Review of Life of Pi

Another recent film that has been talked about and which was considered for many Oscars. I borrowed this from the local library because I missed the film when it was out. Again I may not add to the already voluminous reviews of this film but I like to scribble down some of my own thoughts.

The director of the film was Ang Lee. He won a best director Oscar for Life of Pi. As I was watching the film I thought to myself, "how does one recognize great directing?" I knew before the film started that Lee had won the award for best director in the most recent Oscars, so I was interested to see the film and see what the Academy had deemed so deserving of the best director Oscar.

Well after viewing the film I would so that it cleared up what thoughts I had about what great directing is. The film was beautiful. The tiger, the ocean, the fish were all great shots. If you can make a two hour film which the bulk of time is of a teenage boy floating around on life preservers attached to a life boat interesting and engaging then you should win the best director award. There were numerous shots in the film where I asked myself "how did he pull off that shot?" I was mesmerized, yet not terrified because we see that the boy survives to become a middle age man.

I thought the film was an interesting story. Perhaps not kin to a lot of what Hollywood mainstream features are all about today. Even though there was CGI effects the story is a very personal journey of survival against the odds. It is not a movie where you have to suspend belief. I'm not sure if it's a true story but parallels could be drawn to Castaway with Tom Hanks. Both movies deal with against the odds personal victories over nature. Both films are devoid of real suspense or action, yet there are both undeniably real.

I think it is a triumph for Lee. After his last two pictures; Lust Caution and Taking Woodstock I think he hit some rough spots after an astounding beginning with Crouching Tiger and Brokeback Mountain. I saw his Eat, Drink, Man, Woman which was delightful and I love his adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. I always like watching that film in the Springtime for some reason. Perhaps it reminds of the first time I was romantically involved with anyone. Or, perhaps, it reminds of the first time I saw it in Shanghai where I was teaching English. Yet, I digress.

Great film, great director.