“Moonrise Kingdom” takes place somewhere off the coast of the Northeastern United States. We are never told exactly where the location is, however, we do know that it takes place on some fictional islands including New Penzance. The locations are beautiful. They look similar to the coast of New England. The closing credits thank some government authorities in Rhode Island, so it is possible it was filmed there. The story involves two young people who have developed a friendship through the miracle of letter-writing. The film takes place in 1965, so, as some of us may remember, letter-writing and calling on the phone were the only means of communication back then and into the early 90’s. The youngsters in question are Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman). Neither of these actors, according to IMDB, which is as good a source as any without having access to Wes Anderson or the actors themselves, had ever acted in anything before this film! Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I will repeat. Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I had no idea that they were new to acting. There is absolutely nothing in their performances to indicate that they are novices. The film is theirs. Most of the screen time is devoted to these two outstanding young actors and this was, I am sure, an intentional choice. The supporting cast includes very good performances by Bruce Wilis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, and Edward Norton. It is clear that the film is all about the two young leads. Their performances are exceptional. The film is not a kid’s film, nor does it make an attempt to be so. At the same time, it would be a great film for young adults to see. There is nothing in the film to offend anyone or attack anyone’s paper-thin sensibilities.
The relationship that Suzy and Sam develop throughout the course of the film is natural and a false note is never detected. As usual, Anderson places objects of the era in the film. For example, Suzy carries around with her a children’s record player, like the ones kids who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s may have had. She carries with her her favorite record as well. You may recall in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” the closet full of vintage board games from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Even though a dialogue scene takes place, at one point, in this closet, I could not help looking at all of the many board games that were intentionally onscreen. There is not as much of that in “Moonrise Kingdom.” There is, however, the same amount of appeal that will satisfy fans of Anderson’s other films (Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, and the before mentioned Royal Tenenbaums).
The characters in Anderson’s films are somewhat flawed, but not so much that they are unlikable. Anderson knows just the right style of acting to get from his actors so they mesh with his vision and match the specific scenes in his films. Such is the case, as I have highlighted in this exceptionally well-written piece, with the characters of Suzy and Sam in “Moonrise Kingdom.” I always enjoy a well-written and well-acted film more than a loud, in your face action film. As with Jell-O, there is always room for a good action film, such as “The Avengers” or Liam Neeson’s film, “Taken,” however, the most fun I glean at the movies is from witnessing wonderful writing and acting.
I have avoided describing much of the plot of the film, mostly because it is a relatively simple story and I would hate to give much away. Simplicity, in this case, does not mean pedestrian. It just means that to outline the plot of the film would take away from your future enjoyment of discovering what happens in the film. Plus, isn’t a dissection of the plot of the film the most boring part of a movie review? To me it is. So there.
Go see it. “Moonrise Kingdom” is fantastic! Don’t let the sun go down on you before seeing “Moonrise Kingdom.”
Monday, June 4, 2012
You Will Beam With Joy at "Moonrise Kingdom"
Wes Anderson’s latest film, “Moonrise Kingdom” follows in his ability to create his own unique world in which the action of his films take place. In Anderson’s films, the viewer is taken to an alternate world. This world is similar to our own, however, there are enough unique things present in his world to make it quite appealing and makes for a wonderful setting for his films.
“Moonrise Kingdom” takes place somewhere off the coast of the Northeastern United States. We are never told exactly where the location is, however, we do know that it takes place on some fictional islands including New Penzance. The locations are beautiful. They look similar to the coast of New England. The closing credits thank some government authorities in Rhode Island, so it is possible it was filmed there. The story involves two young people who have developed a friendship through the miracle of letter-writing. The film takes place in 1965, so, as some of us may remember, letter-writing and calling on the phone were the only means of communication back then and into the early 90’s. The youngsters in question are Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman). Neither of these actors, according to IMDB, which is as good a source as any without having access to Wes Anderson or the actors themselves, had ever acted in anything before this film! Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I will repeat. Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I had no idea that they were new to acting. There is absolutely nothing in their performances to indicate that they are novices. The film is theirs. Most of the screen time is devoted to these two outstanding young actors and this was, I am sure, an intentional choice. The supporting cast includes very good performances by Bruce Wilis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, and Edward Norton. It is clear that the film is all about the two young leads. Their performances are exceptional. The film is not a kid’s film, nor does it make an attempt to be so. At the same time, it would be a great film for young adults to see. There is nothing in the film to offend anyone or attack anyone’s paper-thin sensibilities.
