Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

I’m offering winner predictions in all categories for the Oscars as Awards Editor for FilmFactual. Here’s my assessment of Best Live Action Short.

Oscar Predictions: Best Live Action Short

I’m offering predictions in all categories for the Oscar nominations as Awards Editor for FilmFactual. Here’s my assessment of Best Live Action Short.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees: Ala Kachuu – Take and Run, The Dress, The Long Goodbye, On My Mind, Please Hold

Previous winners: Two Distant Strangers, The Neighbor’s Window, Skin, The Silent Child, Sing, Stutterer, The Phone Call
For your information: Both “On My Mind” filmmakers have previous wins. Director Martin Strange-Hansen won this prize in 2002 for “This Charming Man.” Producer Kim Magnusson has six previous nominations in this category, with two wins, for 1998’s “Election Night” and 2013’s “Helium.” “The Dress” producer Maciej Slesicki was nominated in 2013 for the documentary short “Our Curse.” “The Long Goodbye” producer Riz Ahmed was nominated last year for his performance in “Sound of Metal.” This is the first nomination for all other filmmakers. I had the pleasure to interview all the filmmakers – click on the titles above to watch! Also be sure to check out my conversations with two of the film’s stars, Erick Lopez and Riz Ahmed. All five films are available to watch online. Rent “Ala Kachuu” and “The Dress” on Vimeo, watch “The Long Goodbye” and “On My Mind” on YouTube, and “Please Hold” on HBO Max.

Who should win: I’m all for this list. I would probably choose “Ala Kachuu” or “The Long Goodbye.”
Who will win: This category is competitive. I’ll go with The Long Goodbye but it could be any of them.

Oscar Nominees: Best Live Action Short

My predictions: 2/5
The nominees: Ala Kachuu – Take and Run, The Dress, The Long Goodbye, On My Mind, Please Hold

I may not have done a great job predicting the nominees, but I did get to see all fifteen of the shortlisted films and interview all the filmmakers, so I’m excited to see these films honored now. I’m particularly happy to see Ala Kachuu – Take and Run since it was ranked dead last on GoldDerby, and it’s a great choice. I didn’t predict The Dress, On My Mind, and Please Hold, but they all make sense as nominees. The Long Goodbye was the other one I guessed correctly, which isn’t a surprise given its Oscar-nominated star. Click on the film titles to watch my conversations with the filmmakers!

My current bet to win: I’ll go with On My Mind for now with “The Long Goodbye” as runner-up.

Oscar Predictions: Best Live Action Short

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 8th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in all categories.

Last year’s nominees: Feeling Through, The Letter Room, The Present, Two Distant Strangers, White Eye

I had the opportunity this year to screen all fifteen shortlisted films in this category and also interview each of their directors. Read my analysis and predictions over at The Film Experience and watch my interviews on the AwardsWatch YouTube channel.

Predicted nominees: Ala Kachuu – Take and Run, Distances, The Long Goodbye, When the Sun Sets, You’re Dead Helen

Forecasted winner: I believe The Long Goodbye will win here.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:

 
Feeling Through (B+)
A man struggling to figure out where he will sleep that night is compelled to help another man he sees on a street corner who is both deaf and blind, forging an unexpected relationship between the two of them. This short is endearing and enjoyable with two rich characters at its center. Watch it now on YouTube via Omeleto.

Two Distant Strangers (B+)
A Black man gets shot and killed over and over by a white police officer on his way home as he experiences a time loop. Similar in premise to the feature film “The Obituary of Tunde Johnson,” this short explores identity, connection, and conflict in a stark and unforgettable way. Content warning: this film does not censor its scenes, which is powerful but disturbing. Watch it on Netflix.

The Letter Room (B+)
Oscar Isaac stars as a prison guard put in charge of reading letters to inmates who takes a special interest in one correspondent. Its protagonist is lonely and isolated, and the connection he makes with someone through the words that she writes feels dynamic and energizing. Watch it on Topic.

The Present (B+)
A Palestinian man crosses into Israel with his young daughter to purchase a new refrigerator as a gift for his wife, a simple task that becomes a much more complicated and difficult ordeal. Its main characters are sympathetic, and though this story is strongly tied to its geopolitical setting, there is something universal and relatable to it. Watch it now on Netflix.

White Eye (B+)
An Israeli man finds his stolen bike outside of a restaurant and tries to get the police to intervene, which threatens the livelihood of the undocumented immigrant he believes has stolen it. This story is involving and complex, not set on portraying the situation as black-and-white but exploring it on a deeper level. Watch a trailer on YouTube.

