Review of Millennium Actress (2002) by Bobby L — 26 Nov 2009

The greatest animated movie... ever! Perhaps, that ever will be as will. It is an anime, but do not let that fool you, this is by large and far one of the most dense, thought provoking, and engaging films (not just animated ones, but all) I have ever seen.

A documentary crew is making a film about a defunct studio that was the largest film studio in Japan during WWII and throughout the '50s. Their raise to fame was helped along by their biggest star, Chiyoko.

It's there the two man crew, cameraman and interviewer, talking to this now 70 some odd year old actress about her life and the studio and her movies we are treated to a big surprise. The story of her life is that she was tracking down the man she loved, and in all her movies, something similar was happening to correspond.

So we go into and throughout to emerge at the end of another film of hers to chronicle her search for this man who gave her a key to "the greatest thing ever." It's metaphysics are delightful and smart, and never in any movie have there been so many sequences that take my breath away (the first one is at around the 20 minute mark, the last is just before the ending and last for an astonishing 7 minutes).

The whole film is hand drawn and I am quite certain there was not an ounce of CGI to be found anywhere. A masterpiece of the highest caliber. A must see for all who love art, life, philosophy, romance, action, characterization, and brilliant editing choices.