Review: "Soul" Comes Together For a Mesmerizing Experience

Scene from Soul (2020)

What has always made the realm of animation at times superior is the endless possibilities. There are no commitments to the familiar, and yet sometimes it's often more real. Few directors have understood this as well as Pete Docter, who has used the abstract to understand everything from our fears (Monsters Inc.) to cognitive function (Inside Out). With his latest, he has continued to outdo himself in the realm of fantasy, finding a wondrous way to explore the most abstract thing that's fundamental to the human condition. What drives our soul to continue pursuing passions, to live a life that isn't, ahem, "soulless." Using the vibrant background of a jazz musician, the story unfolds into the surreal, introducing high concepts in accessible ways. What makes this all a miracle is how easily everything goes down, finding equal parts entertainment and inspiration in every scene. Whatever Docter is doing continues to work, even if it's a bit raggedy and confusing at times. 

From the minute that the familiar Disney logo appears at the start of the film, it is clear that there is something wrong with Joe's (Jamie Foxx) life. The instruments are out of tune, barely holding together a melody. Is it even playing the familiar "When You Wish Upon a Star," or is it something more disjointed? As the title card transitions into the story, there's Joe in a classroom, surrounded by children playing instruments. The trombone looks like it's barely holding together and half of the kids sound like they're veering off on their own path. Not only does Joe lack control in his life, but as a teacher he can't seem to control this band. He can't figure out the melody that would bring them all into harmony, emphasizing the inner talent. As a result, he leaves his job, which is more of a side hustle, a bit defeated.

This isn't what he wants to do. What he wants is to be a jazz pianist. When his fingers hit the keys, it's this majestic pattern. The camera fades into these warm colors and everything has peace. But, as all artists will know, this doesn't pay the bills. Even as he gets a gig playing for the great Dorothea (Angela Bassett), nobody believes that this will be the moment that changes life, providing financial stability that would allow him to pursue his dream as an artist. It's ironic then that this is immediately followed by his literal low: dying from a plunge down an open sewer. The regret consumes him, desiring to get back to this moment of happiness, which so far is the only thing he seems to be doing right.

The rest of the story is where Soul becomes Pixar's latest exercise in perplexingly abstract images. It also ranks among their highest concept stories to date, finding the idea of mentoring new souls to be an important function. It's the only way that Joe can stand to find balance in his life, and the lessons that follow are the familiar blend of comedy and heartache. The characters range from talking cats to curvacious stick figures. It's a testament to their animation that even with minimalism techniques they manage to convey worlds that are astounding, pushing boundaries of what CGI can do. In some ways it makes the surrealism stronger, allowing for more of an interpretive Rorschach test to its darkness, asking not what constitutes Joe's soul but our own.

It also helps that the real world is rich with great detail. On a sonic level, the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score is sparking with meditation and curiosity. The jazz incorporation of acts like Herbie Hancock and Erykah Badu only enhances the authenticity of the world. To find Joe wandering around Black-owned businesses from barbershops and night clubs to beauty boutiques shows a side of animation that frankly needs to be explored more. It's in the atmosphere of these scenes that Pixar continues to push itself and find a better authenticity. While there's room to improve, it's amazing how lively this city is. Every stairwell has a layer of grit to it and makes this world feel more sustainable.

If there's an issue with the story, it's that it seeks to take its psychoanalysis in too many directions at once. While Docter gives Soul an impressive fantasy, it does distract from the human element. There's not enough focus on what drives Joe's life. Even then, it's torn between understanding the metaphysical and slapstick subplots that may convey broad themes, but don't entirely line up as something more concrete. Like spirituality, Soul is best seen as something interpretive. Where Inside Out plays like the most entertaining psych textbook,  Soul is a painting whose colors swirl, blending together and making something more profound. You can't explain its allure, but everyone sees something different when they look at it. Because of that, it never feels whole. It does have a satisfying conclusion, but only for those willing to see the ideas as brushstrokes and not something concrete.

Thankfully, Pixar continues to push boundaries in rewarding ways. There definitely is not another film like this. Mixing intellect and emotion, it's an exercise in understanding why artists should never give up on their passion. Everything may seem to be out of alignment right now, but there's a good chance that things can change. In a lot of ways, it's the small and invisible ways that Joe's life changes for the better. It may still be imperfect, but it's a humbling reminder of what should truly matter in one's life. As an experience, this is one of the most intriguing movies of the year for how it creates something more confusing in meaningful ways. It may not always work, but there's enough there to suggest that the journey was worth it.