Up
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on February 13, 2010 – 11:38 AM64 Comments
The tears started rolling five minutes in. I always cry at Pixar movies — even Cars; shut up — so I don’t know why I thought I would escape from Up with a dry face, but it seriously killed me like five different times. So cute! So sad! Such a sweet score!
…Kevin! I LOVE KEVIN. Totally naming my next pet “Kevin.”
Adorable. Easily my favorite of the Best Picture nominees, which it won’t win; haven’t seen all the Best Animated Features yet, but it might not win that either; it had better win Best Original Score because I’ve had the Carl and Ellie song in my head all day. Love.
…Kevin!
Death Race 41, Sarah 17; 6 out of 24 categories completed
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Horner was recognized by two critics’ organizations a few years ago for his original score to Malick’s The New World, and I’m all but certain the critics believed he had written the Mozart and Wagner pieces that are used so heavily in that movie. When the movie was released, I saw him credited (or blamed) for those two pieces many times, in reviews and on fan forums such as the IMDb boards. I would have laughed if he had ridden the confusion to another Oscar nomination as well (the Mozart and Wagner are so prominent in TNW that you have to listen closely to even catch Horner’s music), but I guess his fellow composers in the nominating branch would know better.
Guys, watch the “Dug’s Special Mission” on the DVD extras, if you haven’t already. If Alpha cracked you up in the movie itself, “I will be getting you DUUUUUUUUUUUG!” will SLAY you in the short.
Michael Giacchino also does the music for LOST. He really is a versatile composer.
Not much to add except I laughed, I cried, and absolutely loved this movie! Thank you Pixar for making this truly wonderful film.
“Kevin!” “Squirrel”
That’s why I’ve been avoiding this film – because I’m afraid it will make me cry. My sister saw it and hates it because she cried over it. I’m still grieving for a pet, so I’m waiting until I feel more “stable” before I see this one!
Sobbed and had to run out of the room and clean my face up after the montage at the beginning. I was really not ready for that! I also cry easily at commercials too! Still, best movie ever. I agree with Jaybird, “Dug’s Special Mission” is awesome mostly because of where it ends up. I love that dog. He reminds me of almost every dog I had while growing up.
I’m mostly just glad to know that I’m not the only one who sometimes cries ridiculously. :)
Incidentally, I *did* tear up during the intro, because the thought of getting ready to have a child and then losing that chance is terrifying to me, because you have to go home afterwards and look at the baby’s room, the baby’s clothes, the baby’s toys and all the rest of the stuff that you now have to deal with; and to realize that for the next few years you’ll be having to go back there all over again, because you meet old friends who say “oh, I heard you were expecting, how’s the baby?”…
Remember Hemingway, writing the World’s Shortest Novel: “For Sale: Baby Clothes, Never Worn.”
****
And it’s not as though I don’t cry, here. October Sky gets me in a bunch of places. So does The Iron Giant, and the aforementioned Toy Story 2. Heck, I even get misty at the end of Apollo 13 when they land in the ocean and re-establish radio contact.
@Grainger: (Disclaimer: still haven’t seen UP, may not be able to due to tear factor.) I dunno, as far as “We aren’t used to movies having the guts to kill the main character’s wife” – if it’s from Disney, 90% of the Disney movies have Dead Mom. “Dead Wife” seems to be a variation on a theme.
Ohhhh, this movie… ‘Up’ was easily my best-beloved film of 2009. I saw it with my then-fiance, and we spent the first 20 minutes or so sobbing on each other in the theatre, and another hour of weepy “awww”ing afterward (if I hadn’t already agreed to marry him, that would have sealed the deal). When the DVD came out, we bought three copies–one for us, one for each set of parents.
Ditto the kudos to Pixar for their economy of storytelling. What really broke my heart wasn’t Carl & Ellie’s story, but Russell’s line “Phyllis isn’t my mom!” It’s like his whole childhood suddenly comes into focus, and awwww.
Also, the dogs playing poker may have been the funniest thing ever.
Yes! People have been giving me weird looks when I say that Up is the Best Picture of the year, Academy be damned. I just look at the rest of the nominees and think… Not quite. Whereas Up is surprising, moving, entertaining, and is an incredible artistic achivement in storytelling and filmmaking. I am so pleased that it was nominated in that category, but I don’t think it will win, for the same reason I’ve sometimes hesitated in saying that it’s my pick. I doubt that the Academy voters will feel comfortable choosing a kid’s/lighthearted/animated movie over more serious/adult fare. But maybe with the extra competition this year, votes will be more wide-spread.
Ok… I admit I am relieved to discover that I am not the only one who not only bawled during the first 10 minutes of Up, but also welled up when trying to explain to people why I bawled. That five second shot of Ellie in the doctor’s office undid me completely.
(Did that dog just say ‘hi there’?)
Loved this film, too, and I actually worked with a guy years ago who had a yellow Lab named Kevin… pure coincidence, as his Kevin was named way before Up.
My dad took me to see this at the two dollar theater the weekend he was diagnosed with cancer, and it turned out to be the last movie we went to see. And you know, I’m glad it was, because it was so damn great. He raised me to love cartoons – but only when they’re good. (In other words, Dreamworks can bite me.) (Also, hilariously, my dad’s name? Kevin.)
SUCH a good movie. I loved the risks they took, visually as well as with the story and characters. Everything worked. Just flawless. And Dug. Oh my god, the guy who did his voice was so spot-on. And I will never, ever stop giggling at “I have just met you and I love you!” It’s not that funny on paper, but the way he says it…and damned if it’s not exactly what dogs are totally saying in their little fuzzy heads.
If this doesn’t win a ton of Oscar bling, I shall be pissed.
I just saw “UP” this week and have to join in the chorus of LOVE. I had been a little spoiled for the Carl-and-Ellie montage, but it STILL killed me. I agree with you, Sars; it’s my favorite of the four best-picture nominees I’ve seen.
The thing I love most about Pixar is how they make the ordinary extraordinary, how anybody can be a hero in their movies. Are you a paralyzingly anxious dad? A sullen teenager? An obese superannuated starship captain whose limbs are all but vestigial? A 78-year-old man with dentures? A chubby boy scout? A gamma dog? Doesn’t matter—when the time comes, you will SACK UP, be resourceful and decent, and save the day out of love for your fellow fish/car/toy/human. “Soulless computer animation” be damned—I know of no other director or studio working today who makes movies that are more loving and beautifully human.