Years ago when the number of Oscar nominated films for best picture was only 5, my colleague at work would spend a day at the movie theater the weekend before the Oscars seeing all of the films. Now that there are close to 9 or 10 films nominated, there is no way I have the time to dedicate to seeing all of them.  Late last week, I came across the news that the IFC theater in the West Village was viewing all of the Oscar nominated Live Action Shorts, Animated Shorts as well as the Documentary Shorts – done.  Anyone close to me knows that this is more my speed.  I’m much more interested in independent films than I am in big blockbusters. The shorts are, well, shorter, and within a 2 hour time frame, you can view 5 or 6 different stories vs 1 drawn out sometimes run on story.  If you have a little free time you should definitely head over there for a change in pace to a regular movie experience. And more so, you will have a leg up on a question or 2 in the office Oscar pool.

If you don’t have the time to sit through a 2 hour movie and happen to find yourself in the neighborhood, you can always take a pit-stop to experience a movie the old school way  – through the peep hole.