Soul is definitely a soul-searching movie for the soul
The latest release from Pixar Animation Studios is an instant-classic that joins the ranks of Up, Inside Out, and Monsters Inc — all of which were directed by Pete Doctor, one of the co-directors of Soul. Like these other films, Soul attempts the high wire act of entertaining young children while also providing adult viewers with complex themes to contemplate.
Soul tells the story of Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a middle-aged New York jazz pianist, trapped in a strange world between Earth and the afterlife. Joe is a struggling musician who finally gets his dream gig, but as he begins preparing for the show, he experiences an incident that sends him into an otherworldly dimension known as The Great Beyond. This is where he meets a cynical soul simply known as “22” (Tina Fey). Joe is tasked with the difficult assignment of helping this lost soul find its passion in life.
Finding one’s passion for life is one of the central themes of the movie, and Joe explores this idea in himself during his mission to help 22. The film is deeply felt and explores mature concepts including the search for one’s existential purpose and meaning in life. The story oscillates between The Great Beyond and Earth, often merging the surreal landscape of the
imagination with the objective truth of reality.
The film’s structure
is similar to that of the jazz music Joe is passionate about. It uses a conventional foundation to explore philosophical ideas, all the while veering off in unanticipated directions. As we witness Joe reflect on his own life, the audience is encouraged to ask themselves what makes their own lives meaningful. It inspires us to stop and smell the roses, and makes one wonder: what are your metaphorical roses in life?
The film features a talented ensemble cast including Angela Bassett, Daveed Diggs, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Richard Ayoade, Rachel House, and Graham Norton. Codirector Kemp Powers makes his directorial debut after working as a writer on One Night in Miami (2020) and several episodes of Star Trek: Discovery. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, wrote the score. Their other scores include Mank, Bird Box, an Oscar win for The Social Network. Soul can currently be streamed on Disney+
Bobby Styles studied Film at UCLA, and worked as an editor and producer on several film, commercials and music video projects in Los Angeles. He currently teaches the intermediate and advanced Video Production courses in the Multimedia & Technology Academy at Monache High School. His column appears every Monday in The Recorder.
Film: Soul (2020) Directors: Pete Doctor (Inside Out, Up, Monsters Inc.) and Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami) Starring: Jamie Foxx (Ray, Collateral), Tina Fey (SNL, 30 Rock) Streaming Platform: Disney+ Rating: PG Runtime: 100 minutes Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Spoiler Warning: Some minor plot details are discussed in this review. Nothing is revealed beyond the information provided in the movie trailer.