Michael Giltz: Cannes 2009 Day One: "Up" Review http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/cannes-2009-day-one-up-re_b_203089.html [6/23/2009 6:16:14 PM] JUNE 23, 2009 HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD COMEDY 23/6 NEW YORK CHICAGO VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE Make HuffPost Your HomePage Get Email Alerts Michael Giltz Freelance writer and raconteur Posted: May 13, 2009 03:07 PM BIO Become a Fan Get EmailAlerts Bloggers'Index Cannes 2009 Day One: "Up" Review Read More: Animation , Cannes Film Festival, Disney, Pixar, Up, Entertainment News Cannes kicked off with a gentle, sweet even sublime film: Pixar's Up .</p><p> As I've written before, Pixar is on a streak of critical and commercialsuccesses (10 and counting) that is simplyunparalleled in Hollywood history.</p><p> No star, no director, no studio has ever accomplished what Pixar has wrought with its first ten movies.</p><p> Theyrange from pretty good to good to great toclassic.</p><p> And every single one has been a major commercial success.</p><p> Just listing them is impressive: Toy StoryA Bug's LifeToy Story 2 Monsters Inc.</p><p> Finding Nemo The Incredibles Cars Ratatouille (now THAT should have opened Cannes!) WALL-E and now Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick RevealTwins' Names READ MORE Robert Pattinson Films by Day, Prowls by Night READ MORE Gosselins Go Their Separate Ways READ MORE More Celebrity News at People.com Don't Miss HuffPost Bloggers Gavin Newsom The Nation's Most Ambitious Recycling Law T.</p><p> Boone Pickens Propane and the Pickens Plan Popular Stories on HuffPost Johnny Depp As MadHatter, Helena Bonham Carter's RedBIG NEWS : Jon & Kate Plus 8 | Celebrity Skin | Tom Cruise | Celebrity Kids | More...</p><p> LOG IN | SIGN UP Be the First to Submit This Story to Digg Get Breaking News Alerts Share Print Comments never spam FAKE! Jon & Kate Divorce Papers: Lived 'Separate And Apart' TWO YEARS PHOTOS: Miley Cyrus Photo Uproar: Innocent Or Too Sexy? (POLL) Phil Spector In 'Sensitive Needs' Area Of Prison Michael Giltz: Cannes 2009 Day One: "Up" Review http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/cannes-2009-day-one-up-re_b_203089.html [6/23/2009 6:16:14 PM] Up.</p><p> It has some fine action scenes and witty banter involving dogs equipped with hi-tech collars that let us hear their thoughts. ("Squirrel!" is a big favorite.) But the lasting impression of this gem is gentle and sweet.</p><p> No wonder the filmmakers genuflected at the altar of Hiyao Miyazaki, the great Japanese animation genius.</p><p> His sensibility suffuses everything they do.</p><p> The story is simple enough: Carl, a grumpy old man (Ed Asner) tries to get away from it all by tying a ton of helium balloons to his home and floating off to South America.</p><p> But there's a stowaway: a genial 8 year old kid desperate to earn his final merit badge by "assisting the elderly." Adventuresensue.</p><p> Director Pete Docter (whose long face and jug ears make him look pleasingly cartoonish himself) mentioned the Pixar concept of "Simplexity" at the film's press conference.</p><p> That's the idea that something -- a character, a storyline, an image -- should be easy to grasp at first but have enough depth and texture that you keep discovering new things every time you return to it.</p><p> But even on first viewing you'll be caught up short by the serene opening.</p><p> They break your heart in the first ten minutes...twice.</p><p> In those ten minutes, we see Carl as a shy, almost mute little boyhappily overwhelmed by Elie (voiced by Elie Docter).</p><p> Her love for famed explorer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer) is even greater than his own.</p><p> In a brilliant, nearly silent sequence, we see them grow up, get married, share their dreams, suffer the pain of their inability to have children,grow old together and then sadly say goodbye when Ellie dies.</p><p> It's a master class in storytelling and the movie proper hasn't even begun.</p><p> But of course it has, because in a great film nothing is extraneous.