Loving Vincent (2017)
This Polish/British co-production from writer/directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh
Welchman explores the life and death of Vincent van Gough, told through the
lens of his artwork. The film’s unique look, which captures van Gough’s style,
is nothing short of mesmerizing. Thanks to a painstaking process that required the
animators to paint over live action footage, each scene immerses the viewer
into one of the master’s works. The color sequences are bookended by black and
white flashbacks that recreate the appearance of old photographs.
The filmmakers admitted to watching a lot of film noir
during the movie’s production, which informed the tone of their work. The story
takes place a year after Van Gough’s death, focusing on a courier tasked with delivering
a letter from the late painter. It’s part biopic (as we see the artist’s
troubled life in flashback), and part mystery, as we witness the perspective of
Van Gough from the many people who knew him, and explore the ambiguity surrounding
his death. Loving Vincent is an
unforgettable visual treat, as well as a captivating, touching portrait of the
ephemeral quality of genius (and how the spark of madness often resides with
such prodigious talent).
Rating: ****½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD
Perfect Blue (1997)
Director Satoshi Kon’s (based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi) landmark
anime feature employs elements from psychological thrillers and gialli to
convey the fragmented mind of its protagonist. Mima, a pop singer, retires from
her music gig to become an actress, which becomes the catalyst for a series of
disturbing and deadly events. Her life begins to spiral out of control, as she
embarks on her career change. As her choices chip away at her wholesome image,
the change is too much for some fans. A website dedicated to her seems to be
reading her thoughts, and she’s stalked by a strange man who might be linked to
a series of gruesome murders. She begins to question her grip on reality and
her identity. It’s an unnerving depiction of mental illness that recalls Repulsion and Psycho, and a frightening commentary on the unfortunate price of
fame and the perils of toxic fandom.
Rating: ****. Available on DVD
In This Corner of the
World (2016) Get out your hanky for this one. Director/co-writer Sunao
Katabuchi (based on the manga by Fumiyo Kono) follows Suzu, a young woman from
Hiroshima stuck in an arranged marriage. The filmmakers wisely assume we know
the events leading up to the conclusion of World War II, so they don’t attempt
to provide a history lesson. Instead, we see how one family is affected by the
war. Suzu experiences a difficult transition living away from the big city, stifled
by a passionless relationship and hostile in-laws. Her life is beset by
tragedy, heartbreak and hope, living under the constant threat of American bombs.
The gentle, pastel-colored animation belies the horrors depicted in the film, serving
as a fitting tonal contrast. Katabuchi doesn’t sugar- coat Suzu’s life, but
creates a nuanced experience that’s visually entrancing and emotionally
exhausting.
Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Netflix
Kirikou and the
Sorceress (aka: Kirikou et la Sorcière) (1998) Writer/co-director Michel
Ocelot’s spirited interpretation of a West African folk tale might require some
suspension of disbelief for western eyes, but it rewards with a timeless story
that has many lessons to teach us. Kirikou emerges from his mother’s womb, walking,
talking and ready for action, albeit in miniature form. When his village is
terrorized by Karaba, an evil sorceress, he saves the village, yet remains an
outcast. His persistence and ingenuity, however, prevails above all. Kids and
adults can benefit from Kirikou’s
gentle message that we should never judge something by appearances alone. The
endlessly inquisitive Kirikou also teaches that to understand someone, you only
need to live in his or her shoes.
Rating: ****. Available on DVD and Amazon Prime
Les Maîtres du Temps
(aka: Time Masters) (1982) Writer/director
Rene Laloux’s adaptation of Stefan Wul’s book was released in the States in a
butchered (dubbed and edited) form, but it’s worth seeking out in the Eureka
video edition. In this cosmic odyssey, a researcher surveying an alien planet
crashes his land vehicle, leaving his young son stranded in a forest, with only
an egg-shaped device to keep him company. The device is the boy’s only link to
human connection, and possible rescue, from a spacecraft many light years away.
Laloux’s film features colorful characters, alien vistas, and a cool twist. It’s
not quite as mind-bending an experience as his earlier work, Fantastic Planet, but it’s a trip well
worth taking.
Rating: ***½. Available on DVD (Region 2)
The Phantom Tollbooth
(1970) Directors Chuck Jones and Abe Levitow, working from a script by Jones
and Sam Rosen (based on the kids book by Norton Juster), take us on a funky
voyage through a nonsensical land. The animated feature (bookended by live
action sequences) stars Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster) as Milo, a kid who’s
bored with school and can’t find anything to do. When a strange tollbooth
unexpectedly appears in his living room he’s whisked away to a world with various
lands. He’s accompanied by Tock, a watchdog (with a clock embedded in his
chest), and travels through a world where absurdity reigns supreme. The film reminds
us about important life lessons, such as using your brain and taking decisive
action. It suffers from a soundtrack full of mostly forgettable songs, but the colorful,
Alice in Wonderland-inspired
animation and fun wordplay take up most of the slack. While far from perfect,
it’s diverting enough to keep kids and adults reasonably entertained.
Rating: ***. Available on DVD
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