Soul is a beautiful film inside and out. Disney-Pixar has made another compelling movie sprinkled with a heartfelt message and gorgeous animation for the whole family. Pixar delivers another complex and exquisite animated film to add to their canon. With Soul, we see a stunning and thought-provoking display of the meaning of life and what truly makes us human. Meet Joe Gardner (brilliantly voiced by Jamie Foxx), a middle school music teacher who feels stuck in life and unfulfilled at his job. Joe dreams of having a career in jazz, playing seamlessly throughout the nights to a live audience in the clubs. Joe's seamstress mother, Libba (voiced by a warm Phylicia Rashad), objects to his big ambition and would rather him hold a steady job. Yet, Joe's big break is about to start as he impresses a jazz legend named Dorothea Williams (voiced by a strong Angela Bassett), who gives him a shot to play with her band. Joe is ecstatic, running through the streets of New York City like a feather in the wind. Then suddenly, Joe falls down a manhole. Pitch black is all we see at first, then Joe (or something that resembles Joe) lands on a white moving staircase. Joe looks up and sees himself heading towards the Great Beyond, but he is not ready to die. A small, bluish-green form that resembles Joe's soul is what we see now, as he escapes the staircase falling into the Great Before, where souls start before they go into their human bodies. Here, Joe poses as an instructor for souls and is assigned with 22 (voiced by a hilarious Tina Fey). 22 is a cynical being who refuses to leave the Great Before. Throughout this film, we will see a stubborn 22 open up Joe's eyes to the importance of the little things in life that make us human, igniting a spark inside us. Through Joe's growth in selflessness and 22's growth in courage, we see two souls who begin to embrace the joys of living. Director Pete Docter (Monsters Inc., Up, and Inside Out) knows how to challenge an audience, even when it's promoted more towards children. Through thought-provoking themes and emotional resonance, Docter's films will pull on your heartstrings. On top of this, Soul's animation is stunning and downright wondrous. The animator's attention to detail throughout the city of New York is a marvel, unveiling the richness of city life. In addition, Soul also promotes an animated story of Black lives, at a time when our country is grappling with social and racial equality. These stories need to continue to be made and heard, amplifying Black voices. This is important because it continues to share the message of why representation matters. Disney's two upcoming movies this year are about people of color. These films are Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto. In Raya and the Last Dragon, Kelly Marie Tran will make history as the first actress of Southeast Asian descent to lead a Walt Disney Animation Studios film. While Encanto will focus it's story on a Latina girl and her family in Colombia. Soul is a perfect little film about learning to live, pondering life's gentle moments. In the end, Pixar's Soul shines brightly, letting its voice speak one beat at a time. Soul is rated PG (Parental Guidance) Some Language | Thematic Elements. Directed by Pete Docter Starring Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, Angela Bassett, Daveed Diggs, and Graham Norton.
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Ryan Arnold
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December 2024
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