THIS WEEK
VOICES
OSCARS,
NEWS
ARTS
F R O M P A G E 20
Best Documentary Feature CitizenFour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth Virunga
Life Itself, the stunning documentary based on Roger Ebert’s autobiography, wasn’t nominated. Of the two nominated features I saw, Last Days in Vietnam (which played Indy Film Fest) was the best. The winner, however, will be Citizenfour, the documentary about Edward Snowden, because the Academy will consider it more important.
SHOULD WIN: Life Itself, dammit! WILL WIN: Citizenfour
Best Original Song
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie “Glory” from Selma “Grateful” from Beyond the Lights SHOULD/WILL WIN: Selma in a landslide victory.
Best Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Into the Woods Mr. Turner SHOULD/WILL WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Sound Editing
American Sniper Interstellar Birdman Unbroken The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies WILL WIN: American Sniper
Best Sound Mixing American Sniper Birdman Interstellar
Unbroken Whiplash
SHOULD/WILL WIN: American Sniper
Best Visual Effects
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy Interstellar X-Men: Days of Future Past SHOULD/WILL WIN: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Are you kidding? Did you SEE those apes?! 22 FILM // 02.18.15 - 02.25.15 // 100% RECYCLED PAPER // NUVO
MUSIC
CLASSIFIEDS
THE SHORTS
S
cott Shoger here: We’re handling the shorts a little differently this year. Because you can still see the animated and live action programs at Keystone Art Cinema, we offer you Ed’s take on each of the shorts (previously published on nuvo.net), followed by his pick for the Oscar winner. You’ll note that Ed didn’t see the documentary program, which our local Landmark outpost opted out of screening (and no other theater picked up; we’re looking at you, Indianapolis Museum of Art). That program includes the brave and excruciating Our Curse, a 2014 Heartland winner about parents/filmmakers trying to keep alive their baby, who was born with a disorder popularly known as Ondine’s curse. Named after the mythical water nymph, the all-too-real affliction does sound like something out of a fairy tale: The cursed stop breathing when they fall asleep. Okay, back to Ed.
Best Animated Short Film
The Bigger Picture w United Kingdom Dir. Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees Daisy Jacobs wrote, directed and animated this look at two adult brothers bickering about everything, particularly how to best care for their elderly mother. The animation is inventive and impressively textured. The story deals with caregiving and mortality in a no-nonsense, deeply human fashion. Remember Jacobs’ name — she has big things ahead for her.
A Single Life q Netherlands Dir. Joris Oprins In less than three minutes, A Single Life sets up its premise — a woman receives a 45 rpm record, puts it on her record player and soon learns that by moving the needle, she can skip to various points in her lifetime — explores the idea and pops off after a snappy final joke. Excellent cartoon!
SHOULD WIN: The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper e United States Dir: Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi
WILL WIN: Disney’s Feast
Young Pig tends to the wind dam that keeps the poison clouds out of a small town. Pig is bullied by classmates, but a new student, Fox, becomes friends with him. The agreeable tale is crafted out of over 8,000 paintings by artists Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi.
Aya e France/Israel Dir. Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Feast e United States Dir. Patrick Osborne
Feast
Disney cartoon about Winston, an adorable Boston Terrier, whose human James feeds him loads of glorious junk food … until he gets a girlfriend and adopts a healthier lifestyle. Is there a way for both man and dog to be happy? The filmmakers pack lots of plot and charm into the feature.
Me and My Moulton Canada Dir. Torill Kove
r
A young girl and her two sisters must adjust to their parents, who are loving, smart and not quite in sync with the girls’ idea of normal. Norwegian Torill Kove’s autobiographical tale is intriguing at first, but everything is so reserved that it’s hard to get emotionally invested.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Boogaloo and Graham
Best Live Action Short Film
A young Israeli woman (Sarah Adler) at an airport is asked by a driver to hold his name placard for a few minutes. The man whose name is on the card, a Danish music researcher (Ulrich Thomsen), walks up and, instead of explaining the situation, the woman impulsively pretends to be his driver. The conversations between the two as they travel are low key, believable and consistently interesting.
Boogaloo and Graham w United Kingdom Dir. Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney In 1978 Belfast, two young brothers are given a pair of chicks by their father. Guess what they name them? Cut to later, when the adorable chicks are now two big, loud chickens and mom and dad are determined to get them out of the house. The story of family is raucous and charming, with a surprising, satisfying wrap up.
Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak) t
France/China Dir. Hu Wei and Julien Féret
In a remote part of Tibet, a photographer and his assistant take photos of the local people, changing the backdrop from time to time. That’s the whole movie. It’s interesting watching the dynamics within the various groups, but there’s not enough time to get more than a passing glance at anybody.
Parvaneh e Switzerland Dir. Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger An Afghan girl (Nissa Kashani) is in Zurich to wire some money to her family, but they won’t let her do it without a valid ID. She turns to a local girl (Cheryl Graf) for help. The film does a nice job of taking you in a standard direction, then veering to a richer one. Satisfying.
The Phone Call r United Kingdom Dir. Mat Kirkby and James Lucas Sally Hawkins plays a worker for a British crisis line. Jim Broadbent supplies the voice of her caller, a despondent older man grieving the death of his wife, who says he’s taken a lot of pills. As should come as no surprise, the acting is exceptional. The story, however, is routine fare. Well done, but I wanted something more.
SHOULD/WILL WIN: The funny, sweet Boogaloo and Graham
Best Documentary Short Subject Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 Joanna Our Curse The Reaper (La Parka) White Earth
I wasn’t provided the opportunity to see these, so I’ll opt for the industry publications’ favorite.
WILL WIN: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.