12/21/22 - Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) - 8/10
Float into the murky depths of Del Toro’s imagination and find blistering rays of uplifting light as he weaves a new version of the classic tale of Pinocchio from the gnarled oaks of his creepy mindscape. The stop motion artistry is simply astounding here and brings a singular lived in aesthetic to life unlike anything you have seen before. Painstaking work and otherworldly craftsmanship elevate an already unique take to an astonishing level. Heartwarmed smiles, macabre fascinations, and invested tears are expressed from this new vision filled with charming songs, repugnant war-fueled Mussolini fascism, and flawed humanity at every turn as the journey is not one about magic wishes & becoming a real boy, but expressing the essence of humane compassion and embracing death as a integral part of life.
The purpose and effort of each puppet, voice performance, and artistic choice was a magnanimous triumph. Especially after watching the short documentary about the creative process that played directly after on my Netflix feed (an essential addition I might add), I was in awe and my appreciation for and love of this film grew 3 sizes. It's a joy and an achievement. This has become THE definitive version of this story for me and one of the more special cinematic experiences I have had all year.
