Now, this is a surprising and very deserving move. The National Society of Film Critics have just named Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir the Best Picture of 2008 - a move that should help it's chances for an Oscar nomination later this month. Bashir would have seemed a sure thing to at least be nominated for an Oscar this year but a shortage of submitted animated features means only three animated films can be nominated and with most people figuring Wall*E and Kung Fu Panda will take up two of those slots that means one of arthouse faves Waltz With Bashir or $9.99 is going to be left out cold.
Waltz With Bashir is on screens in limited release right now, check it out if at all possible. The trailers are below the break and you can find my review at the link below.
This movie is more then deserving of any award given to it.
Yep, there are some works that just transcend the garnishing of awards in their importance - all in all this is my personal favourite movie of the last 18 months or so as well; a desperately haunting and truly memorable film that I hope will be remembered as something of a minor masterpiece in the years to come.
Mind you, I always feel a little uncomfortable about eschewing the virtues of films like these though, when they're dealing with such godawful issues. It's a shame that stories like these ever have to exist at all of course but at least this work sheds a sensitive light on a slice of history that most in the world would not have known of.
I'm not sure how the DVD is being handled elsewhere in the world but I've already pre-ordered the disc for here in the UK, it hits the shelves on DVD & Blu-Ray on 30th March 2009 and is being distributed by Artificial Eye.
I just saw this film last night, and was blown away by it. A work of astonishing honesty and creativity.