebels attacking the van are intent on discovering who is a Hutu or a Tutsi. As they try to figure out who is who, frustration on the rebel’s side is in turn terror on the passenger’s side.  The film was written by someone who lived through the experience.  Na Wewe is a very tense film. The film will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

5 out of 5 stars

Let’s Pollute

Let’s Pollute is in the style of a 1950-60’s educational film.  It stresses the importance of polluting and how it keeps our economy going.  The blight of today is the future of tomorrow.  Let’s Pollute is a USA entry and has won the Best Animated Film in the Orlando Film Festival 2009 and Muddy Film Festival 2010.  Let’s Pollute will be available for viewing the week of February 11 at the Tivoli Theater.

3 out of 5 stars