One of the most breathtaking animation experiences ever put to film, Loving Vincent overcomes its ~weak script to ascend to the pantheon of historic cinema that pushes the boundaries of its artform – an oil-painted film of master craftsmanship & authenticity to the work of the legendary expressionist. 8/10.

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Plot Synopsis: The world’s first hand-painted film in expressionistic Van Gogh style, Loving Vincent follows Roulin, a young man coming to the last hometown of famed painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist’s final letter. Upon talking to locals and learning more about it, he suspects there is more to the story & investigates the events of his final days.

*Possible spoilers ahead*

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Most Memorable Moment: Opening transforming Van Gogh’s Starry Night into movement beginning the film – breathtaking

Pros: JAW-DROPPING visuals and cinematography – one of the most visually breathtaking films I’ve ever seen in over 1,000 in my lifetime – every frame, inch, and canvas is paintstakingly crafted by people that have put years of their lives into this; THIS is what cinema as an artform exemplifies projects like this, the sheer scope and conceptual triumph in having over 100 artists spend almost a decade of their lives painting each frame of a feature-length movie, an engrossing storyline too investigating the life and famed death of arguably the greatest painter of All-Time: Vincent Van Gogh, painting style and look/aura true and authentic to Van Gogh’s style and surrealistic painting – having a film set up by and executed by real artists shows us what film can be, voice acting and overall structure good telling the story from the end backwards with glimpses into the life and troubles of Vincent, pacing surprisingly good considering the fact that as the pacing moves faster, the art in each frame must move faster meaning much more work than simply turning on a camera and shooting real life, great orchestral score and themes matching the emotional intensity and pacing of the rest of the film, film has a heart too and can stand on its legs as storytelling as well with charismatic and investable characters like Roulin and Adeline and a sense of intrigue and pulpy murder mystery as we learn the hidden story behind the death of a titan, sweeping tale of love, hat red, betrayal, and, most of all, passion with a variety of painting as intense and beautiful as the storyline, incredible ending frame of Starry Night over La Rhone and his recognition as the father of modern art, legacy that this film will undoubtedly have as a technical and visual masterpiece that breaks the mold and wide open the doors of what film can be

Cons: Some of the dialogue can be shoddy in parts, somewhat slow start before getting its legs in the second act, narrative is fine but doesn’t quite match the level of the painting

Overall Rating: 8/10