Movie No. 45 (2014): ERNEST & CELESTINE

Ernest & Celestine (2013)
Directors: Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar
Animated film; in French, with English subtitles

The film was nominated in the Best Animated Feature category of  this year's Academy Awards (for films exhibited in 2013). And, in my opinion, Ernest & Celestine is better than the cliche-ridden Frozen, the eventual winner of the said award.

The film used traditional animation. It took advantage of the limitless possibility of storytelling using the format. The absence of (sometimes) unnecessary technical advances like those used in recent animated features makes the film (even) more wonderful and charming because it can focus on the strength of the script. The film essays the unlikely friendship between a little mouse (Celestine) and a bear (Ernest) in a civilization of bears and mice, where the mice get terrified even by a mere mention of the word "bear."  There's an obvious hint that Bonnie & Clyde may have influenced the film. Comic timings are so well placed. And the ending is heartwarming.

Rating: 4.0/4.0

Date seen: July 13, 2014