Review:
Life of Pi is a phenomenally
beautiful and fulfilling cinematic experience. The film is about Pi, a young
Indian man and the son of a zookeeper. Pi’s family decides to uproot from India
and move to Canada, and in the process they plan to sell all the animals in
their zoo. They embark for North America with their animals aboard a Japanese
freighter. However, shortly into the journey, the ship encounters a massive storm
and begins to take on a catastrophic amount of water, sinking to the bottom of
the ocean. Miraculously, Pi survives this disaster, but finds himself cast away
stranded on a lifeboat with the zoo’s ferocious Bengal tiger. As they both
struggle to survive, they form an unlikely bond.
Life of Pi is shot in 3D – a
medium that is nothing more than gimmick allowing studios and theatres to
charge more for tickets adding little to
(if not completely detracting from) the movie-going experience. However,
with this film, the use of 3D is seamless, un-abrasive and even beautiful. It
is one of the few films (Avatar
being maybe the only other movie in which this is the case) that 3D adds
something and is well worth paying extra for. Director Ang Lee is able to fully
integrate the technology into his aesthetic style for the film, taking
advantage of what 3D offers when utilized correctly (and not merely as a lazy,
poorly executed way to make money).
The film has the feel of a grand
epic story (similar to The
Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Lee structures the narrative to be more
about the character of Pi than just his adventure, going into how he got his
name, his faith and his first love – all of which happens before he ever gets
on the ship. This gives the film a very long first act, but it contributes so
much to the character and Lee’s presents it all with a magical elegance, as if
the audience is about to be treated to something special. Thus, the build-up
only makes it better. It also gives the film a needed mythical quality (like a
tall-tale), allowing the audience to accept the grand scale and extraordinary
events (again, much like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
Lee makes a potentially risky
narrative choice with the way the narrative is structured. The film begins with
Pi as an adult telling his story to a writer (and then cutting back to him
throughout the story). By showing Pi as an adult, Lee has informed the audience
right off that Pi survives his great adventure, and thereby seemingly lessens
the tension and suspense, as the audience knows he is going to be fine in the
end. However, having adult Pi as the storyteller adds an extra layer of
emotion, both nostalgic and in his ability to reflect on what he lost. This
gives the audience a much deeper connection to Pi.
The film is also about so much
more than just the action, thus the perceived loss of tension and drama from
Pi’s struggle to survive (as the audiences already knows that he does) is not
really that important. Plus, Lee’s staging is completely on point for the
shipwreck scenes and all of Pi’s intense moments on the lifeboat. These scenes
are exciting, scary, and utterly engaging. Thus, knowing Pi survives does not
really factor into the emotional reaction to what the audiences experiences
during Pi’s adventure. It is a thrilling and visceral adventure for the
audience.
As set up in the first act with
the stories about how Pi came to be a Hindu, a Christian, and a Muslim, Pi’s
adventure is primarily a story about faith, surrender and acceptance – a
spiritual journey. Lee presents the scenes of Pi isolated on the lifeboat with
the Bengal tiger (Richard Parker) with almost an angelic splendor, and also
completely perilous. The imagery is wondrous and exquisite. Films featuring an
isolated character often delve into man’s relationship with god, and this is no
different. Pi is perpetually on the brink of death, and yet fortuitous events
prop him up and keep him going. His relationship with Richard Parker can also
be viewed in a spiritual way. The tiger is a wild animal, seemingly void of
feeling and a soul surviving purely on its instincts. He is an unimaginably
frightening and dangerous to behold. And yet, Pi is able to form a bond with
him, a bond that enables him to survive. Without Richard Parker Pi would have
not have had the strength and will to survive (and without Pi, Richard Parker
would not survive either).
Life of Pi is also an effects
film in that it relies considerably on special effects. But, unlike many
effects-heavy films, the plot does not serve the special effects they serve the
narrative. Much like with Lee’s handling of 3D, his use of special effects is
only to better tell the story (they are not there just to be there). The
emotional impact that the film has on its audience does not stem from the
visual effects, as impressive and seamless as they are (and they are phenomenally
impressive – especially the animals). It is the character development and
touching performances that resonate with the audience, and make this film
something special.
Grand epics are increasingly
common in Hollywood filmmaking, but few are as astonishingly beautiful and
emotionally engrossing as Life of Pi. It is the masterwork of a great
filmmaker.
Technical,
aesthetic & acting achievements: Ang Lee has made almost every type
of film (to varying degrees of success). Life of Pi is chiefly a brilliant
spiritual character journey, with the action and visuals supporting the
narrative. (While I do like Sense
and Sensibility, The Ice
Storm, Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon, and Brokeback
Mountain) it is his best film, and one that showcases his maturity and
skill as a director.
Mychael Danna’s score has an
Indian flavor to much of it (as one might expect), but it also sets the mood
for this grand epic with moving pieces that seem to build up the sheer awe of
the visuals, while still supporting the emotional tone dictated by the
characters and narrative (here
is the score in full). Claudio
Miranda’s cinematography is magnificently striking and beautifully arresting.
While the characters are the principal component of the narrative, the visuals
play a large role in the overall experience as well. Miranda captures the
audiences’ imagination with his dream-like photography, playing off the film’s
grand scale and wondrous thematic elements. David Gropman’s production
design is fantastic as well, flush with lavish colors. The look and mood of the
ocean and sky feel almost like an additional character, as they contribute
beauty, wonder and tension to the narrative.
The cast is mostly made up of
actors with small roles in the film. Rafe Spall, Tabu, and Adil Hussain are all very good among
these small roles. Irrfan Khan
plays the adult version of Pi, telling the story to the writer. He is
wonderful, especially in his final scenes in which his performance seems to
give the film an additional emotional level. Suraj Sharma makes his film
debut as Pi. He is great in the role, portraying the strength, innocence, and
heart of Pi.
Summary
& score: Life of Pi has all the best things about cinema – a great
story, stunning visuals, and compelling characters. It is a cinema experience
that all epics should endeavor to be. 9/10
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