Academy Awards
Movie Review: The Quiet Girl
4.5 stars out of 5First and foremost, this is not A Quiet Place III. Though it is a pretty quiet movie. The Quiet Girl, from Ireland, was one of the 2023 Oscar nominees for Best International Feature Film. It didn’t win, but it is terrific. I’m not sure when the movie is set — late […]
Movie Review: 2022 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Robin Robin (United Kingdom)3 stars out of 5This is the mainstream nominee, from Aardman Studios (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run) with voices by Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant. And though it’s cute — a bird growing up in a mouse family! Oh and it’s Christmastime! — this is real kid-oriented and nothing particularly special. […]
Movie Review: 2022 Oscar Nominated Documentary Short Films
Audible (USA)4.5 stars out of 5 No, this isn’t a documentary about the audio book company. If you’re a fan of Friday Night Lights, fire up your Netflix and watch this 38-minute doc. (The similarities are no coincidence: Lights’ Peter Berg is a producer here.) Audible focuses on the high school football team at the […]
Movie Review: 2022 Oscar Nominated Live-Action Short Films
On My Mind (Denmark) 3.5 stars out of 5 Man walks into a bar. But it’s not the set-up for a joke, it’s an Oscar-nominated short. He downs a stiff drink and, on his way out, notices the karaoke stage. Can he please sing a song? Gruff owner is dismissive — it’s morning, he’s working […]
Movie Review: The Worst Person in the World
4 stars out of 5As I already boldly announced that Drive My Car was the best film of 2021, I guess I have to also vote for it as the best International Feature at the Oscars. But Norway’s entry, The Worst Person in the World, is really good too. I was quickly charmed by Renate […]
Movie Review: 2020 Oscar Nominated Live-Action Short Films
A Sister (Belgium) 4.5 stars out of 5 A taut, highly realistic thriller based around a nighttime car ride. I won’t say any more plot-wise as it’s very worth watching and I don’t want to ruin it. Terrific performance by the actress not in the car, Veerle Baetens. This would be my choice for the […]
Movie Review: 2020 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Dcera (Czechia) 3.5 stars out of 5 Daughter/dad story #1, told in an intriguing, dark papier-mâché-esque style. Grown-up daughter reflects back on her relationship with her father back in the day. Impressive, though I had a little trouble following the exact details of this one. Hair Love (USA) 3 stars out of 5 Daughter/dad story […]
Movie Review: 2016 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Hey, I like cartoons, who doesn’t? And then at some point you’re told, no, they’re not cartoons, they’re “animated shorts” and should be taken seriously. Stop smiling, kid! I caught Bambi vs. Godzilla very early on, on TV, but it didn’t register as a separate art form or anything. Was just a funny little cartoon. […]
Movie Review: The Artist
3.5 stars out of 5 The Artist is a pretty nice film, but it doesn’t have a lot to say. I didn’t want to see it. I resisted seeing it. The trailers seemed too cutesy for me. A little too slick. You know who does good homages to the silent era? This Canadian guy named […]
Jack Silbert, curator