Previous winners: The Neighbor’s Window, Skin, The Silent Child, Sing, Stutterer, The Phone Call, Helium

For your information: This is the first Oscar nomination for all filmmakers. “The Present” won the BAFTA for Best Short Film, though none of the other films here were in contention.

Who should win: Unlike last year’s list, I liked this one a lot. I’m not sure I have a clear preference and would probably be fine with any of them winning since they’re all impressive and worthwhile.
Who will win: I suspect that Two Distant Strangers in the frontrunner, but it could honestly be any of them.

Oscar Nominees: Best Live Action Short

My predictions: 2/5
The nominees: Feeling Through, The Letter Room, The Present, Two Distant Strangers, White Eye

I’ve seen four of these films but only managed to predict two correctly. The biggest surprise is that Pedro Almodovar’s Tilda Swinton-starring “The Human Voice” isn’t here. The Oscar Isaac vehicle The Letter Room did get in, as did Feeling Through, a sweet story of an unexpected friendship. Both the Palestinian and Israeli entries in this category, The Present and White Eye, made it, and they’re both great. The one I haven’t seen is Two Distant Strangers, so more on that once I’ve had the chance to screen it.

My current bet to win: I’m going with Feeling Through.

Oscar Predictions: Best Live Action Short

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Monday, March 15th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in all categories.

Last year’s nominees: Brotherhood, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbor’s Window, Saria, A Sister

There are ten finalists in this category, and I had the opportunity to screen eight of them. Therefore, I’ll be making my predictions with short summaries and reviews of the one I’ve seen and watching either of the other two that I haven’t after nominations are announced if they make the cut. 

Bittu (B-)
Two young girls in India have a disagreement at school and things quickly turn more serious. This film features strong performances from its child actors but exemplifies a miserable and depressing focus all too typical of this category. Watch it now on Vimeo.

Da Yie (B)
Two children in Ghana are offered a ride by an adult and end up experiencing a different side of life than they’re previously known. This film also features excellent performances from its actors and is weakened slightly from a lack of firm direction in its narrative. Watch it on VOD on Vimeo.

Feeling Through (B+)
A man struggling to figure out where he will sleep that night is compelled to help another man he sees on a street corner who is both deaf and blind, forging an unexpected relationship between the two of them. This short is endearing and enjoyable with two rich characters at its center. Watch it now on YouTube via Omeleto.

The Human Voice (B+)
This one-woman show features the terrific Tilda Swinton, who speaks and stares at the camera as she works through the stages of grief and acceptance related to the seemingly inevitable departure of her ex-lover. It’s also Pedro Almodovar’s English-language debut, and it’s a visually stunning and involving experience. It's now playing in theaters from Sony Pictures Classics.

The Kicksled Choir (B+)
A young boy in Norway wants desperately to join a choir that travels on sleds and raises money for refugee communities while his father deals with his own anger issues towards its members. It’s an engaging and rewarding journey. Watch a trailer on Vimeo.

The Letter Room (B+)
Oscar Isaac stars as a prison guard put in charge of reading letters to inmates who takes a special interest in one correspondent. Its protagonist is lonely and isolated, and the connection he makes with someone through the words that she writes feels dynamic and energizing. Watch in on Topic.

The Present (B+)
A Palestinian man crosses into Israel with his young daughter to purchase a new refrigerator as a gift for his wife, a simple task that becomes a much more complicated and difficult ordeal. Its main characters are sympathetic, and though this story is strongly tied to its geopolitical setting, there is something universal and relatable to it. Watch a trailer on YouTube.

White Eye (B+)
An Israeli man finds his stolen bike outside of a restaurant and tries to get the police to intervene, which threatens the livelihood of the undocumented immigrant he believes has stolen it. This story is involving and complex, not set on portraying the situation as black-and-white but exploring it on a deeper level. Watch a trailer on YouTube.

I haven’t had the chance to watch Two Distant Strangers and The Van (rentable on Vimeo), the two remaining finalists. Based on what I’ve seen, here are my best guesses.

Predicted nominees: Da Yie, The Human Voice, The Kicksled Choir, The Letter Room, The Present

Forecasted winner: I believe The Human Voice will win here.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:
Brotherhood (B-)
This twenty-five-minute downer, from director Meryam Joobeur, finds the son of a Tunisian family returning home with a new bride after heading over to Syria to fight. It’s an involving story with strong performances all around, but one that can’t escape its miserable nature.

