A One Mann’s Movies review of “Soul” (2020).
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Certification:
US: PG. UK: PG.
The Story
In the last few days I’ve seen Pixar’s latest animation – “Soul” – described by various reviewers as a cross between “Inside Out“, “Coco“, “La La Land” and “Whiplash“. I’ll add to that some older movies with more obvious parallels with the story: 1946’s “A Matter of Life and Death” with David Niven; 1941’s “Here Comes Mr Jordan” with Robert Montgomery and its 1978 remake – a personal favourite of mine – “Heaven Can Wait” with Warren Beatty. For these all tell the story of someone plucked from the world a tad too early.
In “Soul”, Joe (Jamie Foxx) is a talented jazz pianist always dreaming of getting to be a big time session musician. He is stuck though in a worthwhile but unappreciated job as a high school music teacher. But his luck is – temporarily – about to change when an old successful student (nice touch) recommends him to provide backing to the fearsome jazz star Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett).
Just as things seem to be going his way, an open manhole cover has other ideas, and Joe falls to his ‘death’. Feeling his soul has exited the world too early, and just before he gets his big shot, Joe’s spirit struggles to return to the world with the help of reluctant soul/recruit “22” (Tina Fey).
A well-observed view of the misery of Tube travel for commuters! (Source: Disney/Pixar).
“Soul” is just what the Docter ordered
Pete Docter seems to have done it again with “Soul”. The man behind Pixar’s hugely successful “Up” and “Inside Out” has the magic touch with these animated classics. He’s had more than his share of Oscar success. (Although having gone straight to streaming on Disney+, does it qualify for the Oscars this year? Or have they relaxed the rules?) Assuming it is eligible, you’d be a brave man to bet against “Soul” winning Best Animated Feature this year.
For there are some sequences of this movie that are breathtakingly effective. The fall of Joe from the “stairway to the great beyond” to the pre-life domain (as shown in the trailer) is a masterpiece of graphic design. (And do I detect in there a tribute to the “stargate” in “2001: A Space Odyssey”?) What makes these sequences distinctive is not the afterlife soul’s or the “great before” souls, who resemble blue variants of Casper. It’s the ‘counsellors’ of the realms. They are surreally drawn Picasso-style in 2D and – although easy to draw for preschooler’s with a crayon – might be a bit of a stretch for them to relate to.
A tribute to “2001” perhaps? Joe transitioning between the levels. (Source: Disney/Pixar).
Will kids get it?
I know that my 6-year old grandson enjoyed watching it. But ultimately, this is principally a Pixar film squarely targeted at adults to enjoy. Indeed, the themes of death and afterlife might be disturbing for younger children (as in “Coco“). They will certainly struggle to understand the land of lost souls, where those obsessed with their work or hobbies (metal detecting! LOL!) are almost beyond reach. And surely the message of ‘enjoying the everyday here and now’ rather than getting too wrapped up in career or life goals will only be relatable to adults.
“No… you’re Picasso”. The 2D- representation of the Counsellors at the “You Seminar”. (Source: Disney/Pixar).
“Soul” is brim-full with Pixar quirkiness
As per normal, the movie has a lot of detail that will need multiple watches. And I can confirm that the pause button helps! For example, “22” has been an earth-apprentice for so many millennia that he has had just about every mentor who’s ever passed through. His ‘den’ is wallpapered with “Hello, My Name is ….” badges, and a pause at that point reveals mentors as varied as Gandhi, Aretha Franklin, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking!
And in the end titles, the usual list of babies born during production are “Recent You Seminar graduates”!
Joe (Jamie Foxx) tries to persuade “22” (Tina Fey) to help him. (Source: Disney/Pixar).
Some nice British vocal talents
The movie also features two of the most distinctive voices from UK television. Graham Norton plays Moonwind: a sign-spinning hippy and lost-soul-sea piratical captain (I’ve honestly not been taking drugs). And Richard Ayoade, a UK TV regular but familiar to US audiences from his role in “The IT Crowd”, plays Counsellor Jerry (well, one of them!). Alice Braga, as another Counsellor Jerry and most recently seen as the doctor in “The New Mutants”, is another familiar voice
Brilliant rendition of the piano fingers by the animation team. (Source: Disney/Pixar).
It’s all about Soul.
For once, Michael Giacchino doesn’t get the scoring gig. Instead, this went to the “Nine Inch Nails” partnership of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. (The soundtrack for “Mank” was their most recent work). The music is perhaps not as immediately accessible as some of the previous Pixar scores. But I think will be a ‘grower’.
“Soul” is simply brilliant… and yet.
I have a “but” in my review. (And frankly, after all that Christmas food, it’s a pretty significant ‘but’!) I sobbed like a young child during parts of “Up”. And similarly, I was a mess as ‘Bing Bong’ faded away in “Inside Out“. And yet here, my tear ducts remained stubbornly unchallenged.
Perhaps this is a personal thing, and others were a soggy mess after this movie. But, for me, it simply didn’t connect with me at the same raw emotional level that Docter’s other work (and indeed other Pixar movies) have done. So, for that reason (only), I’m going to hold off my highest rating.
It’s highly recommended since, notwithstanding this, it’s a magnificent effort. (As you will see it – at the 11th hour – made my “Number 7” slot in my Top 10 of 2020). In closing, it’s also worth noting that it’s mildly groundbreaking in being the first Pixar movie with a black leading character.
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOsLIiBStEs .
