The Triplets of Belleville

Sheesh, I suppose Finding Nemo should have won for Best Animated Film, but only because while this film stuns with its images, it doesn't have a normal run-of-the-mill narrative (essentially the story of a biker stolen from the Tour de France and the grandmother who tries to find him). The same could be said about Hayao Miyazaki's work, though, and his films are beyond amazing. This minor quibble shouldn't keep you away from the film because how often will you see art-deco-ish cruise ships, a slow-mo of a dog barking at a train and its occupants, and the pièce de résistance, how one of the triplets catches frogs. Besides, the film relies nearly solely on its images. There are a few spoken words (French? English? I actually couldn't tell), but other than that everything is telegraphed by action, expressions, Stomp-like music, and whistle-blowing (yes, you'll have to see it to believe it). It is a bit violent, which might mean that you don't let your kids see it...yet. But I guarantee you will laugh out loud at least a few times, if not constantly.

original title: Les Triplettes de Belleville
year: 2003
length: 80 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286244/combined