Movies #579-583 .........................Oscar nom. Live Action Shorts 2012

Movies #579-583 The oscar nominated Live Action Shorts for 2012 were also shown at Sundance this past week, and I got a chance to see them, as well, and they were better than the animated shorts, I thought. First, there was a film from Ireland entitled "Pentecost" about an altar boy who accidentally hits the priest with the incense and gets in deep trouble so his dad takes away all his football watching and playing. But then a reprieve --- the archbishop is visiting and needs an altar boy and the only one available is our football kid ---- he is told this is his last chance. The priests stoke these kids up just like it was a football game, and it's very funny. I'd rate it a 4 out of 5. The next film was a German/Indian film entitled "Raju" about two Germans, a husband and his wife, who come to India and give money to adopt a child. When they get him, they lose him and find out that he was originally kidnapped and now what should they do? It seem to reveal a real problem that occurs in Calcutta, and it was good -- 4 out of 5 stars. "The Shore" was another Irish film about a guy bringing his daughter back to Ireland where he grew up when he was a child, but left abruptly. We find out why and see a reunion. This film, although good, didn't seem oscar material, rating 3. "Time Freak" was the American film that I enjoyed the most. Very witty about a guy who invents a time travel machine, but when he tries it out, he gets bogged down with the trivial matters of time --- like he keeps going back to make an awkward meeting with a girl work out --- to the point it takes him the equivalent of a year. Crazy! I ranked it a 5. Finally, Amsterdam has a nominee entitled "Tuba Atlantic" which is about a man who gets 6 days to live (is that possible?) and he tries to contact his brother, whom he hasn't talked to for 30 years. So he decides he wants to use this big tuba they both invented, but one catch. The one has to be blowing westerly --- it finally does. I thought this one was a bit silly, so I rated it a 2. Which one should win? I think the American one, "Time Freak." The American one won last year, and it was sillier than this one and not as good.