2109 OSCAR ANIMATED SHORTS
1/6/2019 - 2019 Oscar Animated Shorts
My Pick: Weekends
Oscar Probable: Bao
Weekends (2017)- 7/10 - An all too human portrait of a young boy dealing with the separation of his parents. His journeys to his fathers on the weekends and his time with his mother during the week. As time passes and things change for both good and ill, it is poignantly expressed through gorgeous smoky animation and the reoccurring vibrant imagination of a child reconciling it all. It works well and is delicate in its grace and emotion. True depth matched by the tremendous animation.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7375186/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Bao (2018) - 7/10 - From what I remember (saw it in the theater months earlier), heartwarming and sweet, in a strained growth kind of way. Your “standard” Pixar refined style but I will say that the emotional acumen was adequate and engaging.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8075496/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Late Afternoon (2017)- 7/10 - Sadly groping at the flailing inconsistencies of an alzheimer’s patient's memories. It flows in and out and the metaphors are touching and wise. Watercolor-esque and light, but full and realized.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7077824/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
One Small Step (2018) - 6/10 - Smoothly styled, with a whimsy and touch of magical realism. It got a tad emotionally manipulative as it went on, but a touching little film. A sweet father/daughter and realizing their dreams tale.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8783042/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Animal Behaviour (2018) - 5/10 - Cute at first, but a little trite as it lingered. Funny, but only just. I certainly wasn’t enamored.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8615478/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1
OTHERS NOT NOMINATED/”FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION”:
Lost & Found (2018) - 7/10 - Darling, and perhaps a little depressing, but so sharply made. The stop motion came across so special and the story was quite touching. It packed a lot of heart in a very small and imagined box.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8589236/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
Bilby (2018) - 7/10 - Now this was darling. Tremendously cute though pretty light. Its heft is derived mostly from its spectacular look and enjoyable cuteness. This is by far the most ‘kiddy’ of the shorts, but it also might be the most beautiful. Such delicious detail (ex. the dirtying of the feet as it progressed) and exquisite animation. The crowd pleaser in more than one way.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8013970/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Pépé le morse (Grandpa Walrus) (2017) - 7-/10 - Bitter and a bit bizarre, but familially sweet in a mix of the surreal and sardonic. Well put together and sharply lived in.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7057890/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Age of Sail (2018) - 6/10 - Like a living painting it tells a quaint story about hope falling out of the sky and swimming up from the drowning morbid darkness.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8908420/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1