by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to The Short List! Each month, I treat you to a collection of short films. Hopefully this list will inspire you to check out some of these gems…
The Shepherd (Disney+)
Who doesn’t love a classic-style film to add to the holiday season repertoire? Disney+ delivers The Shepherd, a World War II short filmwhich captures the holiday spirit, and even offers up some literal spirits. Seeing John Travolta as an unexpected hero who saves a young pilot whose life is in danger in a project like this is a nice feeling as well. This is a holiday tale that finds the protagonist away from home for the holidays, but with the ability to find his way home. The atmosphere is a good balance of hunting and wonders, and the period elements are top notch. This is a well-made and effective film to bring some inspiration at this special time of year.
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (Netflix)
Are the voice actors from the original The Bad Guys film missing? Absolutely! Does The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday capture the same kind of spark as its predecessor? There might be less depth, but the crazy shenanigans are certainly there! Not only is the whole crew back, but they are having a fun holiday-themed romp over on Netflix. There is plenty of snow/ice, a BIG appearance from Santa Claus, and a story centered around giving. These accidental heroes might be a bunch of Scrooges, but they make for an unexpected team to follow who show some fun new colors. Who thought they would need the Bad Guys versus Santa Claus this year?
City of Cards (YouTube)
What is the most unique way that a filmmaker can tell his audience about where he is from? Through magic tricks and illusions, of course! That is the fresh take with which filmmaker Garin Hovannisian approaches this love letter to his hometown of Yerevan, Armenia. City of Cards presents a passionate perspective of the city that we see both rendered in card form (which is most impressive) and in its reality as well. Hovannisian utilizes different tricks with a small group of people to have them open up about all types of emotional beats that give this magic show layers of depth. This is truly one of the most unique short films you are going find this year, and it is a beautiful homage to a person’s hometown.
The Melodic Blue: Baby Keem (Prime Video)
Lust… temptation… jealousy. What a toxic cocktail of raw human emotions! That is exactly what Baby Keem builds off for The Melodic Blue: Baby Keem, the new arthouse film which captures the essence of his music. The titular place full of sexy and lustful entities in the form of attractive women is quite the visual feast, along with its great framing, lighting, and overall design. Baby Keem might not be a working actor, but Amandla Stenberg brings the goods as a worried and jealous partner. They give such a poignant performance that anchors this euphoric cinematic experience. But this film offers more than cool visuals and blunt but poignant themes, — it hits on a deeply human level as it captures feelings that certainly make up the human condition.
Diary of a Wimp Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (Disney+)
Can I get something off my chest? These Diary of a Wimpy Kid short films on Disney+ REALLY need to be animated in 2D. These characters are creepy and scary to look at. BUT besides that, Cabin Fever is another fun and family-oriented experience to enjoy for the holiday season. There is a good heart and meaningful messaging. Who wouldn’t relate to being stuck in isolation with their loved ones? The film is just over one hour, but it packs plenty of friendly antics, and gives our titular wimpy kid a great learning experience along the way. This go-around even has some rock-solid tension, thanks to its contained story. Disney+ just might have found another film to get stuck in your rotation.
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram, and Letterboxd