Nothing is as simple as black and white.
A really wonderful funny charming fantasy fable or allegory with real substance and real heart. Structurally, it resembles that other great fantasy fable Groundhog Day: a reality top and tail, sandwiching the main fantasy segment in which the protagonist goes through a narrative arc.
The story is rich with metaphors, centred around fear of personal and by extension social change. In the black and white versus colour dichotomy, it finds an excellent if obvious vehicle to talk about skin colour discrimination. It charts the development of a more liberal set of values, a broadening of horizons beyond the local community, as well as the development of a distinct youth culture. It also charts the development of popular music in the second half of the 20th century, along with the suspicion and hostility such new kinds of music aroused in older generations.
The script is excellent, as are the special FX, to achieve the juxtaposition of black and white and colour. The performances too are excellent. Joan Allen in particular is riveting as Betty. Walsh, whose last film this was, is also very good.
The video on the DVD of Fiona Apple in the Pleasantville Soda Shop singing the Beatles song Across The Universe, while reactionary black and white townspeople smash the place up, is very affecting, even after several viewings.
- Rating: Exceptional
- When seen: 20 Jan 2011
- Where seen: School
- More information: IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Wikipedia
Amendments: Added actor tags: "Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J. T. Walsh, Reese Witherspoon". Removed link to Wikipedia-sourced image. Added ranking image.
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