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12 Angry Men (1957)
Simply Human.
12 Angry Men is a movie deeply rooted in character and emotion. Set in a courthouse, it depicts a jury of 12 who are tasked with the responsibility to determine if an 18-year-old was guilty of the murder of his father. You only see him once in the film, yet immediately the audience starts to conjure up their own prejudices and their own assumptions. This is the trappings that many others in the jury fall prey to.
Though I am not an incredibly avid movie enthusiast, I do try to be. But this movie is something I had never seen before in my life. The crux of this movie is about empathy and beliefs - whether fighting for one's beliefs, or having to let go of theirs. The defendant does not speak once during this movie, nor do you learn anything about him through the actions he does on screen. The only information the audience has to go off from is through these 12 characters, and the words they use. Some depict him as a devil, whilst others think him a mistreated 18-year-old. Everyone has their own view of him, as does the audience.
But while these men are tasked to decide the sentence of this 18-year-old, you'll find that the movie delves surprisingly deep into the jury themselves. Layers of their personality are peeled back, and this also changes what the audience themselves thinks of the defendant. The more we learn of the characters, the more it shapes our own personal verdict.
What's beautiful about this movie is that it guides the audience along a ride, so meticulously and accurately, whilst making you feel like you are in control of your own thoughts.
This movie teaches us about why it is important to listen, and the dangers of having preconceived notions, especially when in a group. At the start, it is the courage of one man to stand against the rest that stops the 18-year-old from being immediately sentenced. And his only reasoning for it at the start was because "I think we should talk about it". Ultimately, many of the most obstinate, stubborn characters latch onto their own beliefs to the very end. It's ironic that the person who ends up convincing them, is themselves.
Most of the movie is filled with nothing but the voices of these 12 men. But the ending orchestra's music is laced with an ominous tone, perhaps hinting that they had made the wrong decision. None of us will ever know, as is the case with every legal incident, and as described poignantly by the man who stood against the rest. But ultimately, this decision will not really affect these characters' lives. Perhaps only emotionally, and morally.
These are some of the most fleshed out adult humans I have ever seen put on screen. The emotion is palpable, the tension is visceral, and the experience of watching this movie is like none I have experienced prior. Remarkable.
Mimi wo sumaseba (1995)
Enchanting and Beautifully Simple.
If you've played the game Stardew Valley, chances are you'd be feeling pretty similar feelings as you watch Whisper of the Heart on a lazy afternoon.
The story is the ultimate example of simple, yet I was never disengaged or bored for a moment. All of this is owed to charming, real characters and gorgeous art and musical direction that culminate to create an experience that is filled with bliss and serenity.
Animation sometimes has trouble with it's own identity. Because of it's medium, creators and artists can feel forced into needing to create something extravagant and spectacular. Whisper of the Heart is a reminder that you can and should do anything you want in the realm of animation; sometimes, sticking to simple is the way to go.
It is not the movie for everyone, and if you have a hard time sticking to slower paced movies with an incredibly straightforward premise, you might find it difficult to trudge through the movie.
But I found myself enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. It's not anything crazy or insanely imaginative, but then again, does it need to be?
Hilda and the Mountain King (2021)
A charming continuation that didn't quite engage me
I love the Hilda series. To me, it always felt like a mix of the creativity from Adventure Time and a tinge of eeriness from Gravity Falls. But I can admit the quality of episodes does vary, and while some are wildly imaginative, others can come off as tame and conventional.
Unfortunately, the movie follows the latter description, and whilst it does have moments of whimsical fun, the overarching story plays out as expected and never quite captures the heights of mystery of some of the best episodes in the series. Still definitely worth a watch if you are a fan of Hilda.
And yes, the animation and sound design is as great as ever!