Film Review: MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)

Director: Wes Anderson
Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Running time: 94 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 25^th May 2012

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 6^th April 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is another of those films that had a bit of a mixed reception on release; generally liked by the public but it had a bit of a mixed reception from the critics (here in the UK at least). I must admit it did put me in mind of a great British film; ‘Son of Rambow’; worth checking out if you haven’t seen it. I have to admit I did enjoy this one, it’s very quirky without being all ‘quirk’ & no story (those that have seen it will know what I mean). Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

It’s 1965 and when young Boy Scout Sam (Jared Gilman) decides to leave camp, Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton) immediately calls in the local police, Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis). They begin to search the island they are on and it soon transpires that young Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) is also missing. Her parents, Walt (Bill Murray) and Laura (Frances McDormand) discover that the pair have been writing to each other for about a year. It was all planned to the finest detail. Both children have had difficult upbringings, Sam because his parents had died and he had been brought up in foster care and Suzy because one of her parents was having an affair. It seems these misfits belong together but their about to be discovered… Don’t worry; there’s more to come. Social Services (Tilda Swinton) are about to get involved and Sam’s fellow Scouts also have plans for the pair. Add to this an approaching storm and it’s about to get very interesting.

I love the look and feel of this film; yes, it’s got a lot of quirkiness, but that’s not allowed to overrun the narrative too much. The soundtrack also adds to the enjoyment in a way; it becomes part of the world these people inhabit. The very black and white sensibilities of children are explored here; everything it taken as a matter of fact and accepted without question. I found it quite refreshing in a way; it made a nice change from the brainless comedies I’m usually subjected to. All the performances were excellent with my top awards going to the two youngsters; Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman. Well worth a look if you haven’t seen it and (probably) well worth a re-watch if you have!

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 7.9/10 (based on 106,963 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/

MetaScore: 84/100: (Based on 43 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 94/100 (based on 217 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 87/100 (based on 104,991 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/moonrise_kingdom/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Scout Master Ward: Jiminy cricket, he flew the coop!

Walt Bishop: Holy Christ, what am I looking at here?
Laura Bishop: He does watercolours. Mostly landscapes but a few nudes.
Walt Bishop: Did she sit for this?

Laura Bishop: We women are emotional.
Suzy: I hate you.
Laura Bishop: Don't say “hate”.
Suzy: Why not? I mean it.
Laura Bishop: You think you mean it, in this moment. You're trying to hurt me.
Suzy: Exactly.

Sam: Listen to some reason. I don't like you. You don't like me. So, why don't you just let us disappear?
Redford: Well, it's tempting, but we can't allow it.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoonriseKingdom
Official Site: http://www.moonrisekingdom.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)

Co-Writer/Director: Wes Anderson
Running time: 87 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
UK Release date: 23rd October 2009

Watched on DVD Sunday 5th June 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Over the years many tales by Roald Dahl have been adapted for the screen, both for TV and for the big screen. This is the latest big-screen adaptation of one of his works. For me, while it was quite an engaging tale I felt it wasn’t made for an audience outside the United States. This is not a criticism, it just seemed to me that it had all become a little too ‘Americanised’ (if that’s a word). The stop-motion animation, the sets and everything technical about it was very well done but I felt the characters had lost the mystique they had when I read this as a youngster. I will always now hear George Clooney as Mr. Fox and to me that’s all wrong (I explain why later). Here’s a very brief summary of the plot, and then some more of my thoughts.

Mr. Fox loves to steal chickens, ducks, anything he can eat or drink really. Unfortunately this is a dangerous business and his wife persuades him to find a safer occupation when she falls pregnant. So he takes up writing for a local newspaper. Several years later he decides it’s time they moved and so they go to live in the trunk of a tree. This affords him a great view of three local farms, owned by Franklin Bean, Walter Boggis and Nathan Bunce. Unable to resist the temptation he enlists the help of Kylie Sven Opossum and raids all three farms. The farmers aren’t going to take this lying down and Mr. Fox and his family, and in fact the whole community, find themselves trapped. Can Mr. Fox find a cunning way to save the day? As usual, my contract with the Spoiler Police prevents me telling you here.

I love the animation of this film, I always think stop-motion gives a very unique look and it works really well here. Although I have a slight dislike for the accents, to me Mr. Fox should be a very devious upper class English accent, but hey, you can’t always get what you want as the Rolling Stones once said. Anyhow, a decent effort from the voice talents of; George Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Bill Murray as Badger, Michael Gambon as Franklin Bean and even Jarvis Cocker who gave us a song as Petey.

