one of the youngest in a family whose original matriarch was abandoned for her husband's musician dreams and started a cobbling business, on Day of the Dead as he cultivates his passion for music in secrecy. After his grandmother discovers then destroys his homemade guitar Miguel goes to the tomb of famous troubadour Hector to borrow his guitar for the holiday talent show but when he touches it he finds himself in the Land of the Dead unable to return.
Visually the film is rich and striking, no surprise from Pixar, but there is a vibrantness from the neon color palette that is utilized which ups the vitality considerably. There is also the cultural imagery that is substantially more effecting say then the imaginative but neutral mindscape from Inside Out. There's a particularly inspired little scene with Frida Kahlo directing the performance piece at the beginning of a concert which is funny and kind of grotesquely beautiful. For a movie about music the soundtrack is very effective combining a moving score with some fun and touching diegetic performances.
All the voice performances are wonderful but the story is what they rest on and the story is one of Pixar's best in years. The plot itself is at times convoluted but the characters and the message of the film shine through in a way that make this one of the most human "family films" of the year. This to say nothing of how refreshing, inspiring, and engaging it is that the film, by its nature, focuses on and celebrates Mexico and Mexican culture.
Not only a great film but timely. Important not only for what it is but for what it means.
See It.
The overlong and borderline incoherent Frozen short at the beginning is unbelievably painful to sit through. Plan to arrive 20 minutes after the showing start time in order to miss.
No comments:
Post a Comment