(2016, Dir. Roger Ross Williams)
In Short: In the past, an autistic child named Owen learns to communicate with his family through Disney animated films. In the present, Owen navigates the world. Last week with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg we talked about Beautiful Bummers. Life, Animated is no bummer, but it sure is a tearjerker. It's uplifting and sweet and given the nature of pretty much every other Oscar-nominated film this year, I wanted uplifting and sweet. For a movie that could have been in danger of glorifying Disney to the high heavens, Life, Animated does very well in keeping things controlled. Yes, Disney is a big focus, and yes, it's discussed a lot. But it doesn't feel like the main point of the movie, and it doesn't feel like Disney is in control. It's a movie about Owen, and he comes first and foremost, and that's important to selling it (or not selling it, hahaha). That's not to say that I don't love the Disney stuff. The Disney stuff really got me. I grew up on those movies, and seeing something so integral to myself be so affecting really affected me. A theme I love in literature, film, etc. is the idea of art is important, and let me tell you why! It's compelling to me, and that's what Life, Animated is all about. It's not about Disney movies. It's about a person, and a family, and how Disney movies are important in their lives. I love that. I really like documentaries. (I need to watch more of them, I guess.) Even if you don't like documentaries, though, if you have any past positive experience with Disney animated films, Life, Animated will probably make you cry. Or it will at least make you happy to be alive in a world where children's films can make a child's life better. That's good stuff.
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AuthorEileen here, writing reviews for film class. Archives
April 2018
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