The Inspiring Message within Family Motion Pictures

Browsing through the selection on Netflix or Sky Movies, a young adult has much to choose from: crime, action, comedy, thrillers, and even erotic thrillers (think of the classics such as Basic Instinct rather than that mediocre film based on a best selling book).

It may come as a surprise, then, that the family or children's category could offer a slate of enjoyable and entertaining films to watch, and perhaps ponder upon, on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Be cautious, though, because this is not a quality shared by every great family movie, and for the purposes of this article, I will focus exclusively on three: Ratatouille, the Lego Movie and Zootopia.


These three films are distinct from other family pictures and films in other genres. Through the magic of animation, the voices of comedians (Patton Oswalt as Remy, Chris Pratt as Emmet and Jason Bateman as Nick) and adventurous plots, they portray both a meaningful message and plenty of giggles.

Judged solely in terms of providing entertainment, the films perform well. Without using either violence, foul language or nudity, these motion pictures keep adults and children on the verge of hysterics. Among countless pause-worthy moments, a few stand out: the sloth scene in Zootopia and Vitruvius' repeated failure in pronouncing 'Dumbledore' as 'Doubledoor' in the Lego Movie (if these examples don't ring a bell, search them on YouTube).

Beyond the laughs and unexpected joy, however, lies a thoughtful message.

That anyone can become anything he or she wishes to become, 

but not all at once and only with the help of companions

Indeed, Emmet's journey to becoming a master builder in the Lego Movie was supported by subtle encouragement from Wyldstyle, Alfredo's low self-esteem in Ratatouille was reversed through his unusual yet unbreakable bond with Remy, and Judy's friendship with Nick, a con artist, in Zootopia enabled her to navigate the streets to solve a missing-persons case. 

Woe to anyone who tries to draw up a direct action plan in real life based on fictitious animation films. The world is much too complicated and imperfect to allow anyone to closely mirror the journeys of our friendly cartoon characters.

A better takeaway involves considering the subtle messages within these family motion pictures as gentle whispers, serving to remind us that how others view our decisions and aspirations in no way, shape or form affects the realisation of those aspirations and dreams. It is within our power to choose and design our journeys in life and to rally with the kind of people who will accept our differences and support us unequivocally.  

So, can a rat really become a chef, or a bunny a police officer? Of course not. The point is to inspire the younger generations to be unbounded, foolish and genuine in expressing their hopes and emotions and to defy the expectations of challengers, whether they be the 'haters' or one's own parents. 

Who is to say that adults would not also benefit from doing so? 

Leonardo DiCaprio and the Academy Award

As is the case with many movie fanatics, Leo is one of my heroes. Since his remarkable performance in Titanic, DiCaprio has established a respectable and lasting reputation in Hollywood, starring in a diverse set of movies ranging from thrillers (Inception) to comedies (The Wolf of Wall Street).

Leo is also one of very few actors to have developed unique, trusting relationships with film directors, particularly with Martin Scorsese and most recently with Alejandro Iñárritu.

Perhaps it is a surprise, if not an outrage, that DiCaprio has yet to win an Academy Award, though 2016 might be his year for doing so. Having neatly swept both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award in the new year, both for Best Actor, it seems reasonable to think that DiCaprio will win the Oscar too, on February 28th, for his performance in The Revenant.

An interesting question is whether winning the Oscar, or in fact not winning it this year (or ever), should affect his legacy. And should Leo be bothered about it?

Well, he isn't and he's absolutely right.

"I am really moved by all the people on the internet demanding that I win an Oscar. But, to be honest, I only do this job because I love it, not to win prizes." Leonardo DiCaprio 

Whether an actor wins an Academy Award is completely beyond his or her control. Winning the award signifies the fact that leading figures in Academy express their commendation for an actor's performance and hard work in a given year.

Winning an Oscar will no doubt be a delight for DiCaprio, but it is unlikely that it will be a defining moment for his career or that he will think about acting differently after winning.

Like most successful people, DiCaprio is in his line of business for the enjoyment and enriching experience. He loves acting and he's damn good at it. If he were to think incessantly about winning an award, no matter how prestigious, his performance may crumble and discredit his reputation.

He sets an example that all of us should follow:

To pursue our passion relentlessly, without any ambition for attention, prizes, or fame, 

and to be of service to society 

What is less commonly known is that DiCaprio is an ardent environmentalist. Last month, in January 2016, he was invited to appear at the World Economic Forum to receive an award commending the measures taken by his foundation to enhance environmental awareness across the globe. Through his foundation, DiCaprio is doing his bit to make the world a safer and better place, and doing so clearly makes his happy, otherwise he would not bother wasting his time and money on this cause. 

For the sake of our own health and well being, it is important that we learn from Leo and his outlook on life. He realises that obsessing about winning awards is a risky move. Not only can doing so lead to bitter disappointment, but the mental exertion results in a waste of valuable talent, talent that Leo better utilises towards producing world class movies and addressing environmental problems. 

Oscar or no Oscar, DiCaprio, like everyone else, will pass away at some point. And in his final moments, I bet that his thoughts will be on his family, his experiences working on set with actors, directors, and producers, and his philanthropic service to society. 

My money is on Leo winning the Academy Award. But in the instance that he does not, he will share a smile with himself, praise the winner, and continue enjoying his life as a game-changing actor.