</p><p> Those first few minutes set up the driving desire to see the wilds of South America, cannily explain why explorer Muntz might still be there decades later trying to clear his name, prepare us for an oddball bird nicknamed Kevin that is boisterously antic and sweet (they don't make movies to sell toys but boy could Disney sell aton of "Kevins"), and a dark, dangerous finale.</p><p> I haven't even mentioned yet the fact that the film is in 3-D, something that should please Pixar to no end.</p><p> This is a landmark year for 3-D: Up and Coraline will be remembered for being the movies that turned 3-D from a gimmick into simply another tool, like sound and color.</p><p> Their use of 3-D isso deft, so organic to the story that it seems perfectly natural.</p><p> That's something 3-D has neverseemed before.</p><p> I'm not convinced that 3-D will become standard for live action films.</p><p> Mostly, it seems like an excuse by studios to raise ticket prices.</p><p> But in animation, 3-D will probably become the standard.</p><p> People will still make 2-D animation and they'll still do hand-drawn animation as well, just like people sometimes make movies in black and white.</p><p> But 3-D is already becoming so common thatno one thinks it notable or special or strange.</p><p> If the movie's good, it uses 3-D well.</p><p> If it's bad, 3-Dwon't help it.</p><p> With Up , the 3-D is so essential to the emotional effect of the film, I'd hate to watch it in 2-D, at least for the first time, You'd certainly enjoy it.</p><p> But you wouldn't know what you weremissing.</p><p> And Up in 3-D should not be missed.</p><p> Related News On Huffington Post: CANNES: Festival Opens With Glamour, Stars And 3-D (PHOTOS) (SCROLL FOR PHOTOS) CANNES, France — The evening gownsglittered, the red carpet was unfurled _ and the 3-D glasses were at Queen And Anne Hathaway's White Queen: FIRST LOOK (PHOTOS) The Tim Burton...</p><p> Mark Sanford: Where Is He? 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Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to View Comments: Newest First Expand All MAragon I'm a Fan of MAragon permalink At first, I wasn't sure if I'd get into this film until I saw the latest trailer.</p><p> I've had that reaction half the time I've seen trailers for upcoming Pixar films, but then I see them and I've alwaysbeen surprised and delighted by them.</p><p> I hope Pixar can keep their golden touch as The Inner Life Barack Obama Video Iran Sports HIV/AIDS Dick Cheney Jon & Kate Plus 8 Photo Galleries MORE BIG NEWS PAGES »Unemployment: The Hardest-Hit States (CHART) Michigan has the highest unemployment rate of any state at 14.1 percent,...</p><p> Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear From Your Kids On Father's Day (VIDEO) Letterman explained this week that Father's Day is the superbowl...</p><p> Elisabeth Hasselbeck Sued For Plagiarism Over G-Free DietBook BOSTON — ElisabethHasselbeck, a co-host of ABC's "The View," has been...</p><p> Sarkozy: Burqas Are 'Not Welcome' In France PARIS — PresidentNicolas Sarkozy declared Monday that the Islamicburqa is not welcome in...</p><p> Here's To You, Dad:HuffPost ReadersShare Their Father's Day Stories On Thursday, we asked for your stories about your dads affected...</p><p> HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES Michael Giltz: Cannes 2009 Day One: "Up" Review http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/cannes-2009-day-one-up-re_b_203089.html [6/23/2009 6:16:14 PM]Comments are closed for this entry storytellers.</p><p> I am looking forward to seeing Up when it comes out here.</p><p> You must be logged in to reply to this comment.</p><p> Log in or Ads by Google Make 3D Animation Learn How to Make Hollywood Style 3D Animation at LA Film School. www.LAFilm.edu HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE ARCHIVE Advertise | Log In | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Jobs | FAQ: Comments & Moderation | FAQ: Huffpost Accounts | Contact Us Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | Archive | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:33 PM on 05/14/2009
