It is near impossible for me to write a non-bias review of this film. I am a fan of the comic on which the movie is based. Director Edgar Wright is on my short list for best working director and he has yet to make a bad movie. When the original cast was announced I couldn't have been more pleased with the actors chosen. In short I knew that I would love this movie long before it was in theatres. My expectations being what they were, I am glad to say they were greatly surpassed.Scott Pilgrim is like a bar of gold, covered in diamonds, dipped in chocolate, deep fried, smothered in gravy, and then topped with whip cream, sprinkles, and extra cherries. Everything about the film works for me. It is inventive, fun and visual stunning. Guaranteed you haven't seen anything like this on the big screen before. Pilgrim starts with a bang and then you have to hold on because the movie never slows down.
The story in the movie follows the life of loveable, but self centered Scott Pilgrim. He plays bass in a band, has a new girlfriend, and things are basically going good for him. That is until Ramona Flowers invades his dreams. That is the basic premise for the movie and it works very well. There are many references throughout the film too TV shows, video games, and comic books, and if you understand them it is good, if you don't it doesn't matter. The characters in the movie are easily relatable even if it you don't get the references they make. Michael Cera gives a very good performance as the title character. Scott Pilgrim is in no way a great protagonist, and some might say that he is even unlikeable. It's cool to see a movie that is willing to make the lead character not likeable. This is especially refreshing to see in a comedy. Every other actor in the movie is also great. Alison Pill and Mark Webber are reunited again after both being in the great 2005 film Dear Wendy. They play Kim Pine and Stephen Stills the other members of Sex Bob-omb. Both embody their characters. There are so many great actors in this film that I will just say that everyone is awesome.
I guarantee that Edgar Wright's direction had something to do with this. This movie fits perfectly into his body of work. He is known for his whip pans, quick cuts, and crash zooms. Scott Pilgrim is like his style on acid. The scene transitions are so smooth it is like reading a comic book. Bill Pope the cinematographer for The Matrix does the camera work for Pilgrim and he is able to do some very interesting things. The movie plays around with aspect ratios multiple times and this gives the film a very surreal feeling. There is a good article about Pope's process while working on the film in the August edition of American Cinematographer that is worth reading.
Pilgrim is a movie that has to be re-watched multiple times. It is beautiful to look at, and has a heart to match. At the end of the film and the comic the character of Scott Pilgrim has a realisation that affects his character. I was surprised at how much this part of the comic affected me when I read it. I wasn't sure if this part would be pulled off as well in the movie adaption, but it is. Even though Edgar Wright changes many things from the comic he still has created one of the best film adaptations of any work ever.
A Gold Banana
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