Song of the Sea
3/4
Starring (voices): David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Lucy O'Connell, Lisa Hannigan
Rated PG for Some Mild Peril, Language and Pipe Smoking Images
"Song of the Sea" is a most curious animated film. It does not follow established formulas. There is music and singing, but it occurs in a totally different context to the Broadway-style musicals that Disney is famous for. It also struggles to find a consistent narrative focus and drive. While it's true that I almost never knew where the film's story was going, I'm not sure that director Tomm Moore did either.
Ben (Rawle) is a happy child. He lives in a humble home on a mountain on the shores of the sea with his loving parents Conor (Gleeson) and Bronach (Hannigan). He eagerly awaits the day when he will become a big brother. One tragic night, Bronach disappears, leaving behind an infant daughter named Saoirse (O'Connell). Devastated by the loss, Ben resents his mute sister and despondent father. When Saoirse decides to take a midnight swim with the seals (although it's a little more complicated than that), Granny (Flannagan) decides that the children would be better off if she took them with her to the city. That means leaving behind his beloved dog Cur, which doesn't sit will with Ben. So he and Saoirse set off for home. Of course, the journey will not be without its detours.
If there is one good thing that can be said for "Song of the Sea," and there are a few, it's that the film consistently flouts established genre conventions. Drawing inspiration from Irish legends rather than established formulas, "Song of the Sea" is anything but predictable. That has its good and bad sides. One the one hand, the film is engaging simply because of the fact that I had no idea where this film was going. On the other, the storytelling lacks the confidence to really make the narrative land. The film seems to be trying to hold itself together and justify its own direction. Compare this to "Spirited Away," a film with which "Song of the Sea" bears strong similarities (believe it or not), and you'll see what I mean.
Part of the problem is that neither Ben nor Saoirse are all that interesting. There's nothing wrong with the vocal performances of newcomers David Rawle and Lucy O'Connell, but the writing doesn't give them a lot of support. Established actors Brendan Gleeson and Fionnulla Flanagan (both of whom play dual roles) are better, but that's because they have more to work with. In fact, the film's greatest weakness is the screenplay, which doesn't adequately flesh out the characters or the world they inhabit. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had a better understanding of Irish folklore, but a film should never rely on the audience to supply that kind of information. A film's story should be fully thought out and communicated to the viewer. That's what separates a mediocre movie like "Michael Clayton" from a better one like "Heat."
The film is strikingly animated. Rather than cartoons or anime, "Song of the Sea" possesses an art style that appears to inspired by wood carvings. It's not as technically sophisticated as something by Disney or Studio Ghibli, but it possesses it's own unique charm. This is, for the most part, a gorgeous movie, although there are times when it feels like the characters are ripped straight from the ESL show "Muzzy," which is distracting to say the least.
"Song of the Sea" isn't entirely successful in a traditional sense, but it's also not a traditional movie. This is a movie that starts out without a safety net and never takes the easy road. It goes to places that most animated films would never go and does so in ways that are away from the norm. The animation is charming and always lovely to look at. And as much as the story struggles, it's always engaging. So this gets a mild recommendation from me.
Starring (voices): David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Lucy O'Connell, Lisa Hannigan
Rated PG for Some Mild Peril, Language and Pipe Smoking Images
"Song of the Sea" is a most curious animated film. It does not follow established formulas. There is music and singing, but it occurs in a totally different context to the Broadway-style musicals that Disney is famous for. It also struggles to find a consistent narrative focus and drive. While it's true that I almost never knew where the film's story was going, I'm not sure that director Tomm Moore did either.
Ben (Rawle) is a happy child. He lives in a humble home on a mountain on the shores of the sea with his loving parents Conor (Gleeson) and Bronach (Hannigan). He eagerly awaits the day when he will become a big brother. One tragic night, Bronach disappears, leaving behind an infant daughter named Saoirse (O'Connell). Devastated by the loss, Ben resents his mute sister and despondent father. When Saoirse decides to take a midnight swim with the seals (although it's a little more complicated than that), Granny (Flannagan) decides that the children would be better off if she took them with her to the city. That means leaving behind his beloved dog Cur, which doesn't sit will with Ben. So he and Saoirse set off for home. Of course, the journey will not be without its detours.
If there is one good thing that can be said for "Song of the Sea," and there are a few, it's that the film consistently flouts established genre conventions. Drawing inspiration from Irish legends rather than established formulas, "Song of the Sea" is anything but predictable. That has its good and bad sides. One the one hand, the film is engaging simply because of the fact that I had no idea where this film was going. On the other, the storytelling lacks the confidence to really make the narrative land. The film seems to be trying to hold itself together and justify its own direction. Compare this to "Spirited Away," a film with which "Song of the Sea" bears strong similarities (believe it or not), and you'll see what I mean.
Part of the problem is that neither Ben nor Saoirse are all that interesting. There's nothing wrong with the vocal performances of newcomers David Rawle and Lucy O'Connell, but the writing doesn't give them a lot of support. Established actors Brendan Gleeson and Fionnulla Flanagan (both of whom play dual roles) are better, but that's because they have more to work with. In fact, the film's greatest weakness is the screenplay, which doesn't adequately flesh out the characters or the world they inhabit. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had a better understanding of Irish folklore, but a film should never rely on the audience to supply that kind of information. A film's story should be fully thought out and communicated to the viewer. That's what separates a mediocre movie like "Michael Clayton" from a better one like "Heat."
The film is strikingly animated. Rather than cartoons or anime, "Song of the Sea" possesses an art style that appears to inspired by wood carvings. It's not as technically sophisticated as something by Disney or Studio Ghibli, but it possesses it's own unique charm. This is, for the most part, a gorgeous movie, although there are times when it feels like the characters are ripped straight from the ESL show "Muzzy," which is distracting to say the least.
"Song of the Sea" isn't entirely successful in a traditional sense, but it's also not a traditional movie. This is a movie that starts out without a safety net and never takes the easy road. It goes to places that most animated films would never go and does so in ways that are away from the norm. The animation is charming and always lovely to look at. And as much as the story struggles, it's always engaging. So this gets a mild recommendation from me.
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