UP

Whenever Pixar releases a new film, it is nearly bound to receive a Best Animated Feature nomination (and has a good shot at winning in that category as well). The company's latest film, Up, has achieved just that, as well as also being nominated for Best Picture. Up's five Oscar nominations are well-deserved, as I would argue that this film is perhaps the best one to come out of Pixar's doors.

The film revolves around the life of Carl Fredericksen, a once beaming, world adventurer who has now been reduced to a stereotypical elderly curmudgeon after the death of his wife, Ellie. Carl's loneliness, and reclusiveness, has lead him to receiving insistent offers from retirement homes. When he simply can't take it anymore, Carl attaches thousands of balloons to his house and flies away.

The elderly man's mission is to reach Paradise Falls in South America, a place he always wanted to visit with Ellie, but never had the opportunity to. However, Carl has brought along an unexpected companion: a neighbordhood Boy Scout, Russell, who is eager to go on an adventure.

I don't want to delve into too many details anymore, but I will let you know that the movie deals with the two high-flying adventurers becoming entangled in a conspiracy involving endangered birds and talking dogs.

I will also tell you that Up is one of the finest films released in theaters this year, animated or otherwise. There's real, laught out loud humor in this movie, unlike some Disney films, which often only include kiddie jokes or jokes which will only get a chuckle or a smile out of a grown viewer. However, Up, like all Disney movies, has some seriously heart-wrenching, poignant moments, but, like the best Disney movies, the message it is trying to convey is never shoved down your throat.

Since this will probably be my last post before the Oscars air this Sunday night, I will let you know that I would personally love for either Up or Inglourious Basterds to take home the Best Picture statue. However, I know that the award will most likely go to either frontrunner, Avatar or The Hurt Locker. Nevertheless, as detailed in my earlier post, the super-sized Best Picture race could lead to a lot of mystery and suspense come March.

I feel that the acting nominations are pretty much already decided, with Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz all taking home statues. The only close call will be in the Best Actress race, with a deadlock between Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock.

Overall, I believe that Sunday night will be an exciting event for movie-goers, as evident by all of the pre-season buzz this year. Next week, assuming I don't post until Sunday, I will include a detailed wrap-up of how the night went, and probably how I felt it SHOULD have went.

As for Up, I give it a solid 10/10