This four day holiday weekend was a tale of two good live action works and two great animated ones:
King Richard: Will Smith lends a solid performance to a side of the sports world I hadn't seen before (junior tennis). I expected to take care of some chores around the house while I watched this but ended up glued to my seat for the duration. The Williams family story is a fascinating one well worth telling.
House of Gucci: It's curious how much scandal and intrigue has been involved in the fashion world (and not just the sexual harrassment type). The plot arc feels somewhat Scorcese-esque even if the quality doesn't match. Each prominent character gets their moment to shine, with Leto in particular drawing a few chuckles.
Encanto: In my book the best animated film Disney has put out since Inside Out. The visuals are drop dead gorgeous (best since Toy Story 4), some of the musical numbers are genuine bangers without a dud in the bunch, and the story is relatable, nuanced, and surprisingly dark at points (more than balanced out by all the beauty). This one is worth a second trip to the theater.
Arcane: Probably the biggest surprise of the year for me. The trailers looked promising but I was blown away by the end result. The art direction is exquisite, the animation is buttery smooth, the characters ooze personality and are impeccably cast, the music is unsurprisingly solid for Riot, and the writing is surprisingly sharp and heartfelt. Thrilled to see it's getting a second season and I can't wait for it. Fortiche has now established themselves as one of the best animation studios in the world.
