It's Such a Beautiful Day Movie Review

It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

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Written by: Don Hertzfeldt
Directed by: Don Hertzfeldt
Starring: Sara Cushman, Don Hertzfeldt
Rated: NR [PG-13]
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Plot
In this animated film that compiles Hertzfeldt's three short films, a series of dark and troubling events force Bill to consider the meaning of his life.

Verdict
The simplicity of the animation is exceeded by the depth of introspection. Bill deals with the mundanity of life, intrusive thoughts, as well as daily anxieties, and there's something so relatable and human about that. The animation obscures a dark humor that explores death and sickness as Bill eventually develops a serious illness. From there Bill focuses on the small things with the animation accentuating that. It's a touching conclusion that's surprisingly hopeful. I appreciate the non-conformity from animation to story. This is little more than a sketch, but this has such a deep narrative. The medium works rather well for that.
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Review
The animation is incredibly simplistic, which sets it apart from other animated movies. This follows Bill in his daily life, and it's almost mundane, but there's also something about the narration and Bill's thoughts that's so very human and relatable.

This is also dark as Bill develops an illness. He gets good news that he'll survive, but his recovery seems like a burden to others.

The animation makes some things funnier, like a kid with a weird foot or a kid with a skin condition. That humor is always at the expense of someone else. That's true for a lot of the movie. There's also absurdist humor. He's told his mother died after a fit of senile hysterics. Then she was hit by a train.

It's a compilation of anxiety, concern, and random intrusive thoughts. Bill, like many of us, worries about the small things that don't matter. This is so simple in all respects, but it captures life: the fears, mundanity, and the comedy of life. The minimalism forces you to focus on the narration and story.

Later in the movie, Bill wrestles with existentialism. What does it mean? With everything he's experienced, we witness his neurological issues manifest as he has issues with his memory. He can't remember what's happening which causes several related issues.

Just as we think Bill's story nears a close, the narrator describes something different. It's a touching ending for a movie that's so atypical. While that sets it apart, this movie delivers.

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