THE VOORMAN PROBLEM (UK, 2012)

Margaret’s rating: 7/10
THE VOORMAN PROBLEM is typically British in that it is difficult to discern whether this is supposed to be a comedy, drama, or psychological thriller. I guess it’s a bit of all three. Unlike most Oscar-nominated shorts, this one has a recognizable actor, namely Martin Freeman of THE HOBBIT (2012/13) and “Sherlock” (2010-14). He plays a straight-laced psychiatrist called in to examine an inmate who believes himself to be a god. Unfortunately, Voorman succeeds in confusing Dr. Williams, and the audience for that matter, so that nobody (but Voorman) knows which way is up. And what did he do with Belgium? And don’t say “What’s Belgium?”!

Directed by Mark Gill
Written by David Mitchell and Baldwin Li
Starring Martin Freeman, Tom Hollander, Simon Griffiths, and Elisabeth Gray

DO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING [I’m not even going to try to write that in Finnish] (Finland, 2012)

Margaret’s rating: 7/10
This sweet comedy about a mother trying against all odds to get her family out the door for a wedding has a bit of a cliché ending, but it’s all too related for anybody who’s ever been a mom or an au pair (I’m speak from experience here). And as FROZEN (2013) has proven, we all love little Finish girls. They’re so cute! I ALSO WANT TO GIVE BIG PROPS TO DIRECTOR SELMA VILHUNEN WHO IS ONE OF ONLY TWO FEMALE DIRECTORS NOMINATED THIS YEAR (the other is Lauren MacMullen for Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated short GET A HORSE!)! You go girls!

Directed by Selma Vilhunen
Written by Kirsikka Saari
Starring Joanna Haartti, Santtu Karvonen, Ranja Omaheimo, and Ella Toivoniemi

Tags: LAMB Devours The Oscars