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Inside Out (2015)
An Exciting Return to Early Pixar Glory
After a few years of enjoyable but mediocre films and questionable sequels, I was beginning to give up on the early Pixar that revolutionised film in so many ways. Inside Out is the closest Pixar has achieved to their early greatness for a long time and, in my opinion, it is a true triumph.
Inside Out mainly takes place inside the brain but the movie is filled with nothing but heart. Directors Docter and Del Carmen manage to create a world filled with lovable and complex characters that you can't help rooting for. Riley's journey throughout the film is a universal struggle that creates a sense of nostalgia that can at times be overwhelming. Similarly, Joy (brought to life by the never disappointing Amy Poehler) is perfectly portrayed and impossible not to love, support, and cry with throughout the film.
However the film is can be as funny as it is heart wrenching. I saw Inside Out at a late night session and despite there being not a single child in the cinema, I missed many lines in the film that couldn't be heard over the laughter from the line before. Pixar has once again found the perfect balance between child and adult humour and themes that is reminiscent of earlier triumphs such as Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Inside Out is a movie that I have found extremely hard to fault. My only regret coming out of the film was that I wish I could have explored the colourful, unique and imaginative world created in the film for much longer than the refined runtime allowed.
I would highly recommend this film to anyone with a fondness for nostalgia. No need to find a kid to take to this one, Inside Out is an instant and unashamed classic for all ages.
Pride (2014)
An Indisputable Success
Rarely is a film able to combine comedy and heart as expertly as Matthew Warchus's "Pride". As a gay man myself I am clearly biased, however in my eyes, the film is a well deserving comedy of the year.
Yet, underneath the comical façade of the film lies commentary on real issues faced by the gay community that remain relevant in 2014. I recommend to those looking for a political film chronicling the feud between miners and Margaret Thatcher to search elsewhere as the story takes a much larger focus on the struggles of the gay community with an emphasis on a central human experience.
Brilliant performances by relatively untested Ben Schnetzer (Mark) and George MacKay (Joe) as well as film veterans such as Bill Nighy (Cliff) and Imelda Staunton (Hefina) only work to enrich the expertly crafted script recounting the real life events of 1984 U.K.
Any person who critises the use of gay stereotypes in the film, I encourage you to accept these for what they are which is a comedic release for what could otherwise at times be rather macabre viewing.
In conclusion, "Pride" is a film of love, family, camaraderie and respect. Upon coming out of the theatre, I was awash with an undiluted sense of - for want of a better word - Pride in who I am and what the film represents. I think this film is important in its potential to create the same sense of pride in young members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) community and any other minority and show them they are not alone.
Highly Recommend