'2010 Oscar Shorts  Live Action Program' review: Academy Award-nominated shorts live up to the hype

Every year, millions of Oscar viewers watch with blank stares and general disinterest as the winners of the Best Short Film categories (Live Action, Animated and Documentary) are announced. And how can you blame them, when 99 percent of the public hasn’t seen—or even had a chance to view—these films? Fortunately, a welcome remedy has arrived: The 2010 Oscar Shorts — Live Action Program is coming to a theater near you. And not a moment too soon, with the likes of Valentine’s Day (5.7 IMDB user rating), Dear John (5.3) and Tooth Fairy (4.0) currently clogging up multiplexes. This year’s 2010 Oscar Shorts — Live Action Program lineup:

Kavi
Like Slumdog Millionaire? You’ll love Kavi, the tale of a boy in India whose family works as modern-day slaves in a brick kiln. Kavi, played by Sagar Salunke in winning fashion, yearns to escape the drudgery of manual labor and join the upper-class boys he sees playing cricket every day on an adjacent field. Alas, his cold-hearted boss (Ulhas Tayade) has other ideas. Writer/Director Gregg Helvey, a student Academy Award winner, directs with a sure hand, exposing the brutal conditions that exist in parts of India today and guiding Kavi to a powerful climax. Grade: A-

Kavi trailer:

The Door
A Russian family is hustled out of its home by local police and relocated to considerably less desirable digs. Yet the dad (Igor Sigov, registering strongly) remarks to his adorable daughter that “they’re the lucky ones.” The dark secrets behind this surprising statement—and the Russian government’s efforts to sweep them under the rug—gradually unfold in Irish writer/director Ulhas Tayade’s stellar short film, which slowly sneaks up and takes a piece out of you. Grade: B+

Miracle Fish
You think you’ve seen it before: lower-class, outcast boy attends elementary school and withstands various levels of physical and emotional abuse by his classmates. Retreating to the sick bay, he takes a snooze only to awake and find out that perhaps his birthday wish has come true—he’s all alone. As he explores his suddenly quiet surroundings, this seemingly pedestrian film gradually morphs into something altogether unexpected as Aussie director Luke Doolan uses carefully composed images and long silences to slowly build a feeling of unease and dread. Grade: B

The New Tenants
If you think you’ve had a bad moving experience, wait until you see this short film. Two men (Jamie Harrold and indie vet Kevin Corrigan) debate life’s minutiae while chain-smoking ciggies and snacking on meat-on-a-stick in their new apartment. Their complaining is halted by a knock on the door, where an old lady asks to borrow some flour. When they hand over a bag belonging to a previous resident, it sets off an alternately funny and bizarre chain of events that—at its best—brings to mind the Coen brothers. Unfortunately, though Joachim Back’s short boasts the biggest star power of the five nominees—most notably a Vincent D’Onofrio cameo—it’s also the least satisfying, a little too self-consciously talky and quirky for its own good. Grade: B-

Instead of Abracadabra
What is it about magicians that makes for great comedy? Whatever the reason, Instead of Abracadabra’s lead character, a 25-year-old wannabe illusionist who still lives with his parents, follows in the grand tradition of hilarious magicians of the big and small screen—most recently exemplified by Will Arnett’s side-splitting turn in “Arrested Development.”

With his dad egging him on to get a real job, Abracadabra’s good son reluctantly agrees—but only if dad lets him perform a magic act at his upcoming 60th birthday party. Throw in a fetching love interest next door, and the stage is set for an uproarious comedy, which lead actor Simon Berger—sporting a rulin’ pencil mustache and donning one ridiculous costume after another—and talented Swedish director Patrik Eklund are happy to provide, delivering inspired gags that come at you fast and furious. Grade: A-

Instead of Abracadabra trailer:

Overall, the 2010 Oscar Shorts – Live Action Program serves up a ton of artistic ambition across a variety of genres to create a wholly satisfying final product. My advice? Just say no to the crappola Hollywood typically dumps into theaters in February and give the 2010 Oscar Shorts a look.

"2010 Oscar Shorts — Live Action Program" opens in Atlanta on Feb. 19 at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema, as does its sister program, “2010 Oscar Shorts — Animated Program.”

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