Our list continues with the early parts of the top 25, movies that got a decent amount of support but not enough to vault up the rankings. Tomorrow: #22.
23) Inside Out (2 votes, 83 points)
Chris: Trying to describe the premise of Inside Out is simultaneously simple and extremely difficult. It’s the story of an 11-year-old girl as her family undergoes a sudden move across the country. That’s…it.
There are two more important layers here that make this movie tick. The first is the literal one, the conflicting emotions inside Riley’s head. Thanks to some great voice acting choices, the amalgamation of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust just works. The different areas of the brain, such as the memory dump and the train of thought, seem boring on the surface — but there are some fun and exciting set pieces there.
But it’s the figurative layer where Inside Out truly shines. By stripping down a story to its core and working solely with the emotions of an adapting preteen, Inside Out somehow manages to speak directly to our emotions. The opening 10 minutes of Up are frequently referenced as a heavy-feels, tear-jerking movie moment — for me, the scenes where Riley considers leaving home are devastating.
Shaun says below that he worries this movie’s ranking is too high. He could be right; Skyward Sword in our games list fell into the same trap, and I resent that it’s in our top 25 now. But I actually voted conservatively on Inside Out trying to avoid the same mistake — it could have been borderline top five for me. I honestly think this is going to stand the test of time as a unique and innovative film. It’s different, but in a good way, and I’m thrilled to see Pixar pull this out of their hat after a wave of news about sequels to existing franchises.
Shaun: I think Inside Out’s inclusion as 23 on our list is a knee-jerk reaction to the proximity of its release, but even with that said, it was a great film. And not just great, but pretty groundbreaking and brave. Hidden under the bright colors and terrific voice acting is a story about repressed emotions, depressions, and the evolving mindset of a teenager. I suppose time will tell, but to me, Inside Out isn’t just enjoyable. It’s…important?
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