Simple Way of Life

Rating: 10/10 (11 October 2006)

This movie captured the sadness of dried up towns in America. There is so much more to America than the big cities. There are small towns all over this country that are slowly dying out. Railroad towns, Route 66 towns etc. Every time I go home and visit the town I grew up in I am saddened by how much it has declined. I wish I could live back home, but there are no jobs.
The use of shadows in this movie is probably what struck me the most. The shadow of Mack on the side of the road as he's traveling, the dappled effect on the road as Sally and Lightening are driving, etc. Everything is so subtle that you forget that it's not real. That a group of people actually sat and created this world is astounding. We're so jaded and cynical about everything. This movie was obviously a labor of love for Pixar and it shows.
I would suggest this movie to anyone who is given to nostalgia and sentimentality, especially for Americana. If you're not then this movie might be boring to you.