So tonight I went to the Tivoli Theatre
to catch a late show of the Oscar nominated live action shorts.
The Tivoli, which opened in 1924 on the
Delmar Loop, shows mostly independent and foreign films. The
interior structure is beautifully ornate and well maintained and the
walls are peppered with old movie posters and Hollywood memorabilia.
Walking through it's halls is like stepping back in time.
Andy had never been to the Tivoli, and
he couldn't remember the last time that he had been in a movie
theater that didn't have stadium seating. But that didn't matter.
Anyone in this intimate gathering of 7 strangers would be able to see
the screen.
Having never been to see something like
this before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised to find
that many of thse short films were quite long, at least, longer than
the 10 minutes that I had previously associated with this genre.
Andy fell asleep during the first two
films, and while I considered waking him up, he looked so peaceful.
After being jolted awake by the ending of the second film, he moaned
as the next title blazed across the screen. No! he grumbled. Not 30
minutes of subtitles!
Andy can't bear subtitles, mostly
because it diverts his eyes from the action. But this little French
film was so entrancing, that when it was all said and done, it ended
up being his favorite. So don't let a dislike of subtitles deter you
from seeing these fine films.
Which one do I think will win? I'm not
sure. I'm torn between the visual effects of one and the storyline
of another. If you've been contemplating seeing these, do it! They
are Oscar nominated for good reason. Then let's start a conversation
about our favorites.
Looking for more information on the
Oscar nominated shorts? Click here. Tivoli showtimes? Click here.
What a lovely old theater. Sounds like you and Andy had a nice evening.
ReplyDeleteI listened to Fields of Gold. Sometimes when the right voice finds the right melody and lyric you have perfection. Almost makes you cry.
A friend once told me that Eva Cassidy was in the process of succumbing to her cancer when she recorded that song. She said to me, "Can you even begin to imagine what the words of that song must have meant to her, knowing that she was dying?"...I can't, but if it's true, then it would seem to me that it was that knowledge that makes her rendition so haunting...
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