Nefta Football Club (B)
This seventeen-minute French film, from director Yves Fiat, tells an entertaining story of two kids in Tunisia who find a donkey with bags of white powder strapped to its back and have competing ideas about what to do next. Watch it for yourself on Vimeo.

The Neighbor’s Window (B)
The only English-language film on this list comes from director Marshall Curry. This twenty-minute short is a sentimental look at a marriage and how it changes when two young people move in across the way where they can be seen through the window. Watch it for yourself on the film’s website.

Saria (B)
This twenty-three-minute Spanish-language short, from director Bryan Buckley, follows two Guatemalan sisters dreaming of better lives in America in the run-up to a devastating true-life fire in which 41 orphans perished in 2017. It’s more stirring as a call to investigation about this horrific occurrence than as a film in its own right.

A Sister (B)
This sixteen-minute French short, from director Delphine Girard, finds a 911 operator answering a call from a woman in a car who is pretending to talk to her sister. It doesn’t unfold like a thriller but instead stays firmly focused on the two women on either end of the line. It’s decent if not entirely innovative.

Previous winners: Skin, The Silent Child, Sing, Stutterer, The Phone Call, Helium, Curfew
For your information: Curry has three previous Oscar nominations, for feature documentaries “Street Fight” in 2005 and “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” in 2011,” and for documentary short “A Night at the Garden” in 2017. Buckley was nominated in this category in 2012 for “Asad.”

Who should win: I wasn’t blown away by any of these, which were mostly depressing as usual. I suppose “Nefta Football Club” or “The Neighbor’s Window” would be my choice if I had to pick.
Who will win: I think this goes to A Sister, though it could be any of them.

Oscar Nominees: Best Live Action Short

My predictions: 3/5
The nominees: Brotherhood, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbors’ Window, Saria, A Sister

I have nothing to report on these at this point since I haven’t seen any of them, but I managed to pick three of the nominees. I’ll have more to add once I’ve watched them.

My current bet to win: I’ll say Nefta Football Club having seen none of them.

Oscar Predictions: Best Live Action Short

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Monday, January 13th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories.

Last year’s nominees: Detainment, Fauve, Madre, Marguerite, Skin

There are ten finalists in this category, and while a handful of them are available to watch online, I haven’t had a chance to do so yet. Therefore, I’ll be making my predictions based on short summaries and watching the five that make the cut after nominations are announced.

Predicted nominees: Brotherhood, Miller and Son, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbor’s Window, Sometimes, I Think About Dying

Alternates: The Christmas Gift, Little Hands, Refugee, Saria, A Sister

Forecasted winner: Maybe Miller and Son? More once nominees are announced and I’ve had a chance to watch them.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:
Detainment (B-)
This thirty-minute recreation of the interrogation of two young boys suspected in the disappearance and murder of a three-year-old is immensely disturbing, and becomes even more so as their secrets unfold. While the performances of young actors Ely Solan and Leon Hughes are excellent, the film feels disjointed thanks to its editing, and the subject matter is remarkably unpleasant. It also appears that both the victim’s mother and the detective who investigated the case aren’t happy that these horrifying true events were dramatized and now contending for an award.

Fauve (C-)
Historically, films about friends nominated in this category never turn out too well for those involved. This Canadian tale of two boys playing around in an empty mine turns bleak quickly when one of them makes clear that he’s not joking and is actually drowning in quicksand. This is a miserable film without too many redeeming qualities, begging the question of why it is that such serious, depressing films always seem to make up the majority of the nominees in this category each year.

Madre (C+)
This film’s own summary describes it as “every parent’s nightmare,” as a Spanish woman receives a phone call from her six-year-old son telling her that he has been abandoned alone on a beach somewhere in France by his father. It’s difficult not to be drawn in and captivated by the plight of this mother desperate to find and comfort her son, but, like most of these films, it’s an experience that feels needlessly dark, and a bit too prone to fanciful visual editing.

Marguerite (B)
This is the only moderately pleasant or optimistic film in the bunch, meeting a French woman and her nurse during their daily interactions. Marguerite’s curiosity about her nurse Rachel’s romantic relationship helps her think back about events in her own life. Not too much happens here, but it’s nice to see a relationship built on true equality and respect in contrast to everything else in this field.

