Grade:  B+

Director:  Gary Ross		Released:  October 1998
Writer:  Gary Ross		MPAA Rating:  PG-13
Players:  Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Reese Witherspoon		Running time:  124 minutes

Ratings Methodology

Many films tinker with the elements that make up a film: sound, visual effects, camera techniques, acting styles, time.  But it's rare for a film to use color as part of the plot.  Pleasantville shows us a black and white world that begins to slowly wake up to outside influences (in the form of modern teenagers transported into their town).  Usually when color is used in a film, it's something simple like "red means danger", but Pleasantville uses the contrast between B&W and color to create a parable about race relations.  It is very well done.  At one point, a character who is embarrassed about being in color, does herself up in grey makeup.

This is a completely original film that entertains while making commentary on American society.  Especially clever is the way it pokes fun at sitcoms from the 1950's, where wives cooked and cleaned, and men worked hard.  Every house with a picket fence.

All of the actors give good performances.  From the leads to the smallest of cameos, the entire cast seems to understand the film's concept and do their darndest to make it come to life.  The only downside is how nice and neat it is in the end.  In Spielberg fashion, there are no negatives that arise from all the change that takes place during the film, everything and everyone has a happy and positive outlook.

- crocoPuffs