Milwaukee Movie Talk
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festival Talk
  • Thoughts
  • Friends

Life, Animated review

10/17/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Christopher k. House

Life Animated was the opening night film at the 2016 Milwaukee Film Fest. The film, an inspiring documentary about an autistic boy who learned how to communicate through Disney animated films played before a packed house. Based on the book by Ron Suskind about his son Owen, Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams chronicled Owen's life with well crafted storytelling.

When Owen Suskind was a young boy, he was diagnosed with Autism. One day, he stopped communicating with words to his family. when Owen started repeating words quoted form a Disney film, his father then realized his affinity to the animated films. Roger Ross Williams who won an Academy Award for his short documentary "Music By Prudence" crafts another Academy Award worthy film with Life Animated. Flat out, I loved this film.
 

Owen is one of the most likable people chronicled in a documentary I've seen in a long time. There is an innocence about him, an aura he emits that makes you like him and care about him. 

The amazing fact is that that Owen has memorized every single Disney animated film he has seen. Able to recite and quote word for word is a remarkable task for anyone. That alone would make a great documentary. Owen even turned his passion for Disney into a special Disney club for other's who share the same passion. Owen leads the club of friends with wit and humor. It is one of the highlights of the film watching these interactions. 

With home video footage, Williams is able to tell Owen's story and how he has progressed. From the beginning to current day, his journey is detailed. Owen pulls on our heart strings when he is away from his beloved girlfriend and we cheer for him when he is on a job interview. The documentary does more than just explain how he learned how to talk through Disney films. It really is the story of Owen and Owen's story is a great one.

Rating A

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About Chris

    A film fan from an early age, Chris is a true cinephile. Starting with his first big screen experience, Star Wars to the current indie films, it's obvious he is obsessed with film. Chris has been writing about film and television since the early days of the internet. Chris is also a member of OFTA, the Online Film and Television Critic's Association.
    Follow on Twitter @TheFilmBully
    ​​

    About Steve

    A lover of all movies. Steve will watch anything from classic silent films to modern horror films.  Obsessed with the Oscars and Film festivals. Steve prides himself on watching every movie on the AFI 100 Greatest Movies and every Oscar winner. 
    Follow on Twitter @MovieRPH

    Archives

    December 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    Andrea's Review
    Chris' Review
    Milwaukee Film Festival
    Movie Review
    Short Film
    Steve's Review
    Video Review

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly