Soul

Voices of: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad, Questlove, Angela Bassett, Daveed Diggs, Wes Studi, Sakina Jaffrey
Directed by: Pete Docter, Kemp Powers
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A musician (Jamie Foxx) finds himself in a world between life and the afterlife.

Review:

Tim: I think it's pretty clear that Pixar is among the greatest animation studios of all time. That being said, I've never believed they were as bulletproof as some claimed. They make a lot of good movies, but by my count, they haven't made a truly great movie since 2008's Wall-E. They've been close many, many times, but not quite enough to get over the line. Soul manages to do that. This movie combines the best of Pixar with a film that feels timely and important. In a terrible year of a pandemic, Soul is one of the few bright spots at the movies. This is a great film.

Pixar has always been able to plumb the depths of human emotions in a way that other animated studios have been unable to replicate. The fact that this movie elicits deep emotion isn't very surprising- we've come to expect that from Pixar. The beauty is that the emotion truly serves the larger story here. It's a story that causes you to reflect on the deepest ideas in human history- about life, the afterlife, our purpose for existing. Soul might not offer a ton of answers, but it does have a clear point of view on these matters. That journey, the contemplation that accompanies it, the conclusions it draws- it's beautiful and memorable and much-needed at a time when we were all reexamining our lives in the face of tragedy and great change.

The animation is top notch, as you would expect. There are some truly gorgeous moments throughout the film. The escalator to the afterlife is especially memorable, but there's so many strengths throughout the film. The design of the different characters in the "Great Before" was fantastic. The Counselors, the souls, it all presents whimsical and occasionally jarring visuals. I appreciated how unique the design of these incredible worlds were. It helps reinforce the extraordinary journey that Joe takes throughout the film.

The voice cast is strong. Jamie Foxx does a great job as Joe. He disappears into the role- while watching the film, I felt like I was hearing "Joe", not Foxx playing a role. Tina Fey was excellent as well. 22 is such a memorable character and it was terrific fun hearing Foxx and Fey interact together. They are unique enough individuals that their pairing compliments and amplifies the other. I really enjoyed both of their work here. Graham Norton and Alice Braga both added in nice supporting performances. Angela Bassett was a definite plus to the cast and did fantastic voice work. The entire cast was solid and I had no issues with anyone. Pixar did terrific work in their casting of this film.

The movie takes you on an very unexpected journey. Every time I imagined I knew where it was going, the film veered off into another direction. This is mostly positive- it keeps you guessing and it never feels overly predictable. A few times in the middle I felt a little lost, like the story needed more focus. However, it does all come together in the end. Watching the film was especially pleasant because I didn't always know where it was going. For example, I certainly didn't expect the film to (MINOR SPOILER) put Joe's soul into a cat. The movie definitely charts its own path and that's a huge plus for the film.

Pixar has won quite a few Academy Awards over the years, and Soul adds two. It won Best Animated Feature, which wasn't surprising in the least. This movie has so much depth that the majority of animated movies couldn't even begin to get close to what Pixar accomplishes here. It also won Best Original Score, which was a good choice. The music, the sound throughout the film is quite strong. It was also nominated for Best Sound, which just reinforces how exceptionally well made the movie is. It's one thing to be nominated for Best Animated Feature, but to be nominated for 3 Academy Awards and win 2 is impressive.

I also really appreciated Pixar's push into more diverse stories. This is Pixar's 23rd film and the first to feature a black protagonist. Now, many of their films don't feature human protagonists, but this is long overdue. In a year where systemic racism has been on display more than ever, a movie like this takes on even greater significance. I loved the connection between souls and "soul" music- the fact that jazz plays such a central role to the film was incredible. I loved the connections between improvisation and life. The script was brilliant in multiple ways.

Soul is very much a Pixar movie, but it elevates the formula we've come to expect. It's a memorable movie that dives deep into humanity and pulls out real emotions. It's beautifully animated and exceptionally well made and it's another triumph for Pixar.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Inside Out, Coco