The relationship that Suzy and Sam develop throughout the course of the film is natural and a false note is never detected. As usual, Anderson places objects of the era in the film. For example, Suzy carries around with her a children’s record player, like the ones kids who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s may have had. She carries with her her favorite record as well. You may recall in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” the closet full of vintage board games from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Even though a dialogue scene takes place, at one point, in this closet, I could not help looking at all of the many board games that were intentionally onscreen. There is not as much of that in “Moonrise Kingdom.” There is, however, the same amount of appeal that will satisfy fans of Anderson’s other films (Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, and the before mentioned Royal Tenenbaums).
The characters in Anderson’s films are somewhat flawed, but not so much that they are unlikable. Anderson knows just the right style of acting to get from his actors so they mesh with his vision and match the specific scenes in his films. Such is the case, as I have highlighted in this exceptionally well-written piece, with the characters of Suzy and Sam in “Moonrise Kingdom.” I always enjoy a well-written and well-acted film more than a loud, in your face action film. As with Jell-O, there is always room for a good action film, such as “The Avengers” or Liam Neeson’s film, “Taken,” however, the most fun I glean at the movies is from witnessing wonderful writing and acting.
I have avoided describing much of the plot of the film, mostly because it is a relatively simple story and I would hate to give much away. Simplicity, in this case, does not mean pedestrian. It just means that to outline the plot of the film would take away from your future enjoyment of discovering what happens in the film. Plus, isn’t a dissection of the plot of the film the most boring part of a movie review? To me it is. So there.
Go see it. “Moonrise Kingdom” is fantastic! Don’t let the sun go down on you before seeing “Moonrise Kingdom.”
“Moonrise Kingdom” takes place somewhere off the coast of the Northeastern United States. We are never told exactly where the location is, however, we do know that it takes place on some fictional islands including New Penzance. The locations are beautiful. They look similar to the coast of New England. The closing credits thank some government authorities in Rhode Island, so it is possible it was filmed there. The story involves two young people who have developed a friendship through the miracle of letter-writing. The film takes place in 1965, so, as some of us may remember, letter-writing and calling on the phone were the only means of communication back then and into the early 90’s. The youngsters in question are Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman). Neither of these actors, according to IMDB, which is as good a source as any without having access to Wes Anderson or the actors themselves, had ever acted in anything before this film! Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I will repeat. Hayward and Gilman are fantastic in this film! I had no idea that they were new to acting. There is absolutely nothing in their performances to indicate that they are novices. The film is theirs. Most of the screen time is devoted to these two outstanding young actors and this was, I am sure, an intentional choice. The supporting cast includes very good performances by Bruce Wilis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, and Edward Norton. It is clear that the film is all about the two young leads. Their performances are exceptional. The film is not a kid’s film, nor does it make an attempt to be so. At the same time, it would be a great film for young adults to see. There is nothing in the film to offend anyone or attack anyone’s paper-thin sensibilities.
The relationship that Suzy and Sam develop throughout the course of the film is natural and a false note is never detected. As usual, Anderson places objects of the era in the film. For example, Suzy carries around with her a children’s record player, like the ones kids who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s may have had. She carries with her her favorite record as well. You may recall in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” the closet full of vintage board games from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Even though a dialogue scene takes place, at one point, in this closet, I could not help looking at all of the many board games that were intentionally onscreen. There is not as much of that in “Moonrise Kingdom.” There is, however, the same amount of appeal that will satisfy fans of Anderson’s other films (Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, and the before mentioned Royal Tenenbaums).
The characters in Anderson’s films are somewhat flawed, but not so much that they are unlikable. Anderson knows just the right style of acting to get from his actors so they mesh with his vision and match the specific scenes in his films. Such is the case, as I have highlighted in this exceptionally well-written piece, with the characters of Suzy and Sam in “Moonrise Kingdom.” I always enjoy a well-written and well-acted film more than a loud, in your face action film. As with Jell-O, there is always room for a good action film, such as “The Avengers” or Liam Neeson’s film, “Taken,” however, the most fun I glean at the movies is from witnessing wonderful writing and acting.
I have avoided describing much of the plot of the film, mostly because it is a relatively simple story and I would hate to give much away. Simplicity, in this case, does not mean pedestrian. It just means that to outline the plot of the film would take away from your future enjoyment of discovering what happens in the film. Plus, isn’t a dissection of the plot of the film the most boring part of a movie review? To me it is. So there.
Go see it. “Moonrise Kingdom” is fantastic! Don’t let the sun go down on you before seeing “Moonrise Kingdom.”
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Yes yes yes! A wonderful film!
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