"Life of Pi" Review

This Christmas weekend, I was able to eliminate another must-see from my long list of movies to watch over the next month: Life of Pi, director Ang Lee's contribution to the crowded field of motion pictures for your consideration during the 2012 awards season.
The film is about a boy named Pi (Suraj Sharma) who finds himself stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger when the ship carrying he and his family from India to Canada sinks during a violent storm.  During his time at sea, Pi's life becomes an epic journey of self-discovery.

When I first saw the previews for Life of Pi, I wasn't impressed. I thought it kinda looked like a corny kids movie that would easily be forgotten. But then I kept hearing about how good it was, and then the American Film Institute named it to its list of best films for 2012. (Further research also tells me Life of Pi has three Golden Globe nominations.) Because the movie has garnered such hype, I decided I had to check it out for myself.
And I'm very glad that I did. With its marvelous production design, ingenious editing, spectacular special effects, and a riveting performance from star Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi lives up to the hype and is one of my favorite films of the year. At the very least, it deserves consideration for Best Picture, but I think it's a sure-fire winner in several categories.

I thought The Hobbit had some great CG work, but Life of Pi features some set pieces that can only be described as astonishing.  The raging storms, crashing waves, lifelike animals, and a brief, yet captivating, scene involving a school of jellyfish all blew me away.  Think of the special effects look as something like a cross between The Jungle Book and Avatar.  Expect Life of Pi and The Hobbit to duke it out for Best Visual Effects come Oscar time.

I also enjoyed the editing work, especially in the first forty-five minutes or so.  The use of crossfading and crosscutting allows the audience to witness Pi's thoughts and actions as he dictates them through onscreen narration.  The first of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies is the last I can remember to also feature a scene with this editing technique.  (It's when Peter is sketching his ideas for the costume.  We get to see the diligent, sometimes frustrated, emotions on Peter's face while at the same time watching him color in pictures of spiders and suit prototypes.)

The cast of Life of Pi is terrific as well.  Rafe Spall plays "Writer", a man in search of an idea who comes to an adult Pi (Irrfan Kahn), hoping he'll share his life-changing experience at sea and allow him to share it with the world.  Spall shows all the wide-eyed wonder and interest of an eager listener, not much unlike young Fred Savage's performance years ago alongside Peter Faulk in The Princess Bride.  Kahn is also wonderful as a grown-up, post-experience Pi.  He doesn't flamboyantly express tons of emotion, but he's a joy to watch as he attempts to keep himself in check, especially as he recants the end of his journey.
And finally I have to mention Suraj Sharma, who plays a teenage Pi and carries the film for the majority of two hours.  Life of Pi is a star-making turn for this young man.  He's a marvel as he portrays the ferocity of a changing teen who suddenly loses everything and finds himself in extraordinary circumstances.  I was rooting for this kid from the start, and I loved watching the change in him from beginning to end.  Sharma IS Pi, so just hand this guy the Best Actor nominations already!

I wish I could find something bad to say about this movie.  My only real complaint is that there were some rambunctious young kids who were a little loud in the theater at times, but on the whole the movie was fantastic.  Certainly a dark horse to be one of my top 5 for the year.

It probably won't be in theaters much longer, so check it out in 3-D if you still can.

4 OF 4 STARS