“Keep it short” is a piece of advice Hollywood tends to ignore.
In 2023, the top 10 highest-grossing movies had an average runtime of two hours and 23 minutes. As we endure more and more three-hour-plus movies, you can’t help but wonder: Do they have to be this long?
No, of course, they don’t.
All you have to do is watch some of the Oscar-nominated short films coming to the Triplex this week to see how a filmmaker can tell an emotional, impactful story in just a few minutes. Short-form filmmakers make every frame matter; when you only have a limited amount of time (and money) to tell your story, you quickly learn how to get the most out of your shots.
As a medium, short films offer filmmakers a host of different opportunities, too. It is where directors like Stan Brakhage, Maya Deren, and Chris Marker experimented and pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. It is where young directors establish their voices or get funding for their first features, as Wes Anderson and Damien Chazelle did with their shorts “Bottle Rocket” and “Whiplash,” respectively.
Creating a short film is also one of the only ways filmmakers can afford to make movies that take on difficult subject matter. This year’s Oscar nominees for Best Live Action and Animated Shorts cover a wide range of topics: Nazrin Choudhury’s “Red, White and Blue” tells the story of a single mother forced to cross state lines to receive an abortion; Jared and Jerusha Hess’ “Ninety-Five Senses” explores the sensations we feel as we pass away; Misan Harriman’s “The After” follows a man as he recovers from witnessing an act of mass violence.
These are stories about war, death, and trauma—heavy stuff. But they are also stories about embracing what it means to be alive, stories that inspire us to explore new perspectives. And if they make us a little uncomfortable, well, at least they are short.
Now Playing
“Bob Marley: One Love”
The reggae legend comes to life on the big screen.
From Reinaldo Marcus Green, the director of “Monsters and Men” and “King Richard,” comes an intimate look at one of the most legendary names in music. “Bob Marley: One Love” stars Kingsley Ben-Adir (“One Night in Miami,” “Barbie”) as the musician and activist who became a global symbol of Jamaican culture.
“The Taste of Things”
A French film perfect for a date night.
A simmering tale of romance from director Tran Anh Hung, “The Taste of Things” is an instant classic in the food film canon. Winner of the Best Director award at Cannes, “The Taste of Things” stars real-life exes Juliette Binoche and BenoĂ®t Magimel as two chefs who learn to use food as their love language.
“American Fiction”
Ends Thursday!
The directorial debut from writer Cord Jefferson (“The Good Place,” “Watchmen”), “American Fiction” is a blazing satire that takes on some of the most divisive issues in American culture. Starring Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, and many more, “American Fiction” is the story of a writer embracing the racial stereotypes he has spent a lifetime avoiding and finding unexpected success in return.
Coming Soon
“Drive Away Dolls”
The first solo outing from director Ethan Coen (“Raising Arizona,” “Fargo”), “Drive Away Dolls” is the initial installment in his planned “Lesbian B-Movie” trilogy with writer Tricia Cooke. Starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan as two friends on a road trip who cross paths with a gang of inept criminals, “Drive Away Dolls” is a vintage Coen-esque crime caper that features performances from Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Beanie Feldstein, Matt Damon, and more. Opens February 23.
“Dune: Part Two”
Director Denis Villeneuve continues his epic saga of House Atreides and the Fremen in “Dune: Part Two.” Boasting an all-star cast featuring TimothĂ©e Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and many more, “Dune: Part Two” is primed to be one of the biggest movies of the year. Opens March 1.
