Perhaps more than any of the other 23 categories, the Oscar-nominated Animated Shorts come with the promise of fresh, risk-taking perspectives. The medium of animation is truly limitless, and for being so constrained within the mainstream, there is something liberating to view the artistic shorts explore, push and reinvent themselves for the betterment of their own narratives.
Jaret Morlan
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Oscar-nominated Live Action Shorts call us to tap into our ability to care
The Oscar-nominated Live Action Shorts program as a whole, though the most uneven of the three Shorts categories, is a winner. A meditation on danger, safety and choices, it presents itself to the viewer only occasionally with judgement. The strongest argument for the short film format is right here in front of us within this programming.
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Oscar Documentary Shorts urge audiences to embrace hope
This year’s slate for Best Documentary Shorts provides insight into the world’s desperate need for justice and the hope it drags behind it. Is that too bleak? Too cynical? Would you prefer hope to be leading rather than limp and full of grass stains? So do the five films nominated this year. They urge us to embrace hope of any kind, even if it’s reactionary.
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A story divided: I, TONYA’s deft perspective shifts
I, Tonya Film Scene — opens Friday, Jan. 12 For people of a certain age, the 1994 incident involving Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and a premeditated attack on her team-rival Nancy Kerrigan has a permanent place in the memory banks. Many recall those events very clearly, as well as the drama that played out […]
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‘The Big Sick’ brings an elevation of the romantic comedy genre to FilmScene
The best true stories are the ones that feel too unlikely to be true but too honest to be made up. There is a moment in The Big Sick, the newest film from director Michael Showalter (Hello, My Name is Doris, The Baxter) and producer Judd Apatow (Girls, Bridesmaids), when the film morphs into something unexpected.
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Oscar-nominated short films bring a highly recommended unique experience to FilmScene through Feb. 23
Oscar Shorts FilmScene — through Thursday, Feb. 23 Blue Carpet Bash FilmScene — Sunday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. For decades, now, the office Oscar pool has been won or lost by whomever can score an uneducated guess in the three Short Film categories: Animated, Live-Action and Documentary. But this year’s fifteen nominees are not […]
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Living the fanboy dream: A chat with Eric Zala ahead of FilmScene’s ‘Raiders!’ double feature
Raiders! Double Feature Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation FilmScene — Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. On Thursday, Aug. 18, FilmScene in Iowa City will be presenting a Special Event double feature of the documentary Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film […]
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Oscars Round Up: Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Room’ tugs mercilessly at our perceptions
The LV film team has been loving this series, highlighting Oscar nominees in advance of Sunday’s awards ceremony. First, John Rigby discussed ‘45 Years,’ next was Warren Sprouse’s ‘Theeb‘ review and, yesterday, Matthew Byrd checked in with his take on ‘Brooklyn.’ Today, Jaret Morlan (who wrote the piece on Sunday’s Oscar watch party for Issue […]
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Celebrating the Oscars without forgetting their flaws
The Englert Theatre will be hosting an event on Sunday, Feb. 28 for the 88th annual Academy Awards. Co-sponsored for the second year by FilmScene, the live broadcast is billed as Hollywood Live! and will be the sixth ceremony to be screened and enjoyed at Iowa City’s historical performance space. The event has firmly established […]
