Several moviegoers at Capitol City Cinema watching Oscar-nominated films Sunday agreed that short films shouldn't get shorted during this year's Oscars telecast.
Among other Academy Award controversies has been the motion picture academy's decision to present four awards during commercial breaks: cinematography, film editing, live action short, and makeup and hair-styling.
The academy reversed the decision Friday after facing criticism.
"They were getting a lot of heat, because people want to see it," Capitol City Cinema member Bob Snyder said. "Everybody has their special categories, and I love the animated shorts, and the animated feature. It weakens the importance of it if your category is given out during a commercial."
Steve Sokoloff brought his wife, Freddi, to see the live action shorts.
"I like the short features, and this is about the only way to see the ones that are nominated," he said. "I enjoy watching them and trying to guess what's going to win."
His wife said she particularly likes the animated shorts.
"I'm glad they did (reverse their decision)," Steve Sokoloff said. "Particularly cinematography and the shorts. The makeup is not as big a thing for me. I'd rather see the nominations and winners of some of the others."
The couple aren't rooting for any single movie at the Oscars, but they are hoping "best original song" goes to "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings," in the film "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs."
Snyder watches most of the films showing at the independent theater on High Street in downtown Jefferson City.
"I follow the Oscars, and this is about the only place where some of the films have been nominated actually play," he said.
Snyder watched Sunday's showings of the animated short films and the live-action shorts.
Between showings, he said his favorite animated film was "Animal Behavior," a 16-minute film about a group of animals who meet weekly for a group psychotherapy session in the offices of psychiatrist Dr. Clement.
"It was cute," he said. "It was an adult (film). All these little animals and insects were adults working through their problems.
He predicted, however, that the winner would be the only Pixar film among the nominees, "Bao." It's about a Chinese woman who becomes mother to an adorable, anthropomorphic bao bun, which is a steamed bun with meat fillings.
The animated shorts showing featured all five in the category, plus two others that were critically acclaimed.
The second showed all the live action shorts up for Oscars: "Detainment," "Fauve," "Marguerite," "Mother" and "Skin." Many of those have a "boys in trouble" theme. Some predict "Skin" will win. It's a film about an America Neo-Nazi who gets his just deserts.
Just two people came to watch the animated shorts during the first showing. Nine people attended the second showing, but none were there for the start, a recorded plug by former Jefferson City radio personality Warren Krech talking about the importance of Capitol City Cinema.
"This place has been open for two years, and I meet people all the time who say they've never heard of the Capitol Cinema," Snyder said. "It's just a local theater that's not going to survive if people don't go. And oftentimes there's not many people here."