marathonnnmovies

This miniseries packs it all in. Four episodes about a film production company that makes the dreams in our heads? You bet they pull out all the stops. Every genre is in here.

Documentary is the framework of the script. Thriller? The nightmare/sleep walking scene. Heist? The climax of the story. Comedy is in all the references made for the adult audiences who would better understand the film industry and the psychology of the brain.

The Pixar team effortlessly pulls these aspects together. This series is fun and lighthearted, while still handling deep topics of childhood and humanity. Being only 4 episodes, it's low commitment, and easy to just sit down and watch with your kids. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Pixar took every care with this miniseries that they do with their full length films. The only reason this isn't a film, is the spinoff nature of the main characters. We still see Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the headquarters crew, but the crew of Dream Productions is the main focus. I hope Pixar sees how great this is, because it is just the tip of the iceberg for stories from Riley's brain. We don't need an Inside Out 4, 5, or 6.

And I must have gotten the Pixar dust in my eyes, because this had me tearing up by the end.

I would print every frame of this film and hang it on a wall if there was one big enough.

GORGEOUS - REFRESHING - FAMILY-FRIENDLY - INTIMATE

Beautiful film. Every frame, every shot, every sequence is a handcrafted work of art. Everything is so realistic down to the mannerisms and sound design I could have reached out and touched it. The visual texture is immaculate.

After a closer look, it does look strikingly similar to The Wild Robot, but that may not be a bad thing... many an animated film will now imitate Dreamworks' groundbreaking style...

Flow will stand in the ranks with WALL-E as a brilliant film with a wordless script. Using the language of sound, body language, and facial expressions of animals, a tender story of survival and finding family is told.

The context is of nearly biblical proportions, with many peripheral details hinting to Noah's flood. Yet, the characters give us an intimate perspective into their experience. It feels epic, without leaving the boat. The story gives us a sort of patch-worked ark with lonely, outcast creatures.

There is a bit of confusion at the end of the crane's story. The area for the scene definitely has a religious, mystic context, so the supernatural can be expected, but it's not clear why this happens to the crane. My theory though... is that since the crane was the only character that joined the crew out of personal sacrifice, he was chosen to ascend.

The concept of finding family in lonely places is close to my heart, so this film hits home. Flow is refreshingly appropriate for all audiences, children of any age.

UNEXPECTED - BROODING - SATIRICAL - DISTURBING

Tonight was a "disfigurement double feature", so go read the review for The Substance first. Ironically, I'd say all the same things here.

Essentially, it's the same story. The pursuit of beauty ends in horrific disaster, showing us that it's not about what we look like... it's about who we are underneath our mask. A Different Man contrasts Edward's rise into a more beautiful appearance with his descent into madness as he realizes his new image didn't get him the life he always wanted.

The overall style - color grading, cinematography, production design - was too... dark, faded. The film needed more color to balance out Stan's brooding brow and festering insanity.

Stan's performance is transformative, as all the other critics are saying. His walk and posture as Edward were the icing on the cake. Excellent acting. His chemistry with Pearson ("Oswald") is fantastic. His confidence is everything. A reminder that the way you carry yourself is more influential than any face. Their performances contrast each other like Edward's rise and fall. All the stars are for these two.

The first half sets up all the right questions and emotions, but it gets a little lost in the second half. The final scene lands awkwardly - not sure what was going on with the script there - but the last line brings it all home.

I appreciated the story, because it's a necessary point to make in our society, but it's not my favorite commentary on this particular matter.