Skip to content Plot: In the alternate future of Metropolis, a giant city, private eye Raymond Gunn becomes involved in a case involving the killing of aliens and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
Overview: Without a doubt, 2026 was one of the most exciting years for animation in recent memory. Next to the fanfare a goat, Movie Super Mario Galaxyand Minions and monstersWe’re witnessing underrepresented cultures shine through films like I am Frankelda and Forgotten Islandand at least two films, in the waves and VeldwoodThey are real masterpieces. All this happened before Ray Gunn Hitting the scene, Brad Bird’s latest is yet another triumph for mature rated animation in a medium that calls for big swings and bigger imaginations.
Coming hard like a trip-hop jock on the Portishead track, Ray Gunn There’s a noir love letter written with looping cursors and the paper smells of whiskey and honey perfume. Bird’s film, a thirty-year effort, bears its influence on the trench-covered cover, with films such as Blade Runner, The fifth element, Maltese Falconand metropolis coursing through his veins. The metropolis where Ray’s story takes place is alive with intrigue, danger and social imbalance. It’s the perfect setting for a retro-futuristic murder mystery that feels like a charming radio drama brought to vibrant life by neon-infused colors and laser particles.
At the center of the mystery are Ray (Sam Rockwell) and Ai-Ra (Tom Waits), a dynamic private detective duo who are one time away from kissing their operation until a seemingly easy case involving a troubled pop singer named Venus Nova lands them in even hotter water. The dynamic between Ray and Eye-Ra is one of my favorite aspects of the film. Their mutual respect, playful banter, and honesty, even when involved in shady business, make them more than just a couple trying to get by; They also try to do the right thing. Rooting is easy for them; Being charmed by them is like getting a glass of the good stuff from a charming stranger behind the bar.
While Rockwell plays Goon effortlessly and earnestly, Waits steals the show as Eye-Ra, his battered, rusted-iron vocals giving the friendly alien a low-end thump that’s like the best hiccup of your life on a bed of gravel. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson gives Venus Nova a smoky and mysterious cadence as she whips through the film like a tornado in strappy heels. It is complex but delicate. In your face, but you desperately want to hide, become someone else. Johansson brings a ferocity to Venus Nova, but there’s also a sadness that gives the character and her performance depth and nuance.
Behind the film’s visual spectacle is a layered story that spins several narrative plates. It’s first a murder mystery noir, but it also strikes me as a direct commentary on artificial intelligence, xenophobia, and the growing threat of corporations draining their artists. While this story does a fantastic job in all three frameworks, I wanted a more direct commentary on the social divide between aliens and humanity. The opportunity to say something powerful about the walls that divide us feels like it’s right there, but the arm never quite reaches the tree to pick the fruit.
anyway where Ray Gunn Really shines behind the 1930s and 40s Streamline Moderne glitz, flawless Film Noir atmosphere and sprawling sci-fi cityscape in its commentary on how corporations abuse their artists. Instead of investing in her as a person, Venusians treat a Lady Gaga-like tour de force as a commodity, a product to be bought, used, and sold when her spotlight begins. Meanwhile, he’s a caged songbird, desperately flapping his wings against his imprisonment, wanting to sing a different tune. to some extent Ray Gunn This is the story of Venus, and it is through her that I found the film became most vivid.
As for the bird – damn, it’s nice to see it back in the spotlight. As you watch the movie, notice how Eye-Ra moves, from the way he spider-crawls along buildings to the way he leans in the passenger seat of a vintage cruiser. The way Bird’s camera follows the Eye-Ra is nothing short of hypnotic and serves as a reminder of why it’s one of the best in the business.
Composer Michael Giacchino, reuniting with Bird on Ray Gunn, delivers another stellar score full of big band jazz, haunting chase music, and seductive snare and brass work that add warmth to an already atmospheric sound. Some duos are destined to make magic together, and it’s clear that Bird and Giacchino have developed their own love language over the decades.
In the year of the true animated banger, Ray Gunn There is another triumph of patience, creativity and care leading to another great film. It’s a brilliant reminder that animation isn’t just for talking animals, questionable sequels, or checking every parent-approved box off the list. Animation is for everyone Ray Gunn Walks a delicate line through action, intrigue and societal flaws to create something special and pay homage to the genre’s past. It’s a smooth, cinematic experience punctuated by the clatter of ice-cold rocks as a femme fatale stares at you with diamond eyes from the shadows of a dimly lit private booth. sit down be careful Try not to die.
I give Ray Gunn A rock-solid eight out of ten. It’s a refreshing animated film noir that excels in style, character and world-building. I can’t wait to watch it again because it’s another jewel in the ornate crown of 2026’s outstanding animated achievements.
The post Ray Gunn Review: A Gorgeous, Jazz Infused Love Letter to Classic Detective Cinema appeared first on JoBlo.
