Color and brilliance

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2010)

When my wife and I saw "Finding Nemo," our children were nearing the age to leave home. That's really what this movie was about: how hard it is for parents to let go of their children and allow them to make their own lives. Pixar, like any great artist, knows how to create an allegory with powerful emotional impact. As a bonus, the movie is also enormously entertaining. (My wife and I saw it 14 times in its initial release!)
The unsettling and very moving opening sequence put us in Marlin's place, experiencing a deep and unexpected loss which sets up his "helicopter mom" performance for the rest of the movie. Marlin must grow up as much as Nemo must. All during their journey, Pixar surrounds us with color and beauty rarely seen in films.
The choices of voice-over actors couldn't have been more perfect. Ellen DeGeneres absolutely owns Dory and make the character humorous, sympathetic and believable. Albert Brooks, Alexander Gould are perfect. And the bevy of supporting actors are equally well- cast, especially Willem Dafoe and the mysterious Gill.
Thomas Newman's musical score is also a perfect fit for the movie. It mirrors the regret, tension and excitement throughout the story.
This is a movie I will continue to watch for many years to come.