The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

At this year's Academy Awards, there will be films that — believe it or not — are actually judged on their artistic merit. No one will remember them a year from now, or probably even a month from now, but these reels contain imaginative innovations and emotional depths that surpass those evoked by any nominee for Best Feature-Length Film. I'm speaking of course (of course!) about the nominees for short films.

Here it is, practically the eve of the Oscars, and I've yet to see two of the five movies nominated for best picture. I didn't care for No Country; I liked but did not absolutely love Juno. So far, my money's on There Will Be Blood, which was not only a magnificent film but the richest evocation of loneliness and megalomania I've watched since Citizen Kane.