clipping
David Denby review of Ratatouille, NYer, 7.23.07, p.85:
Toques off to Mr. Bird. At a time when many Americans have so misunderstood the ethos of democracy that they hate being outclassed by anyone, when science is disdained as dangerous and expertise as elitism, this animation artist, working in a family medium, has made two brilliant movies that unequivocally champion excellence ("The Incredibles" being the other). "Ratatouille" suggests that some omnivores are better than others. There's nothing to do but get over it.
I applaud the sentiment, but disagree with the analysis. A large part of that which has helped The Incredibles and, to a lesser extent, Ratatouille, to garner critical and popular support (and I would wager that they will date relatively well, too) is their ability to be read in multiple ways -- not necessarily mutually consistent. I remember hearing scholars and friends give opposing interpretations to "the message" of The Incredibles -- that it is pro-exceptionalism and anti-exceptionalism among others -- and I think that a good case can be made for both based on the film's structures.
Nonetheless it's a nice change to have something mainstream that one can rally around.
Btw, if the people who I think are reading this are, in fact, reading this, you can tell me what you think by clicking on the "make a comment" link. You will be "anonymous," so sign with an abbreviation that I will recognize, such as mimi, babee, or sk. Even two words are nice ;)
Yesterday I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's so nice to have friends with whom I can watch a movie without my "MediaScholar" hat on. And I feel caught up to the cool kids now ;) . Today I will be going to dim sum. Yum! Now, if I can just wobble out of bed...
Toques off to Mr. Bird. At a time when many Americans have so misunderstood the ethos of democracy that they hate being outclassed by anyone, when science is disdained as dangerous and expertise as elitism, this animation artist, working in a family medium, has made two brilliant movies that unequivocally champion excellence ("The Incredibles" being the other). "Ratatouille" suggests that some omnivores are better than others. There's nothing to do but get over it.
I applaud the sentiment, but disagree with the analysis. A large part of that which has helped The Incredibles and, to a lesser extent, Ratatouille, to garner critical and popular support (and I would wager that they will date relatively well, too) is their ability to be read in multiple ways -- not necessarily mutually consistent. I remember hearing scholars and friends give opposing interpretations to "the message" of The Incredibles -- that it is pro-exceptionalism and anti-exceptionalism among others -- and I think that a good case can be made for both based on the film's structures.
Nonetheless it's a nice change to have something mainstream that one can rally around.
Btw, if the people who I think are reading this are, in fact, reading this, you can tell me what you think by clicking on the "make a comment" link. You will be "anonymous," so sign with an abbreviation that I will recognize, such as mimi, babee, or sk. Even two words are nice ;)
Yesterday I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's so nice to have friends with whom I can watch a movie without my "MediaScholar" hat on. And I feel caught up to the cool kids now ;) . Today I will be going to dim sum. Yum! Now, if I can just wobble out of bed...