This year's batch of Oscar nominated live action shorts is exceptionally strong. Because of this, it's hard to say who the odds on favorite should be for award, though I think "DeKalb Elementary" would not be a bad choice.

The story is very simple. A young, troubled man walks into the office of an elementary school and whips out an AK (I am no expert and can't tell if it's an AK-47 or one of the later models). He fires a few shots but inexplicably does NOT go off on a murderous rampage. What follows is a troubling story about the 'death by cop' phenomenon as well as the incredibly brave woman who helped to de-escalate this awful situation. And, it's apparently based on a real story.

Why did I love this story so much? Well, there were two reasons. First, it was not yet another film about a gun massacre...there's more to it than that. Second, and more importantly, the acting was shockingly good...which also says a lot about the direction of "DeKalb Elementary". I would sure love to see more from these folks.

We all know this story by now, where a white guy with mental issues goes into a school - usually, as it so horrifically and not always inexplicably, an elementary or middle school - and starts to shoot up the place. After Newtown, there's not much going back, but what's fascinating here is that this is based on an actual event that did happen at a school post Newtown and that somehow no one was hurt and got out fine. It may be too simple that we're just seeing these events more or less in real-time as they happened. What makes it significant, and what I assume is how it got so far into the Oscar race among the five live-action films, is that it takes a real event and makes it about the framing.

At first, as I was watching it and immediately after it ended, I found the whole dynamic that occurs here a little questionable - this all takes place within the area of the school by the front desk, where Tarra Riggs is there (anyone else who was there at first runs off, one guy even incredulous sees the gun and thinks it's a joke before going away) and the character Bo Mitchell not plays but inhabits to the point I thought the director pulled a stunt casting out of the 15:17 to Paris book (only here it working). What was questionable was that, hey, this nice, soothing black woman will help ease this troubled white guy down so he'll give up. But that's not, upon some further reflection, what was exactly going on here. When you have a story like this it's about the framing, and that's where it counts.

What I mean is, if this had solely been from the Bo Mitchell character's perspective, like if we saw more of his preparation and followed along with him ala Elephant, our point of view would be different. It's a little more complex by how we're simply being shown this event, at least at first, of the guy pulling out a gun and locking down the school and cops show up et al, and then... little by little, over a minute or two, Tara Riggs does take control without having to do anything more than go along with this troubled man's doubts about what he's doing (or maybe it's her face, trying in some desperate hope to reach him through what may be real or unreal sympathy). This is what POC and women have to put up with, but they do it through far more bravery and heart than many people will acknowledge.

In other words, the point of this short isn't to see types, but to see a situation unfold but with enough strokes of a story to make an impact. It all goes by so fast too that by the end it feels like it should go on longer, and I mean that in a good way. It's intense and gripping and it understands humanity so well that it asks us: what can we *DO* about this?

'DEKALB ELEMENTARY': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A 21-minute short film about a mentally unstable young man who takes a receptionist hostage at an elementary school. It was written and directed by Reed Van Dyk, and it stars Shinelle Azoroh. The short was inspired by a real life school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. I found it to be intense and surprisingly empathetic at times. Azoroh gives a more than decent performance in the lead, and the film is nicely directed as well. The subject is also of course timely, which I think helps make it seem much more involving and suspenseful. It's a well made and dramatic short film.

In a elementarz schol, two characters - an instable emotional guy, with a gun, scarrieng everybody, a courageous - cold blood receptionist . His emotions, confuse reactions and vulnerability. Her self controll and precise drive of situation to the good end.

A short film admirable crafted scene bz scene , beautiful acting and wise constructed tension.

The end is just brilliant. The realism is other significant good point , not onlzy for inspiration from real fact but for admirable construction of story, step by step.

Being myself teacher , I saw as very personal incident this story. And I admired the great acting.

"DeKalb Elementary," Reed Van Dyk - Very well done, riveting, intense, had me on the edge of my seat. Acting and writing were excellent. Avoid spoilers and you will enjoy this one all the more.

A wonderfully tense piece of filmmaking that keeps you gripped and on the edge of your seat all the way through. Superb acting from the two leads.

The empathy displayed under extreme circumstances is truly transcendent, but the film just didn't resonate quite as much with me. It seemed to me lacking a little in tension in the performances, though I confess in listening to the real Antoinette Tuff in her 911 call afterwards, found she really was remarkably calm. Her words will stick with me: "It's going to be all right, sweetie ... I just want you to know I love you though, OK? And I'm proud of you. That's a good thing that you're giving up and don't worry about it. We all go through something in life." What a fantastic person.