GR8-2-B-NOMN8D Part #5

Starting in two weeks, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills will begin the fifth edition of their annual Great To Be Nominated series. Each Monday at 7pm an Oscar nominated feature (no winners, just nominees) will screen with selected nominated shorts. The features to be shown are listed here. The animated shorts are not posted on the Academy’s website, but the following are scheduled to be shown:

4/21 – THE MIGHTY RIVER
4/28 – THE BIG STORY
5/5 – RUNAWAY BRAIN
5/12 – LA SALLA
5/19 – REDUX RIDING HOOD
6/2 – THE MERMAID
6/9 – JOLLY ROGER
6/16 – WHEN THE DAY BREAKS
6/23 – REJECTED
6/30 – STRANGER INVADERS
7/14 – DAS RAD
7/21 – DESTINO & NIBBLES
7/28 – LORENZO & GUARD DOG
8/4 – BADGERED & 9
8/11 – NO TIME FOR NUTS
8/18 – LIFTED
8/25 – I MET THE WALRUS

Notable among the titles selected are Don Hertzfeldt’s Rejected, Disney’s Destino, Runaway Brain and Redux Riding Hood. The latter film is particularly hard to see and shouldn’t be missed–it’s one of the best studio shorts of the last twenty years.

Redux Riding Hood (1997) was produced by Disney Television Animation for an aborted series of Twisted Fairy Tales. This one, written by Dan O’Shannon (The Fan and The Flower) and directed by Steve Moore (Flip Magazine) tells the tale of an obsessed wolf (voiced by Michael Richards, before he was un-P.C.) who builds a time machine to undo his previous mistakes in catching Red Riding Hood. It was never really released, and who knows if anyone at the studio will ever figure out a way to put it out on video. Michael Richards’ involvement may seal its fate forever. It’s screening on May 19th with L.A. Confidential, a terrific double bill. This, along with Song of the South and The Sweatbox, may be the one of the best films perpetually locked in the Disney vault. If you are in L.A., make plans to see it.