Skin (C)
The only American entry in this bunch is actually the most horrific, following a ten-year-old white boy whose friendly exchange with a black man in a supermarket leads to a slew of hateful violence. As a commentary on sentiments fueling the nation at this moment in time, this film might be effective, but its presentation is so off-putting and brutal that it’s hard to digest. The presence of recognizable actors like Jonathan Tucker from “Justified,” Danielle Macdonald from “Paradise Hills,” and Lonnie Chavis from “This Is Us” only adds to the discomfort.

Previous winners: The Silent Child, Sing, Stutterer, The Phone Call, Helium, Curfew, The Shore

For your information: This is the first nomination for all directors and produced involved on these five projects.

Who should win: I had heard that these films were all so dark, and it’s completely true. The lone ray of moderate sunshine – “Marguerite” – is my clear choice.
Who will win: Optimism has to prevail somehow here, even if there are powerful elements in the other options. I could sort of see “Detainment” or “Fauve” winning, but I’m betting on Marguerite.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:
Dekalb Elementary (B-)
This is a particularly tough watch given its subject matter – a man who walks into an elementary school with a gun – and the recent mass shooting at a Florida high school that has been dominating the news. Knowing that this story is based on a real 911 call that was placed by a receptionist adds depth and purpose, but this reenactment, if that’s what it’s meant to be, feels less than genuine. The most difficult part is that this film takes a less destructive course than what has actually happened in reality so many times, offering what might be a hopeful prediction for the future but one that sadly doesn’t hold much water.

The Eleven O’Clock (A-)
This very clever and entertaining short is reminiscent of two past nominees from this category, “The Voorman Problem” and “The New Tenants.” It stars Josh Lawson from “House of Lies” and Damon Herriman from “Justified,” both using their native Australian accents, as a therapist and his patient, who has a delusion that causes him to believe that he is a therapist. Watching both of them try to run the session with the other refusing to play the role of the patient is extraordinary fun, and this thirteen-minute ride doesn’t try to accomplish too much, allowing its two hilarious leads to play off each other superbly for a very memorable interaction.

My Nephew Emmett (B)
This short centers on the abduction of fourteen-year-old Emmett Till from his uncle’s house after he was accused by a white woman of whistling at her, leading to historically relevant events that helped pave the way for the civil rights movement. Seeing Emmett’s uncle try so hard to protect his nephew while still acknowledging the circumstances around him and playing a purposely subservient part is harrowing, but there isn’t much about this dramatization that stands out aside from the power of the true story itself.

The Silent Child (B+)
The past two winners of this award have given a focus to those without much of a voice, and this poignant film amplifies that with its story of a young deaf girl whose parents don’t know what to do with her. When a social worker arrives, she begins teaching her sign language and develops an unprecedented bond, but her parents don’t seem interested in investing in such an effort. This call to action for helping those with disabilities thrive with the right support is compelling, and its story is equally sweet and effective.

Watu Wote/All of Us (B)
This student film from German director Katja Benrath takes place in Kenya, where a Christian woman takes a bus to visit relatives that is attacked by a terrorist group that insists on separating the Christian passengers from the Muslims. Adapted from a true story, this film examines cultural clashes and preconceptions while presenting a relatively straightforward recreation of events. While unspectacular, this is far better than past requisite nominees like “That Wasn’t Me” in 2014 and “Na Wewe” in 2011 about third-world incidents like this one.

Previous winners: Sing, Stutterer, The Phone Call, Helium, Curfew, The Shore, God of Love

Who should win: I wasn’t too fond of “Dekalb Elementary,” and I don’t think it’s just because watching anything related to a school shooting these days is more than unpleasant. “My Nephew Emmett” and “Watu Wote” both evoked real-life events but didn’t accomplish more than just portraying them on screen. “The Silent Child” was easy to like and would be a perfectly deserving winner, and I’d enthusiastically throw my support behind the shortest but most worthwhile of these nominees, the delightfully entertaining “The Eleventh O’Clock.”

Who will win: I think that any of these could win, but I think the likeliest given the recent films that took home the award is The Silent Child.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The competition:
Enemies Within (B)
This French drama is fascinating from its start as a French-Algerian man finds himself questioned by a policeman about his entire background and whether he truly belongs in France. As it goes on, it tackles interesting territory but doesn’t manage to be quite as intriguing. This is a heavily dialogue-based short with some strong performances and a thought-provoking theme.

La Femme et le TGV (B+)
This sweet Swiss short centers on a lonely woman who runs a failing bakery and gets her daily joy from waving at the train that passes right by her window. When a train driver throws a letter out the window to her, she begins a correspondence that helps to reinvigorate her attitude and energize her life. Bonus: it’s based on a true story!

