All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This film was made near my home village and like most Northern Irish films, it was a totally disappointment, as it simply pampered to the Americans on every level. The acting was horrible, the cinematography was film student quality and even the transfer of the footage looks like the film was shot with cheap camcorders. It made the people of Ireland look like drunken unemployed morons who still live in white washed cottages... talk about being stereotyped. When one compares this to "Six Shooter" (another Oscar Winning Short Film from Ireland)... one has to question the merit of the selection process of the Oscar.... A load of bland, uninspiring rubbish!!!

"The Shore" is an Irish short film that runs for slightly under half an hour and is mostly known for winning an Academy Award 4 years ago. I have not seen any of the 4 other nominees, but I am quite happy about "The Shore" winning as the film delivers on a comedic as well as emotional level. It is about two men who were friends when they were much younger, but politics and personal stuff got in the way at some point and they did not see each other for a very long time. Conleth Hill ("Game of Thrones") and the pretty famous Ciarán Hinds play the main characters here and they give the film the right note of rough, masculine, self-confident men who also have a soft side, which is mostly hidden. Typically Irish. On one or two occasions, it gets a bit too much of a sob-story, but overall, it is a very fine watch. Sucks to see that Terry George did not really manage to build a lasting career on the success of this short film. Then again, there was not a lot of success outside of the Academy Awards. only one other nomination is listed and the Irish Film and Television Awards did not even like the film enough to honor it. But I did. Check it out if you can. Quite strong little movie.

This film typifies everything that is wrong with Northern Ireland and its perception by the outside world. Every single Irish cliché is trotted out over the course of this 30 minute derivative, unoriginal, uninspiring husk. There's the backward village with its white washed houses, the quirky local who is always happy to give unintelligible directions,people drinking Guinness,lots of breaking into song, bad teeth, the troubles and its aftermath and even a reference to the titanic (Needless to say Belfast has more to be proud of than building a ship that was a disaster.) The film is a disgrace as it shamelessly panders to the ignorant (largely American)perception of Ireland, failing to distinguish between North and South, as a green land of inarticulate beer swilling simpletons. I fully expected to see a leprechaun make an appearance but perhaps that cameo is saved for the sequel. The very fact it won an Oscar is testament to the academy's lack of vision and parochial instincts. As a Northern-Irish man myself I can proudly say the country I live in is nothing like that portrayed here. It is a dynamic, evolving society with its own distinct culture. In the words of David Homes, a Belfast born musician: This film's bad,let's slash the seats.

I just got back from viewing all ten short films nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards (five animated, and five live action), and Northern Ireland's "The Shore" was, without a doubt, the best of the five live action shorts. Its a hilarious film (but in a realistic manner, not in the silly, whimsical way which has frankly worn out its welcome in recent years, I think), and actress Maggie Cronin, as "Mary," the protagonists's ex-fiancée, really steals the show. At around age 50 (I'm guessing), she puts most 20something actresses to utter shame with her supernal, voluptuous beauty. I simply could not take my eyes of this woman! This one should definitely win the Oscar, but it probably won't, alas. They'll probably give it to "Pentecost," because it mocks the Catholic Church. Like that's an original, or risky thing to be doing in 2012 (in fairness, "Pentecost" was also funny). But this is the film that would win, if the Academy cared about truth & beauty. Which is a bit like saying Uganda would have been a splendid country in the 1970s, if only Idi Amin had been a humanitarian. Oh well. I guess I should be happy this excellent little film was nominated at all (else I'd have never heard of it, let alone seen it).