It’s beginning to look a lot like Oscar season. All the goodies at the private screenings, the gentle push you feel to go see the new movie that promises to be the one you’ll never forget. And now the names of movies that have been short listed for Oscar nominations. The good folks over at yahoonews.com give us this:
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Social problems, medical challenges and the power of music are among the subjects covered by the eight short documentaries shortlisted for Oscar consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Three to five of the films will be chosen as nominees, which will be announced January 23 along with the contenders in the other categories.
On the social front, Ruby Yang’s “The Blood of Yingzhou District” looks at children in China who have been orphaned because of AIDS. “The Diary of Immaculee” by Peter LeDonne tells the story of a woman who survived the Rwandan genocide. Leslie Iwerks’ “Recycled Life” is an account of people living and working around a toxic landfill in Guatemala City. Medical issues are examined in Lori Benson’s “Dear Talula,” a personal documentary about dealing with breast cancer, and Marilyn Braverman’s “A Revolving Door” in which a family helps a son deal with mental illness and addiction.
The films that cast a spotlight on musical subjects include Karina Epperlein’s “Phoenix Dance,” in which Homer Avila dances a pas de deux despite the loss of his leg; Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon’s “Rehearsing a Dream,” which follows 17-year-old artists during a week of mentoring with such figures as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vanessa Williams and Michael Tilson Thomas; and Nathaniel Kahn’s “Two Hands,” a portrait of pianist Leon Fleisher, who after losing the ability to play with his right hand in the ’60s played with only his left until experimental surgery enabled him to return to playing with both hands.
How on earth are you supposed to scale those dow? I’d like to see every one of those movies. The only one that really stands out at the weak link is the 17 year old artists meeting famous mentors in “rehearsing a dream”. Even that one I’m sure would be a fabulous movie, it’s just a bit played with all TV shows focused on people wanting to become their idols.
My favorite’s from the bunch are Phoenix Dance (I have to know how a person dances ballet with one leg!). Two Hands, because seeing someone get a second chance to do what they love with all of their body sounds moving. And the Recycled Life, mostly since depending on how things go in L.A. for me I may also have to live in a dump.
How about everyone out there? What are your top three choices for Oscars in this category?