Silent Nights (B)
This Danish short tracks the development of an unlikely romance between an undocumented Ghanaian immigrant living in Cophenhagen and a local woman who spends her time volunteering at a homeless shelter. It’s not your typical romantic drama, with two endearing characters who may or may not be right for each other.

Sing (B+)
This Hungarian short finds a young girl starting to a new school and joining the choir, only to be instructed by its director not to sing out loud because her voice isn’t good enough to help them win the big competition in which they will soon compete. It’s a cool premise that leads to an endearing and great ending.

Timecode (B+)
This Spanish-language short’s title conjures up images of a fast-paced thriller with a countdown clock. It refers instead to the time displayed on the camera screens monitored by two security guards, one who works during the day and one who works at night, who develop an unexpected bond in this touching and truly funny film.

Previous winners: Stutterer, The Phone Call, Helium, Cufrew, The Shore, God of Love, The New Tenants, Toyland

Who should win: I liked “La Femme et le TGV” best, but I also see the case for voting for “Timecode” or “Sing.”
Who will win: I think La Femme et le TGV will win, though I understand why others think “Enemies Within” could take it too.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The competition:
Ave Maria (B+)
This story of Orthodox Israeli Jews who find themselves stranded after a minor car accident at a nunnery in the West Bank is an entirely amusing and delightful tale, a refreshing case of clashing cultures in a highly temperamental area getting along rather well and providing plenty of entertainment in the process.

Day One (B+)
This short dives right into its intriguing mix of lightheartedness and intensity as an army interpreter in her first day on the job in Afghanistan goes from having to stop to pee after a short walk to having to deliver a bomb-maker’s pregnant wife’s baby. It balances a range of emotions well and tells an involving and complex story.

Everything Will Be Okay (B)
This film about a divorced father acting strange as he begins a weekend with his young daughter is big on the bond between parent and child. As it builds slowly towards an emotionally-charged finish, it conveys character sentiments but doesn’t hit home as dramatically when it comes to its narrative.

Shok (B+)
It’s hard not to like this sweet tale of friendship that takes place in the middle of an ethnic conflict in Kosovo with armed militants roaming the streets. There’s something wonderful about the enduring connection between two young friends that makes this film resonate strongly.

Stutterer (B+)
This film’s title gives away its plot, a heartwarming and enjoyable story about a man with a stutter who struggles to figure out a way to hide his impediment from the woman that he has been chatting with online and who is overcome by the stress of meeting her in person.

Previous winners: The Phone Call, Helium, Cufrew, The Shore, God of Love, The New Tenants, Toyland, The Mozart of Pickpockets, West Bank Story, Six Shooter

Who should win: They’re all pretty good. I would choose “Ave Maria” or “Shok.”
Who will win: Something tells me it will be Day One.

Oscar Nominees: Short Films

I’ve been predicting these categories for a few years now knowing little to nothing about them, and this year I scored 8/15. I’ve had the chance to screen all of the nominees the past few years, and I hope to do the same this year. All I’ve seen is “Sanjay’s Super Team,” which managed to get a nomination even though the much better feature it played before, “The Good Dinosaur,” didn’t, so I’ll wait to offer commentary until them. All images below are from Oscar.com.

Best Documentary Short Film

My predictions: 2/5
The nominees: Body Team 12, Chau Beyond the Lines, Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah, A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, Last Day of Freedom
The frontrunner: TBD

Best Live Action Short Film

My predictions: 3/5
The nominees: Ave Maria, Day One, Everything Will Be Okay, Shok, Stutterer
The frontrunner: TBD

Best Animated Short Film

My predictions: 3/5
The nominees: Bear Story, Prologue, Sanjay’s Super Team, We Can’t Live Without Cosmos, World of Tomorrow
The frontrunner: TBD

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:
Aya (B+)
This Israeli short about a woman who picks up a passenger at the airport after holding a sign for his driver is a bit strange but extremely entertaining and intoxicating. It’s the longest of the bunch, at nearly 40 minutes, but it’s also the most accessible. It’s fun to see Ulrich Thomsen of “Banshee” opposite Israeli actress Sarah Adler.
Boogaloo and Graham (B+)
You can’t understand a thing they say, but it’s impossible not to like this endearing story of two young brothers who get chicks as pets and then become so attached to their chickens that they want to be vegetarians, but only when it comes to birds. This one is a real crowd-pleaser.
Butter Lamp (C+)
This Tibetan entry features photographers who have full backdrops in front of which they pose large families and other groups of people. Not much happens over the course of fifteen minutes, and it’s hard to find something resembling a plot
Parvaneh (B)
This story of an Afghani immigrant in the Swiss Alps is a film that gradually becomes more engaging and enticing, especially after it introduces a foil to its main character, a rich girl with a decidedly antiestablishment attitude. Watching the friendship of its characters develop is endearing, even if it includes a few peculiar and unexplained moments.
The Phone Call (B)
This short is particularly sad, featuring Sally Hawkins as a suicide hotline operator who answers a call from Jim Broadbent’s despaired widower. It’s a difficult and emotional story, and one that doesn’t add anything cinematic to a powerful plot.

