Why "Inside Out" is My Favorite Pixar Movie

Scene from Inside Out

It's that time of year again. It's when the internet gathers together to make the argument for which film exemplifies what makes Pixar brilliant. It's an exciting, thought-provoking period because, on the one hand, there is no right answer. Who's to say that WALL-E  is greater than Finding Nemo? The diversity of each film is astounding and explains why they're towering giants in the American animation market. However, this is my chance to make the argument not only for why I think that their 2015 film Inside Out is yet another masterpiece, but is a masterpiece that explains most succinctly why Pixar remains a vital company in the 21st century. It's got everything perfectly in place and does so with the familiar formula better than it's ever been.

Review: "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is a Smart Yet Overbearing Sequel

Scene from Ralph Breaks the Internet

As any of the countless studies have proven, the internet is a crucial tool to how we communicate with one another. So why then is it so hard to capture the feeling of digital relationships on film, itself a medium of equally limitless potential? Disney's latest Ralph Breaks the Internet is a film that attempts to be everything all at the same time. It tries to make the internet seem like a world of wonder, where Disney Princesses can be pulled up in a second's notice, while discovering something darker and more unpleasant about humanity. Ralph may be a video game character, but his insecurity is a real feeling and something that Disney has been grappling with in the past two years with many films exploring toxic masculinity (Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Coco, etc.). For a character who was built in the first film as sympathetic and misunderstood, it's a bit of an odd shift. However, it makes the film one of the studio's boldest films in a long time, serving more as an essay on internet culture than genuine entertainment. It may hurt the film, but it also makes it a unique achievement. 

"Sausage Party" Enters the Oscar Race... For Some Reason

Scene from Sausage Party

This Oscar season is shaping up to be quite the interesting bunch of nominees. Along with the potential heavyweights like La La Land and Jackie, there have already been big showings in the indie cinema landscape with Moonlight. However, there is one film that is wanting to break into the big boys league that you probably didn't even think about. No, it's not something that would qualify as drama, or even come within two Russia-sized countries of the word "prestigious." The movie that wants to shake up this year's Oscar season is the R-Rated animated talking food movie Sausage Party.

Theory Thursday: "Adventureland" is Underrated

Scene from Adventureland

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Review: "The BFG" Brings Back the Spielberg Magic That We've Been Missing

Scene from The BFG

Everyone has that moment in their lives when they first discover the magic that is Steven Spielberg. For many, it was how terrifying the water was in Jaws; or how cloning dinosaurs in Jurassic Park was a bad idea. There's an unabashed amazement that comes with realizing the potential of cinema on a grand scale with the power to produce works that wouldn't seem fathomable on anything less. For kids of today, the magic of Spielberg may seem like a thing of the past, especially with back-to-back serious dramas like War Horse, Lincoln, and last year's excellent Bridge of Spies. However, the Spielberg that brought magic to family films is back with his take on Roald Dahl in The BFG. Lead by Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill, the fantasy adventure film may not be quite as captivating as the director's finest works, but it sure is a lot of fun while taking the viewer into a new and exciting landscape that only works because of Spielberg's assurance as a director, and we're all the more better for it.

Theory Thursday: "Hot Rod" is an Underrated Gem

Andy Samberg

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Check This Out: "Inside Out" Cuts Out the Emotions for Interesting "Outside Edition"

Scene from Inside Out

There wasn't an animated film that was more acclaimed and beloved than Pixar's Inside Out. For many, it was seen as a return to form for the studio, producing their best work since 2010's Toy Story 3. While its Oscar chances are inevitable (and will be announced later this month), it's intriguing to look back at the film and its form. While the story helped to make an abstract concept about emotions somehow explainable, it's intriguing to wonder if the story that they're telling on the other side holds up. Well, thanks to Jordan Hanzon, it has been edited to exclusively focus on the outside journey. Thankfully, the story is just as impressive without the gimmick, and can be seen after the jump.

Does "Trainwreck" Stand Any Oscar Chances?

Top to bottom: Bill Hader and Amy Schumer

It is a pretty great week to be Amy Schumer. Along with having a movie coming out on Friday, she has been in the news for different reasons. She is appearing on the cover of GQ Magazine and is getting press for her satirical risque pictures with Star Wars iconography. This past morning has also seen her get an Emmy nomination for her work on the even more acclaimed sketch series Inside Amy Schumer. However, this is one question that must be raised every time a comedy of above-average quality is brought out: is it possible to see these films get a Best Picture nomination? With tomorrow's release of director Judd Apatow's Trainwreck, one can only continue to wonder what's keeping the prestigious crowd from laughing a little bit more often.

Review: "Inside Out" is Pixar's Great Meta Commentary on Why We Love Pixar

Among the many anniversaries coming in 2015 is Toy Story's 20th anniversary. While it may just seem like an honor bestowed upon a really good film, it is also an indicator for Pixar's growth and legacy. There was a time where that film could have been a fluke. Yet 14 movies later, they are still willing to charm us and reinvent the wheel, making us sympathize with new things whether anthropomorphic or abstract. This is why director Pete Docter's Inside Out feels not just like a film, but as its own meta retrospective on the first two decades of a studio that has a widely regarded almost perfect track record. Thankfully, it still is a really good example about why Pixar is leagues ahead of its competitors.