First Take: Life of Pi- cinematic storytelling at it's finest

SYNOPSIS:

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

I missed this film on it’s initial cinema run and it’s something I will live to regret. Ang Lee has directed a very innovative film that DESERVES to be seen on a big screen purely for its design.

Lee directs the film very well, and while the pace isn’t perfect, the general feel of the film fits the adapted script from Jeff Magee perfectly. It’s shot extremely well by Claudio Miranda, with the now iconic colour pallette allowing both audiences to get the full impact for both 2D and 3D viewing. Scenes that stand out are the whale sequence and the arrival on the island, a shining example of how the CG effects are also done perfectly for the animals and environments, creating true escapism.

The music by Mychael Danna also provides a sense of atmosphere and setting, something which a good score needs nowadays.

The cast are also very good too with Rafe Spall playing the Author very well, and with Suraj Sharma leading the piece alongside Irrfan Khan, Gerard Depardieu and many other big name talents, Life of Pi is able to adapt a beloved book for Hollywood while blending the lines between arthouse and mainstream cinema- this simply doesn’t have the feel of a major studio picture. 

THE VERDICT

This is one of the decade’s best films and also one of the most uplifting yet powerful pieces I’ve ever seen. Simple as that.

Rating- 5/5