A journey through Life of Pi

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2013)

As I went out of the theater, I kept thinking what I should write about Life of Pi, I honestly can't describe what this movie made me feel. All I knew is I never had this much fun and satisfaction from a movie theater experience since I was a kid. Because even when I watched movies that I consider to be some of the best movies I've ever seen, I never felt that engrossed and invested in a movie theater before.
This is easily Ang Lee's best work to date. Unlike his previous movies, Life of Pi never loses focus or delves into a sub-plot. It feels like a journey from the start till the end, a journey through faith, isolation, despair, hope and beauty. And he makes sure you think about everyone of those as much as it's possible using his simple, yet mesmerizing camera work. His attention to detail is reflected and felt throughout the whole movie and his suitable pacing constantly commands your attention. When it comes to cinematography, Life of Pi's is nothing short of brilliant. Every frame feels like a portrait, portraying the beauty of life and nature like none I've ever seen before. Claudio Miranda's masterful use of lighting is nothing new to his career, but he definitely surpassed himself this time around. The movie is also technically stunning, its groundbreaking visual effects, tender score, smart editing and accurate sound mixing contributed in making it a more believable, more heartfelt ride.
My only concern with Life of Pi is its not very talented lead, Suraj Sharma. While he must be commended for losing much weight (reminding us of Tom Hanks in Castaway), his performance never rises to the movie's caliber and the level of emotional depth that it demands. He sometimes feels like the anomaly that deprives Life of Pi of being considered one of the greatest movies of all time, and instead just a great one with a not so very great lead.
Storytelling never gets any better than this. Life of Pi is a story about friendship, belief, self-discovery and hope...and it never draws any conclusions for you, it's all left for your own interpretation. By the end, you are left with a choice to make, a choice that may not only change the meaning of the whole story, but also your own idea of friendship, faith and the nature of humanity.
Simply, the best movie of the year, do yourself a favor and go watch it.