arts // no. §

What's your spark?

> ‘Soul’ Pixar movie review

Jerrison Oracion
Senior Columnist

 

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uring most of last year, movie theatres

were closed to prevent the spread of
coronavirus. A lot of films were delayed
to this year; some films went straight to
streaming and some movies were released
both in theatres and on streaming services.
I had to experience these films the Netflix
way: at home. Films experienced in a movie
theatre have a different impact though.

A few films were released during
the holiday season, and they were mainly
put out by Netflix (which released a new
film every week). A highly anticipated

film that I saw during the winter break is
Pixar’s Soul, which was released straight
to Disney+ on Christmas Day. When I
watched it, I said it was better than I
thought it would be and I think it is one of
the best films of last year.

Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a New
York City middle school music teacher
who inspires his students with music.
Gardner is trying to make it big in the jazz
scene, but after he gets an opportunity to
perform with a famous jazz band ina club,
he falls in a pothole and lands as a soul in
“the great beyond”: a place where recently
deceased souls keep their personalities and
traits. Trying to get back to Earth, he falls
off the path and lands in “the great before”
where souls are trained before they go to

Earth. He then meets a soul named 22
(Tina Fey) who does not want to experience
life and Joe mentors her to find her spark.
At the same time, both characters learn
about purpose. Tina Fey was playing
herself—just like Bill Murray playing
himself in the 2020 movie On the Rocks.
The film is directed by Pete Docter—who
also directed Monsters Inc., Up, and Inside
Out. Soul is like a spinoff sequel to Inside
Out.

Soul has the charm that you would
expect from Pixar. Both scenes that take
place in New York City, and “the great
before” (where it has 2D animation scenes)
are fantastic. The film’s score by Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross sounded like
an alternative score of Stranger Things

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with a hint of Bob Dylan’s sound—also
accompanied by jazz music composed by
Jon Batiste. The subwoofer was used a lot
during the scenes in “the great before’ —
and “the great beyond” scenes were so
bright that the whole theatre would be
white if I saw this film at the cinema.
Hopefully this film will be released in
theatres when the pandemic ends because
watching it in 3D would make the film
more exciting. Soul is the feel-good film
that we need during this time as it reminds
viewers that we should pursue our passions
and appreciate life. An enjoyable hobby can
spark life. Soul is available on Disney+.