Review of Inside Out (2015) by Bill W — 11 Mar 2018

This film is one of my favourite of all time. It hit me right in the feels making me feel an odd mix of yearning nostalgia and tear-jerking joy at the night of the action and also punctuated it with some very good humour.

The films visuals are very creative. The cast of characters are very well fleshed out through their looks and animation. Joy looks and feels joyful, everything about anger is angry and even without seeing fear move or talk he looks timid and shy. This is very good character design. The film also has an amazing grasp of it's themes. Themes of growth and change and learning to accept even hurtful parts of the human condition resonate throughout the film giving the whole thing momentum.

The music adds to these themes. The music sounds childish and fun at the start of the film and the same basic melody is used to punctuate the darkest moments of the films to contrast the happy riley and the depressed riley.. The melody is also used in the resolution of the film to add the final layer of emotion to o e of the best moments in cinema. It had my whole family welling up.

The philosophy of the film is also very well thought out. It vividly and creatively shows the latest science of our emotions. It emphasises the importance of sadness in a world that has often become obsessed with staying happy. It also tries to persuade it's audience that emotions are not something that can be repressed if we are to lead positive lives. I find the messages of accepting sadness as a healthy part of life to be very positive and resonated with me.

In summery. Great film. If you haven't scene it do.