My pick for the best movie of the year: Blue Giant review

Because of work, or travel, I've been going back and forth to Japan every month, and somewhere along the line, I started getting into jazz. Naturally, I started frequenting places like Blue Note Tokyo. While I was doing that, I heard there was an anime set in Blue Note, so I thought, 'Pfft, whatever,' and started watching it... To cut to the chase, it's the undisputed number one among all movies/dramas/anime I've seen in the last three years. Honestly, at first, I just thought it was a well-made masterpiece. But as the movie progressed, the emotions hit me like a truck, and it felt off the charts. Especially the moments that made me think, 'Have I ever been that obsessed before?' kept coming up. It's not just a jazz anime; it's truly an anime that makes you immerse yourself in life. The music was also something else. Since it's a music film, I watched it with headphones on, and it really felt like my head was vibrating. The direction is so direct in showcasing the passion of the music and the characters that it wasn't cringey; it felt like I was on stage with them. It's not just for jazz fans; even if you don't like music, it's a movie that completely blows you away with its 'how passion moves people' theme. It's a movie that nails all four beats: emotion, fun, immersion, and music. Honestly, there aren't many movies that make you think, 'What am I doing right now, and what am I running towards?' after watching them, but I think Blue Giant is one of those movies. I was wrong to think it was just a loud anime; it's the most impactful work in recent years, not just this year, so I really hope everyone gets a chance to see it.

그러다 자연스럽게 블루노트 도쿄도 종종 들락날락하게 됐음.

그런 와중에 블루노트를 배경으로 한 애니가 있다길래 ‘뭐, 호들갑이겠지’ 하고 보기 시작했는데…

결론부터 말하면 최근 3년 동안 본 영화/드라마/애니 통틀어서 원탑이다.

처음엔 솔직히 그냥 잘 만든 수작 정도로 생각함

근데 영화가 진행될수록 감정선이 미친 듯이 밀려오는게 심상치 않았고

특히 “나도 저렇게 미쳐본 적 있었나?” 싶은 순간들이 계속 와서,

그냥 재즈 애니가 아니라 인생 몰입 애니라는 말이 딱 맞음.

음악도 말이 필요 없었는데

음악영화다 보니 헤드셋을 끼고 영화를 봤는데 진짜 대가리 한 번씩 울리는 느낌 나고,

연출이 음악과 캐릭터의 열정을 너무 직선으로 박아주는 스타일이라

손발 오그라드는 게 아니라 그냥 내가 같이 무대에 서 있는 것 같음.

재즈에 관심 있는 사람은 물론이고

음악 안 좋아해도 ‘열정이 사람을 어떻게 움직이는가’

이거 한 방으로 그냥 다 씹어먹는 영화임.

감동, 재미, 몰입, 음악 네 박자 다 챙긴 영화.

솔직히 보고 나서 “내가 지금 뭘 하고 있고, 뭘 향해 달리고 있지?”

이런 생각까지 하게 만드는 영화 많지 않은데

블루 자이언트는 그걸 한 영화라고 생각함.

대충 소리만 요란한 애니겠거니 했던 내가 틀렸고,

올해가 아니라 최근 몇 년 통틀어 가장 강렬했던 작품이니

다들 꼭 한번 봤으면 좋겠다.