pete docter's MONSTERS, INC (2001)

before Ratatouille broke Pixar into a creative sprint, Monsters Inc was their most definitively original work, and that (along with Sully's still-breathtaking fur, jesus christ) keeps it fresh as the three before it start to show a touch of wear. but it also sits juuuust below Finding Nemo as their most classically accomplished screenplay: it's high-concept (in the best possible way) but doles out its information about the characters and their peculiar world in a completely seamless way, never talking down to the audience or daring for a moment to cease entertaining. (it pains me to think that the execrable Shrek movies -- flawed in all the ways this film is perfect -- will be forever tied to it.)

take the ending, as an example of Pixar's good taste. in another studio's film it would be a closing scene: a big hug, some sort of sappy, closure-stressing exchange of dialogue, big swell from the string section, quick punchline, cut to a montage of all the characters enjoying life, physical humor abounds, and ooohhhhhhwaitforit SMASH MOUTH AS THE CREDITS ROLL

here: one medium shot, one heart-crushingly wonderful word of off-screen dialogue, a facial expression, a tinkle from the score, cut to black.

but which one gets the Oscar? gah.