In Disney and Pixar’s “Soul,” Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is playing jazz, and his dedication to his dream is steadfast—he lives alone in his Queens apartment, immersing himself in his music, and when he does venture out, he spends most of his time talking about jazz. But when he finds himself in another realm helping someone else find their passion, he discovers what it truly means to have “Soul.” Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers and produced by Academy Award® nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. ©2020 Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved.
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Joey’s Home Movies For the Week of March 22nd – Catch Up With Oscar Nominees ‘News of the World’ and ‘Soul’

Welcome back to my Home Movies! Today, we have two Academy Award nominees hitting shelves. They are News of the World and Soul, both of which are nominated in multiple Oscar categories. So, there’s quality here, no doubt about it. Read on for more…

Joey’s Top Pick

In Disney and Pixar’s “Soul,” Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is playing jazz, and his dedication to his dream is steadfast—he lives alone in his Queens apartment, immersing himself in his music, and when he does venture out, he spends most of his time talking about jazz. But when he finds himself in another realm helping someone else find their passion, he discovers what it truly means to have “Soul.” Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers and produced by Academy Award® nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. ©2020 Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved.

Soul

Pixar’s latest ambitious effort is among their most visually stunning. Especially in its depictions of New York City, Soul takes your breath away. Comparisons to some of their other high concept work like Inside Out were potentially unfair, as this definitely stands on its own. In my highly positive review here on the site, I had this to say about the animated film:

Soul is about the things that make life worth living. Involving things like the afterlife, death, and what gives you that spark in the world, these are elements that clearly target adults over kids. At the same time, it’s a fun romp, with some incredible music.

Recommended Viewing

(from left) Johanna Leonberger (Helena Zengel) and Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) in News of the World, co-written and directed by Paul Greengrass.

News of the World

Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks reunited for this Western, and yet, neither of them got the attention that young Helena Zengel received. Zengel (who we interviewed here) came close to an Oscar nod for her supporting turn in News of the World, holding her own against Hanks. The movie is a solid overall effort, though perhaps a bit on the standard side. Here is a bit from our review of the flick:

News of the World isn’t trying to change cinema. Instead, it’s just a classical movie that breathes life into the Western without being a revisionist.

Also Available This Week

HBO

Breaking News in Yuba County

Gattica (4K)

Godzilla (4K)

Raw (first time on Blu-ray)

The Undoing: The Complete First Season

Stay tuned for more next week!

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Written by Joey Magidson

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