Review of Life of Pi (2012) by Midlands M — 19 Oct 2013

*Spoilers ahead* Having already undertaken the difficult adaptations of Jane Austen (Sense & Sensibility) and the even trickier Stan Lee comic book (Hulk), Ang Lee has turned his Oscar-winning directorial eye to Yann Martel's allegorical story of an Indian boy orphaned at sea with a Tiger from his family zoo.

Named Richard Parker after a form-filling mix up, the beautifully rendered CGI animal helps this film survive beyond its glorious visuals with a genuine believability and emotional resonance opposite Suraj Sharma's 16-year-old "Pi" and his efforts to stay alive at sea against enormous odds.

Special note should also go to a phenomenal Irrfan Khan as the adult Pi who, in the main plot device, recounts his story to Rafe Spall's wide-eyed journalist. Although I watched in 2D, the depth of the cinematography was still clearly there to see and the literal highs and lows of Pi's journey takes the audience on a (boat) ride across the ocean's wonders via flying fish, tempestuous storms, titanic whales and island-dwelling meerkats.

For what it's worth, and without giving too much away, the film's mantra, "Thank you. And so it goes with God" about the power of storytelling led me to believe this was an atheist film rather than the power of "faith" it may have been trying to preach.

But maybe, along with Groundhog Day, its brilliance lies with the fact that no matter your religious standpoint, the film's universality leaves you believing it's only about your world view. A marvellous triumph of acting, SFX, storytelling and adaptation, Ang Lee shows why he is a true master of the craft with a film feast for the eyes, brain and soul.

8/10 Midlands Movies Mike.