2024 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live-Action

So I also watched all the Oscar nominated live-action shorts for the 96th Academy Awards! 

Notably stronger cohort here compared the animated short lineup. Still suffers from some of the usual short film symptoms: preachy message, unsubtle, vanity project, rushed story. But on a whole very impressive shorts, both technically and thematically, anchored by some of the best performances of 2023. 

1. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (USA/UK, 39 min.) - 5/5

Wow! I’m so glad to be able to rewatch this in a cinema. Wes Anderson did not have to go this hard, but the stagehand choreography and long takes are so impressive. Phenomenal cast, great use of narration and action. Anderson is coming for a much deserved and overdue golden statue!

2. Invincible (Canada, 30 min.) - 5/5

Broke my heart. Perfectly executes the “start with the end, flashback to the beginning then end at the end” framework. Gut punch performance from Léokim Beaumier-Lépine who channels grief and rage and pain in such a powerful manner. Genuinely a short that I think could translate to a feature adaptation if they ever wanted to. 

3. Knight of Fortune (Denmark, 25 min.) - 5/5

Loved this so much. Laughed consistently (no one else was but I love Scandinavian dry awkward deadpan dark humour!) Perfectly threads the needle between heartfelt/heartwarming, heartbreaking, and humorous. Great performances as well from Leif Andrée and Jens Jørn Spottag, with Jesper Lohmann stealing his few moments as a morbid mortician.

4. Red, White and Blue (USA, 24 min.) - 3/5 

Layers the tragedy on pretty thick by the end, and throws in a big melodramatic twist that reshapes a lot of the narrative, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t affective. Brittany Snow gives a fantastic performance and really anchors the whole thing. Some pretty unsubtle dialogue, especially near the end, but Snow gives some grounded nuance amidst the heavyhandedness.

5. The After (UK, 18 min.) - 1.5/5 

Absolutely ridiculous contrived melodrama but wow David Oyelowo really anchors this. But yeah this is pretty blatant in its attempts to emotionally manipulate, and the inciting incident is so over dramatic and sudden. Again, Oyelowo’s performance innocent, but as a producer he should’ve know better.

And that’s the live-action shorts watched, reviewed and ranked!