Pleasantville (1998)

Pleasantville (1998)

A mesmerizing takedown of 1950s nostalgia

7.0

Movie

United States of America
English
Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
1998
GARY ROSS
Andrea Baker, Danny Strong, Dawn Cody
124 min

What it's about

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

The take

When David and his sister Jennifer fight over the TV remote, they are suddenly transported to David’s favorite sitcom, Pleasantville. They’re told by a spirit guide that their best bet at getting out is fitting in, but their modern sensibilities prove to be too much for the genteel ‘50s town. Soon, the residents learn about sex, art, criticism, and politics, and it’s up to the twins to control the ensuing mayhem and guide them to the right path. 

In hindsight, Pleasantville seems ahead of its time, preceding Marvel’s WandaVision as the ultimate, deconstructed homage to 20th-century television. But unlike the series, Pleasantville dives deep into personal and social politics, all while maintaining an impressive balance of wisdom and humor. Equally notable is the film’s transformation from black and white to Technicolor, which, aside from being a symbolic and technical feat, is also a piece of pure, mesmerizing cinema.

Comments

Add a comment

What did you think? Who should watch it?

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Bottoms (2023)

A supremely weird teen movie with an embarrassment of committed comedic performers

7.3

Can You See Us? (2023)

Zambia makes its debut on Netflix with this moving drama about a boy with albinism

7.3

Rohan at the Louvre (2023)

A riveting supernatural mystery contemplating Japanese art in relation to the world

8.2

Moon Students (2023)

A white savior story masquerading as an empowering film

5.0

L’Argent (1983)

This bleak moral tale is a resounding swan song for legendary filmmaker Robert Bresson

8.7

What’s Love Got to Do with It? (2023)

Love has never looked so joyless in this semi-passionate, tolerably funny romantic comedy

6.7

The Machine (2023)

An unfunny comedy that overestimates the relevance of its star

5.0

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

9.1

How to Deal with a Heartbreak (2023)

An unremarkable story about one girl’s journey towards love, success, and happiness

5.0

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2023 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.