A Journey Through the Emotions of a Little Girl
By Skip Sheffield
Far in man… not far out.
Pixar Animation’s “Inside Out” explores the vast world
within the mind of a young girl named Riley. This movie is as much for adults as
it is for children; maybe more so. The human brain is one of the most complex
systems in the universe. Making it understandable through the magic computer
animation is a tall order indeed.
If anyone is up for the challenge it is co-directors Peter
Docter (“Up”) and Ronaldo Del Carmen (“Ratatouille,” “Brave,” “Monsters
University”), who also co-wrote the original story. Riley is a fairly ordinary
Minnesota girl who is crazy about hockey and loves her friends. When her dad
gets a new job in San Francisco, Riley’s emotions fall into turmoil. Though Joy
(voice of Amy Poehler) is Riley’s dominant emotion, Joy is often at odds with
her nemesis Sadness (Phyllis Smith), who means well but drags down everyone and
everything she touches. Riley’s dark side, Anger is vividly expressed by
acerbic comedian Lewis Black. Bill Hader’s quivering voice expresses Fear and
Mindy Kaling curls her lip in Disgust. Riley herself is voiced by Kaitlyn Dias.
Mom’s lovely voice is provided by Diane Lane while not-so-dear old dad is Kyle
MacLachlan. There are many other characters, all representing emotions and
feelings within Riley. The story itself is quite simple. Feeling overwhelmed
and disillusioned, Riley concludes the best solution is to buy a bus ticket and
go back to Minnesota. Any of us who are still in touch with our inner child
know that it can be a scary place. Emotions are so fresh, real and confusing.
Here they are presented visually in a great and perilous adventure. Will it fly
over the heads of children? I don’t think so.
Al Pacino as a Lovelorn Texas Locksmith?
That’s what Pacino is in “Manglehorn.” Pacino has often been
accused of over-acting. As Angelo “A.J.” Manglehorn he is so dialed down he
barely has a pulse. Manglehorn is a man of many regrets. The biggest is the
love of his life whom he lost to bad choices and a stretch in prison. Now he
works and lives alone in a crummy double-wide. His closest friend is a cat.
Into his life wanders a pretty bank teller named Dawn (Holly Hunter, looking
careworn). Dawn seems as lonely as A.J., and she sees in him something he can’t
see in himself. But Paul Logan’s screenplay can’t really be called a romance.
Director David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express”) seems content to stay on the
downbeat side of life with his Gloomy Gus non-hero. This one is for hardcore
Pacino fans only.
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