So, in conclusion, visually, it’s a treat, I love the look and feel of the film. Plot wise, well it’s based on a Roald Dhal story so you can’t go too far wrong there. I liked the choice of music in the film, a couple of Beach Boys numbers were very welcome. I think if it wasn’t for the voices I would have enjoyed it more, but it’s worth seeing for the animation.

My Score: 6.9/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0432283/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1197696-fantastic_mr_fox/
Official Site: http://www.fantasticmrfoxmovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: SCROOGED (1988)

Director: Richard Donner
Running time: 98 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

UK release date: 25th November 1988

Watched on Sky+ Thursday 30th December 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Back in my youth I used to love this film, it had such great comic moments for me and I loved watching it every chance I got. It has now been quite a number of years since I last saw it and it seems I’ve changed my view somewhat. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve got older (& wiser), or it’s because it has become dated, but I certainly didn’t enjoy it as much as I used to. But more of that later, here’s a brief summary first (summary haters please find a humane way of fitting those tiny antlers to that mouse… thank you).

Frank Cross is a young and ambitious TV executive. He has risen through the ranks to the position of President of the Network at the expense of his relationships with his family and his girl, Claire Phillips. They are to put on a live production of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, but they call it ‘Scrooge’ for some reason. This means everyone has to work on Christmas Eve... Not popular as you might guess. When Frank is visited by the ghost of his former boss, he is told he must change his ways. To this end he will be visited by three ghosts. These ghosts, The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future show Frank the error of his ways… But it’s up to him to change.

Although it’s a pretty well produced film I did find it a little dated by today’s standards. Yes, Bill Murray really pulled them in back in the day, but today I find him a little bit irritating. Having said that, he played the part of Frank Cross with great professionalism. It was the actors in the smaller parts I found more interesting; Carol Kane really gave her all as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Bobcat Goldthwait was great (as ever) as the unfortunate Eliot Loudermilk and it as nice to see Robert Mitchum as Studio owner, Preston Rhinelander. Oh, and I should also give an honourable mention to Karen Allen as Claire Phillips.

I think part of the problem I have with this film is the Frank Cross character is so obnoxious that I find it really hard to have any empathy for him when he finally has his revelation. Maybe they took it a bit too far (for me), but having said that, there is still something about this film… or am I reliving my youth again? Still, it’s a bit of Christmas fun, if a little dated, so, recommended… but only if you’re in the mood.

My score: 6.2/10

LINKS:
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0096061/
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxykefLvdZI

Film Review: CITY OF EMBER (2008)

Director: Gil Kenan
Running time: 90 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): PG

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 1st November 2009.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Set in a future where the Earth’s surface has become uninhabitable and so, in order to save the human race, a group of scientists and engineers build the subterranean City of Ember. A case is entrusted to the mayor with a clock built in that counts down for two hundred years. This case contains the secret of the City and the key to the way to the surface. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, the case was lost and eventually opened alone on a shelf. With the city now beyond its two hundred year lifespan, the generator that keeps it alive is failing and the food is beginning to run out.

Two children, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, are curious as to why the generator is failing and why it is illegal to leave the city. Doon’s father, Lorris, is an inventor and encourages his son to question the world around him. Lina has lost both her parents and, along with her little sister Poppy, is cared for by their grandmother. Both children have just come of age and, as tradition holds, they are assigned jobs by the Mayor. This is done quite randomly by picking them out of a bag. Doon wants to work with the generator, but ends up in the Pipe Works. Lina gets her wish and ends up as a messenger. But when Lina discovers the case and begins to piece together the clues inside, both of them are in for a great adventure!

First of all, I must give praise to the set designers and builders; they have done a great job of putting together an underground city. Great cinematography and lighting too. Great performances from our two main cast members, Saoirse Ronan as Lina Mayfleet and Harry Treadaway as Doon Harrow. Decent performances also from Tim Robbins as Loris Harrow, Bill Murray as Mayor Cole, Martin Landau as Sul, Toby Jones as Barton Snode, Mackenzie Crook as Looper and Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Clary. I guess the thing that let it down for me was that, although it was quite exciting at times, and the subject matter really interested me, I never really engaged with any of the characters. Some of the city residents weren’t particularly likeable, especially the mayor, and so I didn’t really care whether they were saved or not. Over all, a fair effort that didn’t quite hit the mark.

My score: 6/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0970411/
Official Site: http://www.cityofember.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi543359001/