Film Review: Diversity & High Quality in 2018 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Short Films

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – From deafness to religious conflict to one of the most vicious events in American history, the Oscar nominated Live Action short films fulfill the drama, emotions and even laughs in a compact form. The 2018 Live Action Shorts nominees are being shown in one program, locally at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. Click here for more information. The Animations Shorts are also being shown.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

The caliber of all the live action shorts – which of course means a narrative with actors, as opposed to animation or documentary – are at a top drawer level, both as stories and films. There is even a surreal comedy (“The Eleven O’Clock”) that delivers hilarity and thoughtfulness in 13 scant minutes. There is not one to recommend over the other, only a journey of cinematic purpose in each film, delivered with a creativeness that becomes emotional. Even the film that is a plea for action (“The Silent Child”) is free of the stickiness that those type of works carry… it is inspiring in its activism.

The films are DeKalb Elementary, a contemporary look at the psychology behind shooting incidents. My Nephew Emmett is about the Emmett Til civil rights incident in the 1950s, and stunningly marries the past to the presentation. The aforementioned “The Eleven O’Clock” and “The Silent Child” are from Australia and Britain, and have a crispness to their art… “Eleven” even has a Monty Python feel. And finally, “Watu Wote: All of Us” explores a real life incident that expands upon humanity. It’s so virtuous it must be true.

The 2018 Oscar Nominated Shorts – Live Action are currently playing in Chicago at Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark Street. See local listings for other show times and theaters. Available through Video-on-Demand February 27th, 2018. Featuring the short films “The Silent Child” (Directed by Rachel Stenton & Chris Overton), “Watu Wote: All of Us” (Katja Benrath & Tobias Rosen), “The Eleven O’Clock” (Josh Lawson & Derin Seale), “My Nephew Emmett” (Kevin Wilson Jr.), an “DeKalb Elementary” (Reed Van Dyk). Not Rated. Click here for more information.

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “2018 Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts”

LiveAction1
’The Silent Child,’ Directed by Rachel Stenton and Chris Overton
Photo credit: Shorts TV

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “2018 Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts”

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