2006, Animation, Comedy, Satire, Several languages, Short Films

2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Enjoy the best live-action and animated shorts from the 2006 Academy Awards, including the animated winner “The Danish Poet,” which follows the title character on an adventure into romance and inspiration. In addition to live-action winner “West Bank Story” — a Middle Eastern parody of West Side Story — this eclectic collection also includes nominees “Binta and the Great Idea,” “One Too Many,” “Helmer & Son,” “The Saviour” and “Maestro.”

This collection is a mixed bag. You can easily skip the shorts that you don’t want to see. I recommend the following:

  • West Bank Story
  • Maestro
  • The Passenger
  • Guide Dog
  • One Rat Short
  • Surviving the Rush

“West Bank Story”, “Guide Dog”, and “Surviving the Rush” are really funny.

Included are:

  • “West Bank Story” parody of “West Side Story” sung in English with some really funny sight gags. In fact, it is really a brilliant comedy made at the University of Southern California.
  • “The Saviour” tense encounter with traveling missionaries in white shirts and ties. (Australian)
  • “Binta and the Great Idea” filmed in Africa and spoken in French with subtitles.
  • “Éramos pocos” Spanish with subtitles. Mother abandons her husband and son who then bring their grandmother from a rest home back to their home.
  • “The Danish Poet” Animated cartoon made by Danes. Romantic tale involving Denmark and Norway.
  • “Maestro” This very clever robotic animation appears in other collections of short film. Quite unique.
  • “The Wraith of Cobble Hill” Play dough animation about life in a black ghetto.
  • “The Passenger” Robotic animation. Humorous horror tale about young man’s adventures while reading a book entitled “The Passenger”. No dialog.
  • “A Gentlemen’s Duel” Animation. Two men duel for the affections of a damsel. English dialog. Somewhat vulgar.
  • “Guide Dog” Animated. Very funny story of a dog who has terrible luck trying to be a guide dog.
  • “One Rat Short” Extremely clever photo animation about a rat and a bag of Cheez-its. No dialog.
  • “Surviving the Rush” Really funny live short about a movie theater manager trying to survive a really bad day. Vulgar and religiously irreverent.

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