Sunday, December 23, 2007
TOP RATTED FILM
Today's film, too late to be on the 2004 NYTimes Best 1176 Film list, was
but I have no doubt it would be included.
It is the best animated film that I have seen. I think.
The story is complex yet satisfying. Maybe they are figuring out that the two things work together! People have a brain.
The whole cooking thing appeals. They do it right. Any good cook can see it.
The people behind the rats are great and, while there are no stars per se, there are some good solid veterans on the scene to give some gravity. Ian Holm is the evil chef and Peter O'toole the dreaded and not so dreadful food critic. Janeane Garofalo is the love interest and Brian Dennehy is the loving father (Django--the rats are sort of like gypsies) that our little rat must rebel against to get where he needs to go.
I like the many value themes such as 'tell the truth', 'be true to yourself', 'don't rat on a friend' and so on.
I believe that this kind of thing works wonders on kids and adults in a world where the fast buck and the cutting of ethical corners seems to rule.
I enjoyed it a lot with the sort of mild anxiety with which always seems to attend the viewing of an animated film.
I am not sure where it comes from. Sweaty palms and all. Perhaps from my first animated features which scared the shit out of me. I was always dragged to them before I was old enough to not be frightened.
Actually I think that this one has a limited amount of that kind of fear built in. There are many dilemmas but they are not prolonged and they work realistically. There is no magical thinking about it.
The principles take personal responsibility and solve their own problems saving blame for the few villains involved who do get theirs' when the appropriate time comes.
I will happily give this one a 5 out of Netflix5.
Labels: best films, film, films
