Oscar Nominated Short Films (Live Action) - Movie Review

Pentecost  B+
This film is set in Ireland, 1977.  Young Damien, gets a second chance at being an alter boy; but, decides to punt away the opportunity.  Written and directed by Peter McDonald.  11 minutes

Raju A
A German couple loses their adopted son, and finds a dirty little secret. Written by Max Zähle and Florian Kuhn, directed by Max Zähle.  24 minutes (My pick to win the Oscar)

The Shore A-
Old friends attempt to reconcile the past after 25 years.  Set in Northern Ireland, this film is written and directed by Terry George.  31 minutes     

Time Freak A-
A young inventor tries to go back in time, but gets stuck in yesterday.  Written and directed by Andrew Bowler.  11 minutes   

Tuba Atlantic B
This dark comedy follows 70-year-old Oskar, who has six days to live and a lot of birds to kill.  Written by Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, and directed by Hallvar Witzø.  25 minutes
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Bonus DVD Review
Dirty Girl (R) 90 min C- 
Who's your Daddy? Tim McGraw... 

DVD Release: Date January 2012
Starring Jeremy Dozier, Juno Temple, Mary Steenburgen, Tim McGraw, William H. Macy, Dwight Yoakam and Milla Jovovich

Danielle (Juno Temple) is a sassy, immature teenager.  She and a friend escape Oklahoma for California in search of the father she has never known.  Juno Temple is a star in the making, but Dirty Girl is not a film that will help her cause.  File under - silly but watchable when nothing else worthwhile is on TV.      

Who Stole the Soul? (Book Review)

The Last Season: A Team In Search of Its Soul - Phil Jackson A

Publication Date: October 2004

In the shadow of Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher, I'd forgotten about guys like Devean George and Kareen Rush. After finishing The Last Season I immediately googled George and Rush to see whatever became of them.  This book was an intriguing flashback to the 2003-04 NBA season.  I was completely captive by this L.A. story, and unaware that Phil Jackson and Kobe had such a tumultuous relationship.  The Last Season is a must-read for NBA fans.