Previous winners: Helium, Cufrew, The Shore, God of Love, The New Tenants, Toyland, The Mozart of Pickpockets, West Bank Story, Six Shooter
Who should win: I would definitely vote for “Aya” or “Boogaloo and Graham.”
Who will win: It could be either Boogaloo and Graham or “Parvaneh.” I think the former is just too irresistible, but the latter could entice voters who want to honor a multicultural story.

Oscar Nominees: Short Films

I’ve been predicting these categories for a few years now knowing little to nothing about them, and this year I scored 9/15. I’ve had the chance to screen all of the nominees the past few years, and I hope to do the same this year. Since I’ve only seen one of the animated shorts at this point (“Feast” played before “Big Hero 6”) and nothing else, I’ll wait to offer commentary until them. All images below are from Oscar.com.

Best Documentary Short Film

My predictions: 3/5
The nominees: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, Joanna, Our Curse, The Reaper, White Earth
The frontrunner: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Best Live Action Short Film

My predictions: 4/5
The nominees: Aya, Boogaloo and Graham, Butter Lamp, Parvaneh, The Phone Call
The frontrunner: The Phone Call

Best Animated Short Film

My predictions: 2/5
The nominees: The Bigger Picture, The Dam Keeper, Feast, Me and My Moulton, A Single Life
The frontrunner: Me and My Moulton

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The nominees:
Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (B)
This six-minute short is inarguably the most light-hearted of the bunch, from Finland, follows a family frantically getting ready for a big event thanks to the efforts of the formidable mother. Its surprise ending is amusing, and this short proves relatively enjoyable if not all that memorable.
Helium (B+)
One of the requirements of this category seems to be to have a film about terminal illness, and that’s fulfilled by this charming Danish story of a boy in a hospital who learns about the Helium Express, which will take him to a wonderful alternative to heaven, from a kindhearted janitor.
Just Before Losing Everything (B+)
This half-hour French entry is an intense, fully gripping look at a woman and her children trying desperately to escape an abusive home, told in a straightforward but extremely compelling. It’s an unsettling and engaging drama that proves very effective.
That Wasn’t Me (C-)
Another requirement of this category is that there be a film about a third-world country and its horrific effects on its youth. That’s this miserable and pointless film from Spain, which finds social workers cornered by child soldiers in a disturbing and unnecessarily brutal effort.
The Voorman Problem (B)
This odd and entertaining short from England stars Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander as a psychiatrist and a prisoner who thinks he’s God. The premise is clever and there is an entertaining plot involving Belgium, but there could have been more to it.

Previous winners: Cufrew, The Shore, God of Love, The New Tenants, Toyland, The Mozart of Pickpockets, West Bank Story, Six Shooter
Who should win: As long as it’s not “That Wasn’t Me,” I’m happy. I think I’d be pleased with either “Just Before Losing Everything” or “Helium,” both of which managed to engaged me for the entire time that I was watching them. “The Voorman Problem” would be fine too.
Who will win: It’s a toss-up between the emotional Helium and “The Voorman Problem.” While the victory of “The New Tenants” a few years ago suggests the latter, I’ll opt for the former.

Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Live Action Short

The competition: Asad, Buzkashi Boys, Curfew, Death of a Shadow, Henry

Previous winners: The Shore, God of Love, The New Tenants, Toyland, The Mozart of Pickpockets, West Bank Story, Six Shooter, Wasp
Who should win: I just finished watching these films, only hours before the Oscars are set to air. They all dealt with death, and my favorite was “Asad,” which had an eager hero in a young Somali boy. “Death of a Shadow” was creative in its supernatural concept, and “Curfew” was clever and endearing also. “Buzkashi Boys” didn’t do much for me, and “Henry” doesn’t really compare to a feature-length film about a similar subject this year, “Amour.”
Who will win: My bet is the quirky Curfew, but it could be any of them.