Nate At The Movies

If Richard Linklater ever made an Oscar-nominated short film, I feel like it would be very similar to The Singers. This was such a hangout film, with impressive cinematography to boot, but the gears really started turning as everyone started singing (shocker, I know). Each performance was better than the last, with Will Harrington’s raspy voice and virtuosic piano playing taking the cake for me. The film was also occasionally funny, like the guy singing opera in the middle (look away, Timothée Chalamet) or the two guys singing “Amazing Grace” at the beginning. I do wish these characters had been developed more beyond their song choices, but for 15 minutes, I was satisfied.

The Singers was a lovely start to the afternoon, and I’m as surprised as you are that this one didn’t end up being my favorite, considering it consisted mostly of singing and piano-playing. There were definitely short films today that had more to say, but not many of them had more fun than The Singers. What I would give to find a hangout like this.

Next up was A Friend of Dorothy, whose poster pinkness had been sitting on my watchlist for two months before I learned what it was about. I ended up quite enjoying this one, too, for two main reasons. While it wasn’t as funny as other nominees—old people with potty mouths will never not be funny, though—the film wore its heart on its sleeve and painted a very touching central relationship between Dorothy and JJ. Especially with so much of her family not interested in her, it was nice to see a stranger be there so consistently and earnestly for someone.

I also enjoyed the bond that these two characters formed around theater—gotta love art that loves the arts! It was fun to watch JJ experiment with different plays and grow just a little bit as an actor, and the emotional moments around The Bent and The Inheritance were sweet. I also loved the conversation they shared at the end about truly seeing each other; it was an excellent final note in a short film that surprised me with its heart. It sits near the top of my live action short rankings, but you’ll see in a minute why it’s not the very top.

Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of Butcher’s Stain. Even though the story didn’t really speak to me—I felt like there were other nominated films this year that spoke on this conflict in more interesting ways—I didn’t openly hate it, like I did some of last year’s nominees. That’s a trend that you’ll see, actually; in both the live action and animated nominees, I had least favorites, but I wasn’t as offended or upset or annoyed by any of them as I was last year. A big step up for the Academy voters this year!

Butcher’s Stain frustratingly split its time between the situation in the store and Samir’s custody battle with his baby mama. While neither story was all that engaging, the store drama was at least a bit more interesting. I wanted more explosiveness and drama, but all I got was a faulty air conditioner. That was a striking ending, for sure, but I was still left wondering what the point of it all was. Again, I can appreciate that Israel-Gaza stories are getting some love amongst Oscar voters, but this has been done better.

Next on the docket was Two People Exchanging Saliva, which is my current pick to win the award (though not my favorite; stay tuned). I feel like the Academy’s going to flip over the premise and execution and look of this film, and they’re totally right to. The expedited world building was impressive and creative, from the slap credits to the ban on kissing—two things that don’t seem like they’d exist in the same universe, but definitely worked here.

The story was pervertedly fun, entertaining with a “will they, won’t they” tussle with death on the line and some unconventional comedy. Add in the confident black and white direction, and you’ve got a winner on your hands. I also enjoyed the ending, both the barrenness of the box graveyard and Pétulante’s immediate turn back to selling products to Angine; how deliciously selfish! Two People Exchanging Saliva was a banger, and even though it isn’t a film that would usually be my cup of tea, it was here.

Here it is, folks: not just my favorite live action nominee, but my favorite out of all of the nominees! Jane Austen’s Period Drama was a title that made me roll my eyes when it earned its nomination, but it totally redeemed itself. I can’t understate how much I was laughing through this entire short film, and I had the full support of my theater, too. We were all in stitches thanks to this story’s humor, which excellently teetered between overt and subversive. The names were hilariously on point, and most of the fun came from being an audience knowledgeable on periods when Mr. James Dickley wasn’t. Hilarity ensued!

The mixture of crude humor, an earnest focus on women’s health and wellness, and Austenian character and setting made for a delightfully raunchy and funny watch. I don’t think that Jane Austen’s Period Drama has a legit chance to win, but if it did, I’d start doing flips. This short film was all of the fun I wasn’t expecting to have today; it was short and sweet and gut-bustingly funny, and I want to rewatch it already. A winner in my heart for sure, if nowhere else.