Soul: Film Review
Final Thought
Visually stunning, profound, and witty, Soul proves that Pixar is the best of the best by telling a deeply human and emotionally intelligent story.
Rating
5 out of 5
Soul: Film Review
Directed by Pete Docter, Co-Directed by Kemp Powers
Written by Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones
Starring Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson a.k.a Questlove, Graham Norton, Daveed Diggs
Synopsis
From Rotten Tomatoes:
Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz -- and he's good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.
Review
We all know Pixar is good to throw a good contemplative film at us. Particularly with films like Inside Out and Up (both also directed by Pete Docter), we have seen Pixar deliver entertaining films with deep and profound messages and there is no shortage of that in their new venture, Soul. Through this story of Joe Gardner and Soul #22 exploring the meaning of life, Pixar has succeeded once again and in a more significant fashion.
Soul is perhaps Pixar's most experimental feature, in that this film deals with the heaviest material: the meaning of life. As seen in Inside Out, to which this film is a sort of spiritual sequel, Pixar has dealt with the complexities of personality and what makes you YOU, and very successfully I might add. However, this film goes deeper. It deals a lot with calling and purpose - what we are here for or what we're meant to do. It delves into how you develop your "spark," which, as is described in the film, is your reason to live. The film also deals with the delineation between your purpose and passion. The film tackles all of these heady spiritual issues with aplomb, due to the excellent script from Kemp Powers, Mike Jones, and Pete Docter. With the right amount of wit and grace, the film and its
screenplay are able to weave through these complex and profound ideas smoothly.
Also, may I add that the film is very culturally significant and accurate. As one of the few American animated films with black leads and the first Pixar film of such, this film is historic and I think this film is one of which the black community should be proud. There are a lot of even minor culturally specific things that were done right, particularly in the barbershop scene. The black barbershop is often regarded as a staple of the culture and its inclusion in this film alone is very significant, let alone the great capture of the environment that exists within it. I mean, even down to the one chair and barber that no one ever goes to... It was great. I noticed in the credits they had listed "Cultural and Music Consultants" that worked with the film to ensure things were culturally accurate and I think that's just fantastic.
There will be those who criticize the film's representation based on how the story unfolds and decisions its main characters, particularly Soul #22, make, and without getting too much into it, I will say that the criticism is valid. The representation and literal dehumanization of black characters is a very important topic, especially in today’s climate. I am actually glad that people are starting to notice these things and go, “Well… that’s a little odd.” However, in terms of this film, I invite them to consider this: It's not as bad as it is in The Princess and the Frog, a film where its lead black character is only black for 17 minutes out of the film’s 97-minute runtime. Though I do love that film, it is undeniably problematic. And though somewhat problematic, Soul certainly creates a less problematic situation to the point where, I feel, the film doesn’t lose any points. Outside of that, I don't think there is anything in this film that invites criticism. This film is one of the best of the year, undoubtedly.
Outside of that, I don't think there is anything in this film that invites criticism. This film is one of the best of the year, undoubtedly.
The voice cast is stellar. Jamie Foxx is a great voice actor and I think he gives Joe a lot of life. Same goes for Tina Fey as the voice of Soul #22. I just want to take this time to appreciate the voice cast of this film. Foxx and Fey, obviously, but Angela Bassett, Daveed Diggs, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, et cetera... I mean, if they gave out awards for best voice cast, this film should be the front runner.
As with most Pixar films, the animation is stunning. This is possibly one of the most beautifully animated Pixar films ever. This film is also responsible for possibly the best film score of the year. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Academy-Award winners for The Social Network (2010, dir. David Fincher), have crafted a film score that is very ethereal and subtle. It works very well for this film. The jazz arrangements and compositions by Jon Batiste are also noteworthy. They give the film a light and fun nature while also representing the film's ambitious nature.
Overall, Soul is a sweet, gentle, and funny film (that Knicks joke was *chef's kiss*). Is it my new favorite Pixar film? No. Is it up there? Very much so. This film continues Pixar's undeniable streak of great films, perfect for everyone in the family. I think that everyone will appreciate this film and at least glean something from it. This is one of Pixar's best and one of the year's as well.
Viewed on Dec. 25, 2020 on Disney+
Run Time: 100 minutes
Rated PG for thematic elements and some language