To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. I’m glad they had the courage to give us not what is easily marketable or conventionally palatable, but instead what is nuanced, exquisite, delicious, and fulfilling in a way that most cinematic fare is not.“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. It accomplishes its purpose of animating the coming of age of an artist wonderfully, and I’m glad Pixar gave us this film. However, everyone eats, and we could all learn to eat better.īut I can hardly, in good conscience, criticize Ratatouille for being about something that is doesn’t intend to be about. To paraphrase the film, anyone can cook, but not everyone. Everyone in the theater is Remi’s family.
RATATOUILLE MOVIE ART MOVIE
Had the movie focused more on Remi and his family and less on the other subplots involving Linguini, Skinner, and Ego, it would have become a film about how an audience can learn to appreciate good artistry. Ratatouille is about the coming of age of an artist, a much less universal theme, and I think this narrower focus speaks to the relative unpopularity of this film, Pixar’s least highest grossing film next to Cars 2. Brave is about mothers and daughters making their way in a man’s world. Up is about getting old and grieving what’s lost. The Incredibles is about the fading idea of the nuclear family. and Finding Nemo speak to the burden of parenting. The Toy Story saga speaks to the trials of friendship and growing up. That being said, I also think Ratatouille is Pixar’s most narrowly focused film. That’s an awful lot for a movie about a rat chef to say. Sure, artists are odd, but what is odd, because it is different, has the potential to be enlivening in a way that the monotony of daily life is not. Allow the artists and critics who have devoted their lives to discovering beauty to share what they discover with you. To the citizen in me, the film says, “Be open to experiencing something new.
RATATOUILLE MOVIE ART FULL
Always keep in mind your first love and don’t become so full of yourself that you have no room to be amazed, enlightened, transformed, and to invite others to experience that same transformation.” If anything is good, excellent, praiseworthy, think on such things and tell others about them. Your job is to point to what is wonderful in the world. To the critic in me, the film says, “Don’t destroy. Your art-making is for your audience, that they might become better rats – I mean – better human beings.” Create for love, not for money, and let your love be for your loved ones, not for yourself. Highlight the beauty that you see in the world and work to share it with others. To the writer, the film says, “Create! Struggle! Know that everyone is not going to understand your drive, but work anyway. Ratatouille speaks to all these identities that are at work inside me. Pixar’s Ratatouille is a movie that seems to get better each time I see it, and I think that is because as time goes on, I understand more about the various sides of my identity – as a writer, as a critic, and most importantly, as a member of my family, my greater community, and the world.