The title of the film I have chosen to analyze is “UP”. There were several writing credits for this movie which included: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson and Thomas McCarthy. The directing was also done by two of the writers: Pete Docter, and Bob Peterson. The talent and imagination of these two, and all contributing parties, is truly noteworthy. It is interesting to note that no major actors that often find themselves on the covers of tabloids within the checkout lanes at the supermarkets were a part of this film. Most of the actors that contributed their voices to the cast were general rate actors. This film was fairly recent, having been released in 2009.
This story is based upon a promise made between childhood sweethearts who had married and lived a very long life together. The couple had always been interested in exploring and eventually wished to travel together at some point in their lifetime. This wish turned into a promise of traveling together and seeing their childhood dreams come true. Unfortunately, they ended up getting bogged down in life, like we all do, and they were unable to embark on their adventures like they had dreamed of doing when they were children. Eventually, the wife dies and leaves the husband alone who still recalls the promise he and his wife had made to each other. The circumstances of life again weigh heavily on the husband who finally decides to take the trip he and his wife had wanted to do. He decides to do this despite the heaviness of life circumstances pushing on him. He ends up using balloons and floating his house into an adventure he could have only dreamed of. It was this trip that allowed him to fulfill his promise long ago to his now deceased wife. This fulfillment allows him to close the last chapter of his life.
The film was presented chronologically in progression from the couples young childhood and friendship, through to their marriage and death of the wife. It was presented in an almost flashback type of way with scenes of the present mixed in. In this aspect, it might also be considered non-linearly.
The aesthetic value of the film is noteworthy. The animation is presented in manner that makes it very believable and real even though the subject matter is obviously fiction. Floating a house with balloons to different parts of the world is something that was acceptable within the visual presentation of the film.
Character development and foreshadowing were both handled well within the development of the story and the storytelling methods. The allusion of the fulfilled promise at the end of the film was really the central point and focus within the development of the plot. By telling the story in a linear fashion, it was fairly easy to see how the story would progress and ultimately end. The ending was definitely something most people would hope it to be.
I’m not sure the film could have been presented differently without losing some value within the plot development, foreshadowing, and character development. I suppose the story could have been told in a complete flashback type of way, but this might have hurt the flow of the story. If Quentin Tarantino had told the story, it probably could have made sense in a Quentin Tarantino kind of way.
Pixar Inc.. UP Promotion Picture, 2009. UP, United States,. Retrieved from: http://danienglish.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/up.jpg
Full Cast & Crew. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_wr#writers
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