Two years in a row Pixar has produced the #1 critically rated films of the year (Ratatouille and Wall-E) and two years in a row those films failed to get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. I won’t go all into my whole “If it’s the Best Film, then it’s the BEST FILM, animated or not” rant again… but it looks like Pixar may have done it again.
Pixar’s new film “UP” just premiered at the Cannes film festival, and the reaction to the film is coming hard and fast… and they’re already talking about Oscars for it.
Our friends over at InConntention give us these low downs on the reactions from the major trades who saw the film:
From Variety Magazine
Depending on what you think of “Cars,” Pixar makes it either 9½ out of 10 or 10 for 10 with “Up,” a captivating odd-couple adventure that becomes funnier and more exciting as it flies along. Tale of an unlikely journey to uncharted geographic and emotional territory by an old codger and a young explorer could easily have been cloying, but instead proves disarming in its deep reserves of narrative imagination and surprise, as well as its poignant thematic balance of dreams deferred and dreams fulfilled.
Unsurprisingly, no one puts a foot wrong here. Vocal performances, most importantly from Asner, Plummer and nonpro Nagai, exude a warm enthusiasm, and tech specifications could not be better. Michael Giacchino’s full-bodied, traditional score is superlative, developing beautiful themes as it sweeps the action along on emotional waves.
From The Hollywood Reporter
What gives “Up” such a joyously buoyant lift is the refreshingly nongimmicky way in which the process has been incorporated into the big picture — and what a wonderful big picture it is. Winsome, touching and arguably the funniest Pixar effort ever, the gorgeously rendered, high-flying adventure is a tidy 90-minute distillation of all the signature touches that came before it.
From Screen International
Although there are plenty of animated films still to come this year — Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox and Walt Disney title The Princess And The Frog among them — Up should be the strongest contender for the animated feature Oscar next March, and could even pitch for consideration in the best picture category as well.
Dear heavens… how good can Pixar make a movie? With phrases like “Funniest Pixar movie ever” and “Best Picture” being thrown around already, I can’t even imagine.
I’ve already got my invitation to an advanced screening of the film, and it’s like Christmas for me right now… each morning I look at the calendar and say “just 8 more sleeps”. Damn I can’t wait to see this!!!!
