2009 in Review: Animation

Click on the links for my thoughts.
          

It’s been called a banner year for animation. I wouldn’t dispute the claim since I cannot recall the last time that any given year had such a prolific spread of animated films – not that animated films especially float my boat, but when they’re good I’m contented. The first animated film I saw this year was Up. I didn’t review it, though I gave it a B. I’ve never been particularly fond of the Pixar Studio. I don’t hold anything in particular against them – Finding Nemo and Ratatouille stand at the top of my appreciation for them; but the monopoly they’ve held over the animated race for the last few years whilst other good pieces (Persepolis, Waltz With Bashir, Corpse Bride) go unnoticed always irked me, but I digress. Up was fine, I’ll admit that I was particularly moved by that justifiably lauded opening sequence, but I also couldn’t help feeling emotionally cheated either since the remainder of the film was good but unremarkable.

                                       

I would say that this blasé feeling towards Up only incensed my appreciation of Coraline hastening my desire to give it an A-; but now months and multiple viewings after Coraline only gets better for me. Ponyo (C) and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur (D+) passed by but left me unmoved for the most part as did Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs - for such a rich premise the film felt oddly unappealing to me. Monsters vs Aliens was better, though not by much. It’s the sort of pop-cultural animated piece that charms whilst playing but is forgotten a few days later. Disney’s return to form in The Princess & the Frog was much appreciated. Musically propelled animated films are a lost art, and though it was not a magnum opus it was good enough and earned that B+. It boasted one hell of ensemble that was only matched with my last animated film of the year The Fantastic Mr. Fox . George Clooney did what he does best – be himself, but it was Meryl Streep as the wife of the eponymous fox that really sold me - absolutely fascinating. Still, the voice work from the entire cast was superb – it was an adaptation that would have done Roald Dahl proud, which is ironic since Coraline’s creator Selick had done another enviable Dahl adaptation in 1996.

                 

Eight animated films in one year is quite much for me, even though I didn’t see them all. Mary & Max has been lauded by a few persons whose opinion I value and The Secret Life of Kells was the Oscar surprise that I suppose no one seems to have seen (coming), myself included

          
See my (boring)  ballot HERE, what were your thoughts on the animation this year?

2009 in Review: Voicework (Females)

I'm biding time for the big awards beginning with some smaller pieces, so I hope this will salvage the situation while you wait for next week. Here are the nominees.

Who were the (female) voices that impressed you last year?

99 Cents Word Reviews

I’ll possible write more on both of these sometime next year, but just a quick way of letting you know what I’ve seen recently and what I’ve thought of it all. If all goes well, I should be seeing A Single Man, Away We Go [way overdue] and The Lovely Bones by Christmas. I have a feeling all won’t be going well though…
    
The Princess & the Frog
Down with Pixar. That’s all I’m asking. Calling this a princess story belies the true nature. It might even be more enjoyable to boys than girls, and it’s an experience indeed. It’s a magical experience [cliché, I know]. It’s a perfect Disney remembrance piece. The voice work is excellent, and the story for all it’s simplicity is quite original. For a musical, it has a small amount of songs but we don’t miss them. We’re all too caught up in the acting. Anika Noni Rose is a tremendous actress [voice alone]. Tis a pity she doesn’t get more work.

A-/B+

The Boat That Rocked
It’s not very good. I’ll admit that. But I’m damned if I didn’t have a whole lot of fun watching it. It’s a rock & roll fairy tale of sorts, complete with a fantastical ending. But it’s done in so much earnest, I can’t be mad at it. Tom Sturridge and Seymour Hoffman are the standout, but really it’s as ensemble a film as an ensemble can be. It may not be perfect, or exceptionally smart, but it’s a whole lot of fun – and you’ll find better acting than in crap like Twilight., of course, that’s not saying much.  
C