Soul (2020)

Directed by Pete Docter

Sometimes discovering your true passion means helping someone find theirs. Joe Gardner is a middle school band teacher whose life hasn’t gone the way he wanted it to. After a sudden accident that transports him to another realm, he learns what it means to have a soul. 

Letterboxd Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰/5 

Letterboxd Statistics (subject to change): Weighted average of 3.94 stars based on 2,340,144 ratings. 

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, and Angela Bassett

In what was a random watch over winter break my freshman year of college turned into a movie viewing experience that has stuck with me. I watched this on a whim, basically with the intention of watching something comforting, and after reading Soul’s description on how it was about someone who loves music, I was intrigued because who doesn’t love music?! Needless to say, this is in my top three favorite Pixar movies… ever. Here is my review: 

Soul is a film that I consider to be one of Pixar’s most reflective and emotionally mature films. Although advertised as an animated family movie, it asks deeply intellectual questions surrounding purpose, identity, passion, and what makes life meaningful. It balances these fundamental themes with visual imagination, humor, and authenticity. Based in New York City, Soul’s cinematography feels completely realistic - busy streets, jazz clubs, bustling subway stations, and warm autumn tones that makes the city feel alive. Given that the film has a huge correlating theme of music, the camera movement allows scenes to have a musical rhythm. In contrast to the scenes in New York City, what is called “The Great Before” in Soul has eye-catching elements that are abstract and colorful, filled with vast spaces and wonder. There is a definitive visual contrast between Joe’s earthly life and The Great Before, allowing the film to run wild with imagination. The score is another notable aspect of Soul, as it won a grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. Singer-songwriter Jon Batiste provides thrilling jazz performances for the Earth scenes that give the film a sense of soulfulness and surrealism, and in the spiritual realms we are provided ambient compositions, only giving the film so much more meaning. While the central theme of this movie is what gives life meaning, the underlying theme is all about everyday life. Soul argues that living self, the everyday experiences, relationships, sensations, and smallest of joys, is what gives life meaning. Throughout the film, Joe attributes his self-worth to his success, only making it harder for himself to realize that just because he isn’t exactly where he pictured he would be, does not mean that he is a failure. Finding your passion is hard is not something that comes easy to everyone, but the ambition and determination that comes with finding it, that is what makes the process worthwhile. 

An emotion to describe how this film made me feel would be appreciative. After reading a multitude of Letterboxd reviews, I see that it makes viewers reflect on their own lives and the things that they chase after, what they overlook, and how they allow themselves to be present. One of the most important moments in this film is when Joe is given another chance at life, and after his experience in The Great Before, you can almost physically feel the shift Joe has made in his approach to life, making the ending so much more powerful and heartfelt. What starts as a story about finding your purpose becomes a reminder to appreciate being alive in the first place. This film is spectacular, and I stand firm on the opinion that everyone should watch it. It is emotional, philosophical, and existential. Absolutely phenomenal. 

A Review of Pixar's "Soul"

Interviews with Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey