WALL-E is the best film Pixar has made to date and quite possibly my favorite animated film of all-time. I would be hard pressed to find a single flaw in this film that is so beautifully crafted, rendered, scored, directed and designed. Every robotic beep has meaning and is felt. It is a film that feels as if the filmmakers didn’t overlook a single frame.
Whereas I also loved DreamWorks’s Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E has the distinction of also leaving behind the label “animated” making it a great film, period. Meticulously crafted, WALL-E manages to tell the story of a little robot capable of saying what I believe are only three words throughout the entire film (“WALL-E,” “Eve” and “Directive”) and giving him personality, life and character in such a way that you actually care what happens to the little tin can, and it isn’t through cheap animated techniques. The use of sound effects and spectacular scoring by Thomas Newman and sound design by Ben Burtt (Star Wars films) actually makes WALL-E a work of art as opposed to a cheap trick.
The quick synopsis of WALL-E is to say that mankind has basically destroyed Earth in its quest for leisure and its complete disregard for the world it lived on. Humans have abandoned the planet for life on leisure barges in space, leaving behind a group of robots designed to clean up the mess. However, only one such robot has managed to “survive”, he goes by the name WALL-E.
From the sound of his treads rolling across the soil to the gleam off his glassy eyes, he is a character designed with storytelling in mind. His teardrop eyes and tiny stature speak volumes. So much of what makes WALL-E a sympathetic character is taken care of in the details to the point director Andrew Stanton was able to focus on story and interaction between his animated characters. The result is a fluid movement in what may go down as yet another major leap in animated filmmaking.
With Roger Deakins (The Assassination of Jesse James, The Village) aboard to support in the “lighting” of the film every flicker of the flame and dramatic landscape is beautifully rendered it limits you from seeing WALL-E as an animated feature. If it wasn’t for the Pixar-like cartoony nature of the humans (even though live-action humans are used) this movie is so close to being photo real, especially in the early moments with WALL-E on Earth, you will not believe your eyes.
The great thing is, even if you think all the stuff I am saying is critical crap that you don’t care about that is fine, this film works outside of all the stuff that film lovers are sure to key on. WALL-E works as a story alone and the children in the audience I saw it with absolutely loved every minute of it.
WALL-E is certain to get a Best Picture Oscar nomination this year and will most likely be nominated for sound and the score. There is also certain potential for a nomination for art design and visual effects. This may be the film of 2008 and is certain to be a fan favorite.
