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Life of Pi, as the title says, follows the life of Pi Patel (Irrfan Khan) as he shares with a prospecting writer (Rafe Spall) looking for "an amazing story". Starting with his childhood in India and where he got his name from, the story continues with Pi's family emigrating to America and how he survived a shipwreck for more than half a year while sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker.
This is a film that had somehow eluded me. I've enjoyed most, if not all, of Ang Lee's work and this one came highly recommended by my wife, who had seen it upon release. Still, I never jumped in. Interestingly, the film was not at all what I was expecting. Based on the images I had seen, I thought it was a period piece (at least pre-20th Century) and a fantasy film; and although the film does have some fantastical elements, I was surprised to see it was more grounded than I was led to believe.
From a technical standpoint, the film is great. The direction from Lee, and most production values are top notch, with the cinematography and visual effects being standouts. However, it is in the story of survival, flawlessly narrated by Khan and acted by Suraj Sharma (who plays the young Pi), where the film's strength lies. A story that is as much about doubt and faith as it is about letting go.
I'm a big fan of Khan, at least what little I've seen from him, ever since I saw him in the lovely romantic film The Lunchbox. His emotional delivery is a big part of why the story works, as he sweeps you up and takes you on this journey from the beginning. Spall doesn't have as much to do, but he does well as the writer, listening and reacting to the "amazing story". But special praise has to go to Sharma, who carries most of the film on his shoulders with equal doses of bravery, fear, doubt, and hope.
Interestingly, I saw the film with my youngest kid – one of the few more "serious" and "adult" films we've shown him – but he seemed to be quite captivated by it. Maybe it was the special effects or the whole survival journey; or maybe it was the Bengal tiger. Whatever it was, I'm glad that he stuck with it and enjoyed it. After all, it's an amazing story.
Grade:
LIFE OF PI
(2012, Lee)
(2012, Lee)
Pi Patel: So which story do you prefer?"
Writer: "The one with the tiger. That's the better story."
Pi Patel: "Thank you. And so it goes with God."
Writer: "It's an amazing story."
Writer: "The one with the tiger. That's the better story."
Pi Patel: "Thank you. And so it goes with God."
Writer: "It's an amazing story."
Life of Pi, as the title says, follows the life of Pi Patel (Irrfan Khan) as he shares with a prospecting writer (Rafe Spall) looking for "an amazing story". Starting with his childhood in India and where he got his name from, the story continues with Pi's family emigrating to America and how he survived a shipwreck for more than half a year while sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker.
This is a film that had somehow eluded me. I've enjoyed most, if not all, of Ang Lee's work and this one came highly recommended by my wife, who had seen it upon release. Still, I never jumped in. Interestingly, the film was not at all what I was expecting. Based on the images I had seen, I thought it was a period piece (at least pre-20th Century) and a fantasy film; and although the film does have some fantastical elements, I was surprised to see it was more grounded than I was led to believe.
From a technical standpoint, the film is great. The direction from Lee, and most production values are top notch, with the cinematography and visual effects being standouts. However, it is in the story of survival, flawlessly narrated by Khan and acted by Suraj Sharma (who plays the young Pi), where the film's strength lies. A story that is as much about doubt and faith as it is about letting go.
I'm a big fan of Khan, at least what little I've seen from him, ever since I saw him in the lovely romantic film The Lunchbox. His emotional delivery is a big part of why the story works, as he sweeps you up and takes you on this journey from the beginning. Spall doesn't have as much to do, but he does well as the writer, listening and reacting to the "amazing story". But special praise has to go to Sharma, who carries most of the film on his shoulders with equal doses of bravery, fear, doubt, and hope.
Interestingly, I saw the film with my youngest kid – one of the few more "serious" and "adult" films we've shown him – but he seemed to be quite captivated by it. Maybe it was the special effects or the whole survival journey; or maybe it was the Bengal tiger. Whatever it was, I'm glad that he stuck with it and enjoyed it. After all, it's an amazing story.
Grade: