What's wrong with the title 'Life of Piscine'?
DIRECTOR: Ang Lee
CAST: Pi (who isn't actually the tiger!), Richard Parker (is the bloody tiger?), the police officer from 'Slumdog Millionaire' (that's where he's from!), Tabu (not really a swear word), French guy (do you mean Russian?) and the really stupid character from 'Prometheus' (no, they're not all stupid!)
PLOT: Pi (full name Piscine Molitor) is travelling to Canada on a ship with a fucking zoo. Well the ship gets wrecked (and it's already a better film than 'Titanic') and Pi gets stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Because y'know, cats hate the water.
'Life of Pi' has a lot of religious subtext and relies on it heavily at the beginning to add meaning to an already amazing story. But even this won't piss off the most devout Atheist (me, then) because it is used so well that it thematically adds a sense of wonder and spirit to the film (like it ever needed anymore of that). It's heart-warming to see the young 'Pi' lap all the different religions that he can, so innocent that he doesn't lap up the reason why so many of them struggle to respect one another. With that in mind, this isn't just for religious people.
'Life of Pi' begins in a zoo with a brilliant opening credits sequence in which we see many of the doomed animals before travelling to Canada is even a thought in 'Pi's' father's head. I would have happily watched the animals do their thing for two hours in 3D. So, with the wide range of creatures that feature in the film, animal-lovers will surely get a kick from this; as also, the animals are regarded to with such love and admiration. They're just important as the human characters. But likable newcomer Suraj Sharma, having to act on his own for a fair chunk of the film, as obviously having the tiger actors on a boat with him would have been unethical (pussies) is so amazing as 'Pi' that the film isn't only relying on our four legged friends. With that in mind, this isn't just for animal lovers and tree huggers.
It's easier to say that anyone who isn't a bastard will enjoy this film. It's such a journey that will take you through so many emotions - as it's never boring, sometimes funny, often dramatic, occasionally sad, extremely tense and always beautiful.
Much of the beauty comes from the themes explored, but what is most notable is the aesthetic quality, especially from Ang Lee's use of 3D - the moment we discover that the 'Richard Parker' is on the lifeboat is one of the best uses of 3D that I have ever seen in a cinema. You must see it in 3D! (Never thought I'd be saying that).
The whole thing seems like fantasy, and unbelievable to the extent that you're thinking that the screening should be full of children (it was me and four old ladies in the whole room). However, what really struck me afterwards is that everything that happens is very unlikely, but nonetheless still possible. Quite frankly, you'd have to see it to believe it.
Suraj Sharma is the main target for critical bumming, and rightly so, he's brilliant. But Irrfan Khan as the older 'Pi' also gives a strong performance as he tells his incredible tale to a writer. However, where his voiceover usually works with the feeling of the film, it does unfortunately take away a lot of the drama and emotion from an ending that could have been much more. Voiceover didn't work on that occasion, the visuals would have been enough to express the heartbreak and emotion on its own.
Other than that 'Life of Pi' is an exceptional feat of both filmmaking and storytelling. Ang Lee has made a film that many believed to be impossible. But like the story - even though it was very unlikely, it was nonetheless possible. Quite frankly, you'd have to see it to believe it.
* * * * ½
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