First & Last 042
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 9:31AM Can you guess the movie from its first and last shot?
The answer (and some Oscar talk) is after the jump...
Yes, it's Wes Anderson's twice Oscar-nominated The Fantastic Mr Fox (2009). I've fallen back in love with Wes Anderson this year. Asteroid City (2023) was a delight and during my trip to Italy earlier this month, we visited a enormous exhibit for the film at the Fondazione Prada in Milan. All that and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023) proved a surprise and tasty dessert upon my return. I haven't watched all of the four Anderson does Dahl shorts yet, have you? This one two punch from 2023 almost makes me want to revisit his whole career chronologically.
As for the 2009 Oscar race for Best Animated Feature. The lineup was underappreciated at the time but has aged well. Of course Pixar won again (and at the time I was rooting for Up, too) but in hindsight the win is semi-agonizing as it was the first nomination for two of the very best animation studios Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells) and Laika (Coraline) and neither studio has ever managed to get around the constantly-winning behemoth Mouse House for the gold Fantastic Mr Fox would have also made a worthy winner. The fifth nominee was Disney's The Princess and the Frog which is also important historically as the studio's last 2D animated feature. Which would you have voted for?
animated films, first and last
Reader Comments (5)
Nathaniel, I really recommend the short film The Swan. I admit I've been a little fed up with Anderson lately, but what he does there feels different, fresh, new, within what's become so familiar about him. Really worth a watch.
This movie just came up in convo the other day and I cannot remember why, but I do remember saying I still have never seen The Fantastic Mr. Fox and I want to!
I can't believe 2009 was so long ago lol. I still think of myself being 16, falling deeper into my Oscars/awards obsession via this site around that time. And suddenly, I'm 30! Time seriously flies.
It's FANTASTIC MR. FOX, no article. And people were definitely praising that incredible lineup that year. The only other Best Animated Feature lineup that comes close in terms of quality across the board is 2016.
fantastic mr fox was my favourite film of the year, animated or otherwise, so it definitely would've got my vote
i would've bumped the princess and the frog or the secret of the kells for mary and max
An excellent film -- better than Up (in that it holds your interest for the entire duration) and is equally as heartbreaking in parts. Made my year-end top 10 list as well.